Personal Locator Beacons and Satellite Phones can have similar outcomes in emergency situations. I go into deeper examination on the pro’s and con’s of each and different situational advantages of one over the other. The conclusion is why I own both, especially for taking people into the wilderness with me. Link to the published article on Danger Ranger Bear- click on the photo above.
Personal Locator Beacons or PLB
A PLB is the first step in emergency signaling equipment for most peoples needs. The PLB, when triggered by the user in an emergency situation, sends your GPS coordinates to Search and Rescue (SAR) dedicated satellites, which relay your info to a centralized command center, which then alerts and dispatches your local emergency medical rescue teams and or SAR.
The advantages of a PLB in an emergency over a sat phone or other devices are many. The main one being simplicity of use and durability.
Use- Just flip open the cover and hit the red button. Thats it. No charging, no batteries to replace on a regular basis, no phone numbers or international calling codes to remember or program, no service needed to function. All that at a price point between $200-$400.
Disadvantages- Not all emergencies need SAR or helicopters flying in to the rescue. What if you need directions or non emergency help? Thats’ where a Sat Phone shines.
After talking to manufacturers directly and field testing in commercial use capacity in the field for years, I use ACR personal locator beacons. The first being the SAR link. The updated model posted below is the new ResQ Link View. It shows a digital read out of the GPS coordinates when prompted, as well as the status of the battery and signal. Five year battery life, Infra red IR and strobe, and powerful output signal are some of the commercial grade features on this model that prompted me to guide with it.
If you purchase from my Amazon store it contributes to my site. Click on the photo to buy.
I also like the base model ResQ Link as its smaller, lighter, and more likely to be brought along even on a day hike by users which is a huge advantage. It’s also less expensive than the View model. I also recommend this to parents hiking with children for their kids to always have on hand.
Click the image above to buy
Satellite Phone
A Sat Phone offers more versatility, but more complication and fragility than a PLB.
Advantages- The Sat Phone allows you relay specific information in an emergency. Most will show your GPS coordinates also to be able to relay that to rescuers.
In non emergency situations a Sat Phone can be used for example for directions if you’re having trouble with your navigation or equipment.
Medical Advice- A Sat Phone unlike a PLB can be used to relay specific medical advice from a nurse to your remote team, and also to rescuers for planning for your emergency medical rescue. Letting them know the severity, and nature of the injury, such as a snake bite, or head trauma can dictate how they respond to your needs. A PLB does not relay any such info.
Disadvantages-
The Sat Phone can be unreliable at times with reception, service plans can be confusing and pricey, and you have to have some kind of emergency contacts ready to go in advance. You can rely on an operator but it will slow the process down. The Sat phone also has to be charged, the user has to have the ability to speak and be cognizant, and the use of the international calling prefix is needed even within your country. If the user isn’t the primary owner and doesn’t know that they won’t be able to call out.
Isat Phone- I first bought the original Isat for use guiding with Bay Area Expeditions, and took it with me everywhere personally outdoors. It was only used a few times in the years of owning it. Once when I camp upon a rolled over Toyota 4-Runner in the Black Rock desert. I came across the survivors walking down a desert road a very long way off from even another ranch. The other times involved either vehicle break downs, or clients wanting to communicate with family from remote locations for good reasons.
In my years of guiding clients and attending remote expeditions, and now even day hiking out of cell service I always carry both electronic devices, as well as a headlamp and GPS. I have always relied on Garmin hand held GPS units and always the cell phone is a back up, or expendable primary. The gamins are known for their dead reliability. Wet, dirty, scuffed up, it never failed to work and run. The only limitations is not being in reach of enough satellites to get a signal because I was in deep canopy tree cover or a canyon. Now Garmin is releasing satellite enabled units.
Click the image below to link.
