EPIRB I gotta get one

[roscoFJ73]

This guy was so lucky. The French Line is one of the most remote trails in oz. Its situated on the northern territory/south australian border in the Simpson Desert


Craig O'Callaghan's Simpson Desert rescue | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au

 

[1shot1kill]

I have an ACR on me all the time while hiking, hunting or traveling to remote areas! He is one lucky man!

 

[NLXTACY]

Yeah pretty happy I have my SPOT

 

[roscoFJ73]

I have an ACR on me all the time while hiking, hunting or traveling to remote areas! He is one lucky man!

Yeah pretty happy I have my SPOT

ACR, SPOT??. Are they North American versions of emergency beacon/locators?

If it wasnt for the Chinook it would have been an uncomfotable trip in a 4wd ambulance. I think crossing the Simpson Desert involves about 2000 sand dunes on the east west tracks

 

[sandcruiser]

while spot is a nice toy, and a cool tool, it isn't an epirb and you might prefer not to think of it as one.

do some googling- there is a bit of controversy out there amongst people 'in the know' regarding the subject and the take home message seems to be that spot isn't a reliable solution for serious rescue needs. (still much better than nothing and I would carry one if doing back-country stuff)

 

[EOE_overland]

ACR, SPOT??. Are they North American versions of emergency beacon/locators?

ACR is an EPIRB manufacturer. EPIRBS are far more powerful and reliable then a SPOT I'd imagine. But EPIRBS are a bit chunky for carrying in a backpack. EPIRBS are great, but are a bit cost and space prohibitive in some situations (where a tiny, cheap SPOT would be better than nothing). Definitely a good call for that motorcycle trip!

 

[NLXTACY]

while spot is a nice toy, and a cool tool, it isn't an epirb and you might prefer not to think of it as one.

do some googling- there is a bit of controversy out there amongst people 'in the know' regarding the subject and the take home message seems to be that spot isn't a reliable solution for serious rescue needs. (still much better than nothing and I would carry one if doing back-country stuff)

I dont seem to be finding those same results. I am only going to be in North America and not in the ocean. Everything I've seen thus far seems to be fairly positive on the SPOT. But again, let me know where I should be looking for "in the know" data. I am curious.

 

[EOE_overland]

I dont seem to be finding those same results. I am only going to be in North America and not in the ocean. Everything I've seen thus far seems to be fairly positive on the SPOT. But again, let me know where I should be looking for "in the know" data. I am curious.

I haven't heard anything bad about SPOT under those circumstances. Only drawback would be that it requires a satellite signal to work properly. May have issues with anything under heavy cover? With a SPOT you have a signal sent to one processing center that calls for help- like OnStar. EPIRB sends a satellite signal that notifies agencies that you're in distress. It also sends out a homing frequency so that you can be found more easily as rescue personnel move in (in case you've moved or bad gps fix at first). My humble opinion would be that it's overkill for most trips. EPIRB might be more helpful in a situation where distance to help is hundreds of miles (Aussie Outback, Africa, ...). I'm interested for anyone to chime in too on the SPOT. As far as I know it's a great tool for domestic backcountry stuff. And for other first and second-world places where there might be someone nearby to answer a call from SPOT headquarters?

 

[NLXTACY]

Well I think the two should not be compared against each other to be honest. The EPIRB is worse case scenario usage and tracing. The SPOT is more for one way communication coupled with updates via Google Maps and its has three settings of notifications. The EPIRB just has the "I'm f'd button".

 

[EOE_overland]

I have an ACR on me all the time while hiking, hunting or traveling to remote areas! He is one lucky man!

Is the ACR an EPIRB or PLB?

Well I think the two should not be compared against each other to be honest. The EPIRB is worse case scenario usage and tracing. The SPOT is more for one way communication coupled with updates via Google Maps and its has three settings of notifications. The EPIRB just has the "I'm f'd button".

x2

 

[roscoFJ73]

Do any of the other types alert aircraft?

 

[sandcruiser]

I just got back from a google trip regarding the SPOT and EPIRBs.

Based on the information found in some boating forums and based on talking with a buddy of mine who works in the offroad racing circuit- SPOT is a huge step in the right direction for people who would otherwise travel without any sort of emergency locating device.

The way I see it now, if I were in an emergency situation; 10 times out of 10 I would prefer to have an EPIRB or a PLB than a SPOT and 10/10 I would rather have a SPOT than nothing at all.

The bonus to the SPOT is that if you put it in tracking mode and use the I'm okay button... there is a gradient to the type of distress call you can put out. Let's say your spouse or a buddy is checking in on you as you go on a solo backroads trip. They know you are supposed to come home at 5pm but at 10pm you are still sitting in the same place. They can then jump in their truck or call a friend and go check on you vs. mobilizing an entire SAR team. Maybe you just busted a tie rod or something.

A little far-fetched, I know, but there are certainly advantages vs. the EPIRB.

Now, if you are driving your truck across the Pacific (let's suspend our knowledge of the not-floating nature of a land cruiser for just a second), then an EPIRB is the only rational choice.

 

[NLXTACY]

^ agreed. In fact I have never read a case of rescue at sea using SPOT but more than likely thats because mariners use EPIRBs.

 

[1shot1kill]

Here is what I got! I registered it with noaa! There is no annual fee or activition fee!

ACR Video Library

ACR Products

PLB Emergency Signal Directs Coast Guard to 2 Hunters Stranded on Kodiak Island

 

[NLXTACY]

So how much was it? I've been thinking about keeping the SPOT in the truck and then use the ACR to keep in my backpack for hikes and such.

 

[1shot1kill]

450.00 to 600.00!

 

[NLXTACY]

450.00 to 600.00!

Then again....maybe SPOT ain't so bad.

 

[1shot1kill]

Then again....maybe SPOT ain't so bad.

Well, as with everything in life there is a price - you just have to figure the cost-benefit of the item! Are you worth a couple of hundred more or not? Actually, some of us are worth more dead then alive!

 

[latinoguy]

Well, as with everything in life there is a price - you just have to figure the cost-benefit of the item! Are you worth a couple of hundred more or not? Actually, some of us are worth more dead then alive!

If you have 2M+ in term life insurance, don't expect the wife to get you one any time soon.

 

[joshoisasleep]

don't you like go to jail or get charged the $1,000,000 it costs to send the helicopter if you use an EPIRB and you are not on the ocean? Also, if it doesn't use GPS, then I would imagine if you're outside of its radio range nobody's going to pick up the signal? Like if you're in the middle of the Amazon, where you can get GPS signal no problem?

Also I'm pretty sure SPOT does not advertise that it works on the ocean at all... different beasts for sure. My SPOT's 911 message is customized to give instructions that I may have been kidnapped if is in 911 mode and I am in the Darien region. I wonder what the SPOT call center would have made of that if it had gone off?