PLB housing question and also opinion on them.

[Johnoly]

you have it all tethered together

I've pulled my radio about 4-5 times in the 18yrs. No one gets lost in flat calm water, it's always rain & rough and the captain can't see you in the valley of the wave sets. When I've used it, I was getting thrown around by the waves. The necklace keeps it right near the surface and easy to grab that item that I need.

you have a ton of other stuff likely sitting in the water.

Each electronic is bagged and then zip tied at the top. You can read the GPS numbers to tell the coast guard or other boats EXACTLY where you are at because they can't see you (or you wouldn't be lost). With the radio, you can both speak and hear clearly thru the plastic bag. It you don't have it bagged, the microphone fills with water in the waves and they can't understand you. You can also read the GPS numbers thru the clear bag.

That laser is a great idea, where did you get that and how would you even aim that unless you had a visual on someone?

I dive in SE Florida about 4-6 miles from the shoreline that is packed with high rise condos. I don't have to aim it, I'll just wave it in every old persons window who's inside all those condo's and someone will be pissed off enough to call the police on me. People hate lasers being pointed at them. If I'm lost, that's what I want. The laser also will hit the boat captain and he can zero in which direction it came from and start heading that way. Green lasers are easily seen in daylight and you can point it straight up for him to follow to you. This one is a push button and 3 inches long and it's a night time toy I found on Ebay but it blasts out a very powerful beam. I bought 3 for backups because I liked it so much. If you research on Ebay you'll find them.

In 18 years, I've made alot of mistakes with the canister, like I dropped the radio once and it almost sank to the bottom. That's why I added the soda SMB & necklace.

 

[TT_Vert]

I've pulled my radio about 4-5 times in the 18yrs. No one gets lost in flat calm water, it's always rain & rough and the captain can't see you in the valley of the wave sets. When I've used it, I was getting thrown around by the waves. The necklace keeps it right near the surface and easy to grab that item that I need.


Each electronic is bagged and then zip tied at the top. You can read the GPS numbers to tell the coast guard or other boats EXACTLY where you are at because they can't see you (or you wouldn't be lost). With the radio, you can both speak and hear clearly thru the plastic bag. It you don't have it bagged, the microphone fills with water in the waves and they can't understand you. You can also read the GPS numbers thru the clear bag.


I dive in SE Florida about 4-6 miles from the shoreline that is packed with high rise condos. I don't have to aim it, I'll just wave it in every old persons window who's inside all those condo's and someone will be pissed off enough to call the police on me. People hate lasers being pointed at them. If I'm lost, that's what I want. The laser also will hit the boat captain and he can zero in which direction it came from and start heading that way. Green lasers are easily seen in daylight and you can point it straight up for him to follow to you. This one is a push button and 3 inches long and it's a night time toy I found on Ebay but it blasts out a very powerful beam. I bought 3 for backups because I liked it so much. If you research on Ebay you'll find them.

In 18 years, I've made alot of mistakes with the canister, like I dropped the radio once and it almost sank to the bottom. That's why I added the soda SMB & necklace.

LOL, i just dove in Jupiter Florida last week. The diving i usually do isn't that close to shore but I bet it would get a boat's attention if I can somehow see where I'm pointing it. Can you see what it's hitting, if anything? Can you see the beam? I don't know what a soda SMB is but i like that concept of that and will research. Will also look into that green laser, that's something I hadn't considered. I also have a mirror. I wonder if airlines have a problem w/ those lasers? Is your laser like this? If you have a part #, manufacturer or anything that'd be helpful. In looking it seems most are much longer than 3".


I Just looked up that davis key buoy and it says it can only float up 4.2 oz!!

Thanks
Dave

 

[Johnoly]

LOL, i just dove in Jupiter Florida last week. ....Is your laser like this?

YES!! It's bright and with the push button pulse switch. When use it, it doesn't have to be exact. Just wave it back and forth and people will see the general direction the light came from just like a flash light beam. Then they will head towards that direction.

I don't know what a soda SMB is .

It's available in the boating section of Bass Pro shops or West Marine. It's actually made for car keys on boats so they don't sink if dropped in the water. As soon as the soda hits the water it inflates the mini SMB so it won't sink. It's so tiny and cheap, I added it because when I almost dropped/sank my radio.

I also have a mirror.

Great for sunny days,,,,not so good for cloudy days. Remember, you'll never get lost on a flat calm day where the captain can see for miles. Rescue is for rough days.

I wonder if airlines have a problem w/ those lasers?

Remove the battery and 'Don't ask > Don't tell' But people bring flashlights in checked baggage all the time.

I hope you had a great time in Jupiter, that's my home port and dive grounds.

 

[TT_Vert]

YES!! It's bright and with the push button pulse switch. When use it, it doesn't have to be exact. Just wave it back and forth and people will see the general direction the light came from just like a flash light beam. Then they will head towards that direction.


It's available in the boating section of Bass Pro shops or West Marine. It's actually made for car keys on boats so they don't sink if dropped in the water. As soon as the soda hits the water it inflates the mini SMB so it won't sink. It's so tiny and cheap, I added it because when I almost dropped/sank my radio.


Great for sunny days,,,,not so good for cloudy days. Remember, you'll never get lost on a flat calm day where the captain can see for miles. Rescue is for rough days.

Remove the battery and 'Don't ask > Don't tell' But people bring flashlights in checked baggage all the time.

I hope you had a great time in Jupiter, that's my home port and dive grounds.

Actually wasn't a fan but I've done very different diving my entire life. Do you know the brand of that laser you have or any manufacturer or PN indicators I can use to try to search? I have about 4.5" to spare length wise for a laser and most of these are 6" i'm finding.
Dave

 

[Johnoly]

Do you know the brand of that laser you have or any manufacturer or PN indicators I can use to try to search?

Screen print I did back in 2022. Hope this helps.

 

[TT_Vert]

Screen print I did back in 2022. Hope this helps.

View attachment 917666

Odd that you still have that but thank you. Found it

 

[Jaan]

That's a lot of good stuff in that McMurdo canister @Johnoly . BTW, have you seen the SMA cables that might allow you to get the antenna in there attached also? Someone was kind enough to send us a link for that. I assume the antenna has to be unscrewed in the McMurdo too.

I guess that aside from a cylindrical design being good with pressure, it also leaves a little room on the sides for some of that extra stuff. A clamshell rectangular approach would get to be a bit smaller and wouldn't roll around on deck if it got loose, but there are pros and cons with any approach.

As for opening it in high altitude and going to sea level, you would have a problem with almost any design I think. We have shops in Denver that are well practiced in flying with camera cases and other water tight cases open for that very reason. Adding a pressure release valve would be the way to do it I guess

 

[Johnoly]

. BTW, have you seen the SMA cables that might allow you to get the antenna in there attached also? Someone was kind enough to send us a link for that. I assume the antenna has to be unscrewed in the McMurdo too.

Thank you for that link, Alot of the newer handheld VHF radios have GPS incorporated so I could eliminate the separate unit. I can bend over the HX40 in my canister and it still fits. But a new radio might need the SMA cable to make it work.

 

[TT_Vert]

So I did find something that "will" work. Not as streamlined or form fitting as I really wanted. I did a test and think bungee will work to secure this. I just need to get some grommets. May still get the HOG pouch

 

[lairdb]

So I did find something that "will" work. Not as streamlined or form fitting as I really wanted. Also no buckle. I was trying to figure out a way to use bungee to secure this but not sure the best way. I was originally going to put in eyelets at each bottom corner of the flap and pull it around the bottom of this pouch to secure it but I feel it may be able to work it's way up high enough to allow the flap to open up enough to allow the canister through. I could also bolt snap using that plastic ring (Or replace w/ stainless maybe) and then through the mesh but that doesn't give me the warm fuzzies either. Opinions? I like bungee due to light weight (I travel w/ all of this on planes).

Same as your grommet idea, but simpler: Make a bungee loop, girth hitch it through the plastic ring. Pull it over/around the bottom to secure.

If the pouch is on a belt/strap, it can’t climb up past the belt. (If not, I still don’t think it will; the bungee will tend to keep the Velcro* in place and vice versa.)





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