The one thing everyone knows about PLB (personal locator beacon) is that it's a personal electronic transmitting device that has the goal to alert potential rescuers to any life-threatening situation on the water, in the air or in any other remote area. Once the device is activated, it’ll send out signals on either a 406MHz frequency or Local Area System on 121.5MHz, AIS and/or VHF.
A Short PLB History
The first type of this locator was a 121.5MHz (electronic locating transmitter) which was designed as an automatic locator beacon for crashed military aircraft. This technology wasn’t really used as a personal device until the 1970s. The reason for its use was the accident of the Hull-born David Marshall who in 1960, at an age of 20, suffered his own man overboard (MOB) incident in the South Pacific, and luckily he was rescued and returned to the UK.
Because of this incident, in 1975, David invented and supplied the very first prototype of the PLB to GBII Joint Services for their entry into the Financial Times Clipper race to Australia. And in 1979, it was commercially launched a PLB designed to locate men overboard casualties.
How Do They Work?
The one thing it’s known by now is that personal locator beacons have come a long way, and these days they are a much-needed device. They can come in different ranges and you can choose from ones that work based on devices or on technologies inside. Once this device is activated, you can expect help or assistance to come from rescue authorities, friends, colleagues or nearby monitoring devices, depending on your type of PLB and the receiving equipment used.
These devices send signals on specific frequencies/technologies that operate around the world. Depending on the model you have, some of them have bespoke receiving equipment to transmit messages to, while others already have built-in worldwide radio and electronic monitoring equipment.
Once activated, the PLB device sends a signal which is transmitted and received by the COSPAS SARSAT satellites, and they send a signal to the nearest receiving station known as Local User Terminals (LUTs). The LT forwards the message to a Mission Control Centre (MICC), so when a signal is received and identified as a distress call from a specific area, the RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre) in that area is alerted. After that, the local search authorities are informed of the exact location of the alerts and they travel to rescue the person who’s in danger.
Does PLB Require a Registration?
Regardless of the model you have chosen, the one thing that stays the same for all PLB owners is that they need to register the beacon with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). The register is free and mandatory by law in some cases. The reason for this registration is that a registered beacon allows the AMSA Research and Rescue to phone your emergency contacts and find important information to initiate a response as soon as possible. An unregistered beacon can cause a delay in the response.
Who Needs a PLB?
For everyone who’s working or taking any part in any recreational activity in an environment where the chances of falling into a body of water are huge, or they may end up in a remote location that’s hard to find, you should certainly invest in a PLB.
When in the search for the right PLB, make sure to take into account its activation methods. Some of them can be manually activated, while others have semi-automatic and automatic water activation. Before making any decision, consider all of the models and pick the ones that’ll best meet your personal needs.
PLB Battery Life
Usually, personal locator beacons come with a long-lasting lithium battery which remains dormant until you flip the switch to activate the PLB. Generally speaking, you should look for a model that has a class 2 battery to be able to transmit at -28.9°C for 24 hours. Temperatures of this kind are extremely cold and can represent worst-case scenarios, however, staying safe than sorry is always better.
Because the one and only job of this device is to send an SOS signal and it remains dormant until you flip the activation switch, this means that the battery can last even for five years. Once drained, you’ll need to replace the battery, but the main downside is that you can’t do it on your own. That being said, you’ll need to take the device to a dealer who’s specialised in this, and the replacement costs can be quite substantial. Even though the battery can last a long time, once you activate it, you’ll need to replace it for having peace of mind that the next time you’ll activate it, it’ll run in perfect condition. In the end, life doesn’t have a price, so it’s better to be cautious.
