Personal Locator Beacons and Satellite Messengers - Worth it?

[Hermes]

I'm trying to decide if a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger is worth it for me.

I travel often for work in the US and, when I can, like to go on long hikes by myself. Some of these places don't have cell reception, such as Arches National Park. On top of that, I typically go on 1-2 international vacations by myself and often go at least one place during that where I don't have cell reception. For example, this year I went to the Isle of Skye and hiked many places that didn't have cell reception.

Things I do to be safe:
- Although not always, I will text my emergency contacts before I leave and let them know where I'm going and what emergency services are available if I don't check back in. I then check back in when I leave.
- When traveling overseas, as a female, I tend to stay with families and/or bed & breakfast type places and let my host know my plans for the day before I leave each morning
- I typically stick to well-trodden paths where, within 20 minutes or so, someone is going to come along

With that said:
- Sometimes I change plans and can't notify my contacts if I'm already in the place with no reception
- Yes, every once in a while, I get lost and end up off the path
- I have been hurt once badly enough to need first aid on a trail, but it was a well-trodden trail, so someone saw the fall and came immediately to help

I'm just struggling with the cost and carrying yet another device for something I only do a few times per year.

 

[braumeister]

I use a Garmin InReach device, and have for years. It provides excellent satellite coverage and you can pay for the service a month at a time whenever you need it.
I've used it in remote Alaska and down in the Grand Canyon where you can be hundreds of miles away from any cell service, and was able to easily exchange text messages with my wife at home. Emergency help is just a button press away if there is a real problem.

 

[OldShooter]

I flew search & rescue for a few years and the introduction of the SARSAT system (which the PLBs talk to) was a game changer. There is a geostationary bird that instantly hears and reports a beacon. Then, later, the low earth orbit birds use a doppler technique to pinpoint the location of the beacon. Supplementing this are GPS coordinates from beacons that have this feature. There are full-time staffed government facilities around the world that support this system. In the US it is the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC). I still have their phone number in my Contacts list. SARSAT | Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking "Search" is limited; just fly to where the AFRCC guys tell you to go.

There are also private systems. I am not up to date on them but the general idea is that there are beacons that one can buy and pay a monthly fee, then there are private facilities that support them. These private systems are liased with the government facilities to one degree or another. Again, I am not up to date.

I know from direct experience that the AFRCC people are pros. I have a PLB and would not be without it regardless of what private services I might also choose to subscribe to. Said another way, I am not interested in relying for rescue on amateur services with unknown training, unknown capability, and unknown reliability.

I have no idea how to measure "worth it." I think carrying a PLB is similar to backing up a computer system. It's not urgent; just be sure to back up the night before the fire.

 

[Walt34]

I'm trying to decide if a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger is worth it for me.

When you're lying at the bottom of the ravine with a broken leg and can't feel the other one, how much would it be worth to you then?

 

[Lorenzo]

It might take days for you to be found via PLB and the rescue services that follow on, but if you’re out in the wilderness that may be your best hope. A backcountry hiker should have a PLB.

 

[MuirWannabe]

I use a Garmin InReach device, and have for years. It provides excellent satellite coverage and you can pay for the service a month at a time whenever you need it.
I've used it in remote Alaska and down in the Grand Canyon where you can be hundreds of miles away from any cell service, and was able to easily exchange text messages with my wife at home. Emergency help is just a button press away if there is a real problem.

This. It’s the best option and the standard for wilderness adventurers. It’s also rather affordable with the monthly options.

 

[frank05]

If you travel a lot in the polar regions, you should check the latitude coverage of any product you select.

 

[folivier]

We carry a SpotX sat. messenger frequently. Never had to use it but do use it to send tracking updates to family.
Do a bit of research on upcoming sat. emergency texting on iPhones and Samsung phones. Hopefully the end of this year or next year this should be available. But I still like the SpotX since it's a waterproof dedicated device. You can send an SOS message that goes directly to search and rescue and also send texts to family, tow operations, etc.

 

[CaptTom]

Ideal would be a PLB and an InReach or SpotX. I don't know if they still sell the old-school Spot which only works with cell signals, but obviously that would be useless for this sort of thing.

Choosing only one would be an "it depends" situation. For casual use, the two-way messaging feature is a must have. I can see an argument for the PLB if you're a real hard-core adventurer. But in that case I'd go back to recommending both anyway. Full disclosure, on my boat I have an EPIRB, PLB and InReach.

 

[folivier]

If I understand correctly my SpotX does function as a PLB and also as a sat. messenger. And it's more rugged and has a longer battery life than a device that has to tether to a phone to work as a messenger. Not trying to convince anyone just pleased with my SpotX. I have many local friends phone numbers saved in it in case I just need a bit of help. Also have local emergency services #'s in case of a minor injury. But SOS will work if in a life threatening situation.

 

[Yipper]

We carry a SpotX sat. messenger frequently. Never had to use it but do use it to send tracking updates to family.
Do a bit of research on upcoming sat. emergency texting on iPhones and Samsung phones. Hopefully the end of this year or next year this should be available. But I still like the SpotX since it's a waterproof dedicated device. You can send an SOS message that goes directly to search and rescue and also send texts to family, tow operations, etc.

For iPhone the service is available now. See this link: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

 

[skyking1]

roomie has one to make his mom and my wife happy. He can send pre-canned messages for free.
" on the trail going great" or "back at the car and heading home". He also has 10 regular texts a month or something like that.
The biggest factor of getting rescued is filing a plan with somebody and sticking to it. Being able to say I have an issue, plus being on the route you said you were taking is good practice.

 

[frank05]

For iPhone the service is available now. See this link: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

Since they just forward alerts to local emergency services it only works in a small number of counties. They are adding new ones as they sign new agreements.

 

[CaptTom]

If I understand correctly my SpotX does function as a PLB and also as a sat. messenger...

The SpotX is nice. The difference between that and a PLB is that the PLB sends the signal to the local SAR authorities, while the SpotX (and InReach) send it to their company's command center or whatever they call it, who in turn contacts the appropriate response authority. And of course the PLB can only send a one-way distress signal, no message.

The biggest factor of getting rescued is filing a plan with somebody and sticking to it.

That's a very good thing to do. But in the context of the broader picture, you want to do whatever you can to take the "Search" out of "Search and Rescue." It's the "Rescue" part you really want. Sending your exact location to the SAR authority is, to me, the biggest factor. Which is what these devices do.

But, if there is a search, having good information about where you started, where you're going, when you expect to be there, and any potential stops along the way is a huge help.

 

[OldShooter]

Since they just forward alerts to local emergency services it only works in a small number of counties. They are adding new ones as they sign new agreements.

That's probably marketing talk. The first thing that happens at AFRCC is that they attempt to contact the registered beacon owner to determine whether the activation is accidental -- which is not uncommon. Only then is the information forwarded to the state 24x7 emergency duty officer for disposition. From there, the information probably goes to the county sheriff nearest the hit location. To the extent that there is "local emergency services" it is probably the sheriff's office. Other options available to the duty officer include LEO and first responder helicopters. It can get weird though. I was on one where the state governor got involved (a friend's kid was on the missing airplane) and he sent a Guard helicopter. Two guys in battle dress showed up without any idea what they were supposed to do and without radios that would talk to ours.

I have no idea how the private services handle this, but I'd bet good money that they are not permitted to immediately and directly contact county sheriffs on every hit.

It might take days for you to be found via PLB and the rescue services that follow on

An actual SARSAT PLB hit produces a lat/long very quickly even if the PLB does not have internal GPS. So if it is a good hit, there is very little searching. Like any satellite-based system, it relies on line of sight, so in a narrow slot canyon, underneath something like the owner, or not being triggered will make the search much more problematic.

... You can send an SOS message that goes directly to search and rescue ...

See above. I seriously doubt that SpotX directly contacts "search and rescue" since there is really no such thing.

 

[sparky08]

When you're lying at the bottom of the ravine with a broken leg and can't feel the other one, how much would it be worth to you then?

I do a lot of hiking outside of cell coverage and I carry the InReach Mini. Garmin says that it needs a clear view of the sky to "transmit and track points". So, I've wondered how it would work in a narrow ravine or under heavy forest.

I'm happy I have it, but I will be looking at the newer generation of phones that have emergency capabilities outside of cell coverage.

 

[OldShooter]

I do a lot of hiking outside of cell coverage and I carry the InReach Mini. Garmin says that it needs a clear view of the sky to "transmit and track points". So, I've wondered how it would work in a narrow ravine or under heavy forest.

I'm happy I have it, but I will be looking at the newer generation of phones that have emergency capabilities outside of cell coverage.

Any product that uses satellites needs a clear view of the sky. Phones with emergency capabilities are no different.

 

[braumeister]

I do a lot of hiking outside of cell coverage and I carry the InReach Mini. Garmin says that it needs a clear view of the sky to "transmit and track points". So, I've wondered how it would work in a narrow ravine or under heavy forest.

I'm happy I have it, but I will be looking at the newer generation of phones that have emergency capabilities outside of cell coverage.

I don't know about the Mini, but using the regular InReach I have quite a bit of history. Spent two weeks down in the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago and yes, in some parts, at some times, there were no satellites visible to me. But all I had to do was wait, usually about an hour or less, and I got a good enough signal. I exchanged texts with my wife at home all through the trip, so I have no complaints at all. I suspect the iPhones with satellite capabilitey would be similar, but haven't tried it.

 

[OldShooter]

I don't know about the Mini, but using the regular InReach I have quite a bit of history. Spent two weeks down in the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago and yes, in some parts, at some times, there were no satellites visible to me. But all I had to do was wait, usually about an hour or less, and I got a good enough signal. I exchanged texts with my wife at home all through the trip, so I have no complaints at all. I suspect the iPhones with satellite capabilitey would be similar, but haven't tried it.

Connectivity is going to depend highly on the vendor and what his satellite constellation looks like. More satellites equals more connectivity, typically. Geosynchronous birds stay in a single position in the sky, so if the view is blocked the view stays blocked. Low earth orbit satellites come and go. The frequency depends on how many satellites there are.

 

[braumeister]

Connectivity is going to depend highly on the vendor and what his satellite constellation looks like. More satellites equals more connectivity, typically. Geosynchronous birds stay in a single position in the sky, so if the view is blocked the view stays blocked. Low earth orbit satellites come and go. The frequency depends on how many satellites there are.

I don't think geosynchronous satellites would be used much for this purpose; it would be self-defeating due to exactly that issue.
The GPS satellites are in medium Earth orbit, and each one orbits the planet twice a day.
Long ago, in my w*rking days, I had some involvement with SARSAT, INMARSAT, and another system. Fascinating stuff.

 

[OldShooter]

I don't think geosynchronous satellites would be used much for this purpose; it would be self-defeating due to exactly that issue.

Actually the first SARSAT alert comes from the geosynchronous birds. If the beacon has GPS then that can start the process. Later (10s of minutes, IIRC) the LEO birds will have made enough passes to get a good Doppler solution

The GPS satellites are in medium Earth orbit, and each one orbits the planet twice a day.

AFIK there is no SAR type function on the GPS system, though there are some classified payloads. I think the private beacon guys are using their own systems, but I am not up to date.

 

[braumeister]

AFIK there is no SAR type function on the GPS system, though there are some classified payloads. I think the private beacon guys are using their own systems, but I am not up to date.

No, but the coordinates are obviously needed. I didn't say they had SAR attributes.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Used my garmin inreach in Antarctica, north of the arctic circle, in canyons, in forests, in foreign countries. Never had an issue. Just make sure you activate it before leaving. Else it’s not very helpful.

 

[OldShooter]

No, but the coordinates are obviously needed. I didn't say they had SAR attributes.

Yes. I missed your point. I'd guess that all the private systems need GPS. With the SARSAT system it is optional. The LEO birds use a Doppler technique that requires multiple passes, which slows things down a bit if the PLB doesn't have GPS. But either way, the PLB still needs to see the sky.