SPOT - Satelite Personal Tracker - A Global EPIRB Alternative

[Scuba_Jenny]

Also important to remember is that when you push the 911 button on SPOT, it goes to THEIR rescue center which in turns contacts a local Search and Rescue. This is not a global SAR as the Cospas-Sarsat system is.
The main problem with SPOT, well, the coverage can be spotty. Sending a message is not 100% 100% of the time. And like somebody else said, hope you remembered to change the batteries.
EPIRBs and PLBs rely on 406 MHz technology, which is much stronger than what SPOT uses. 406 will penetrate tree cover and other obstacles where GPS is known to fail. If your PLB is GPS enabled, when you activate the beacon, the GPS is sent with the 406 MHz, reducing the search area to about 100 meters. The PLB also uses the 121 homing frequency, for the "final" close search. Direction finding equipment is used, and most local SAR have this. This is the same technology used on Man Overboard products, such as the Sea Marshall.
Sea Marshall is good if you have the whole unit...the piece you take with you and the DF. Somebody on the boat has to know how to use it.
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Ok, I admit. I work for a manufactuer of PLBs and EPIRBs. I do not represent the company in any way other than to make their graphics look cool at trade shows. But.. you can still be impressed.

 

[Tom Winters]

If you are diving someplace where these doodads might actually be needed, help the SAR people with one of these:
RescueStreamer® - Emergency Distress Signaling Device
When you're up there looking down on rippling, hypnotic water hour after hour, the straight line of these things really catches the eye.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I use the McMurdo Fastfind Plus PLB in a Dive Canister, whenever I'm long range offshore, at remote overseas dive locations, or in ocean conditions where there's a lot of current.

For those countries that follow the COSPAS/SARSAT convention and have the tracking capabilities, they should be able to rescue you relatively quickly depending on weather and sea state conditions. For the countries that don't --well, hopefully with the US State Dept's prodding-- at least they'll recover your gear and what's left of your body in a couple of days/weeks. . .

Just remember that the PLB does not work at depth. It has to be at the surface with the antenna out of the water, and in the correct position. Water displaces the signal quite rapidly. If you try to open that canister underwater to activate the PLB, the PLB will not function, the seals will break and it may even implode. This is not just for the McMurdo, it is for all PLBs.. as of this writing.

I'm curious about the antenna on the FastFind. The one I saw (an older model) wraps around and around and around into a tiny little space. It looked spiffy, but was about impossible to put back in and it kinked very easily. Have you uncoiled the antenna? Was it easy to put back in its compartment?

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Article out today.
Comparing SPOT and ACR Personal Locator Beacons

 

[OBXDIVEGUY]

If you let the batteries run out or the subscription run out, this is your own ignorant fault. You have to change the batteries in an EPIRB, and its not exactly something you can pick up at CVS on the way to the dive spot. As for satellite coverage, SPOT covers most of the world and more Earth stations are being planned for more coverage. A new one just opened a few months ago, fiving coverage to more Asia Pacific areas. Plus, I'm not too worried about tree cover at sea.

An EPIRB is a great product, but lets be honest. If it was so great, everyone would have one. I have never seen one on a diver, although I know there are a few out there. It is cost prohibitive to the average diver. SPOT has different costs, but the money I put into the subscription gets me far more than what the investment in an EPIRB does.

As far as the private SAR facility I'm all for it. I have seen the government facilities that have to fight for the budget and often times have antiquated equipment. Regardless, the same calvary is called in. It is just different who calls them. Either a government agency calls or a private agency calls.

Jenny, I appreciate you encouraging EPIRBs, and we both know why. Just appreciate a SPOT is a different product that provides a similar service. If everyone could have an EPIRB it would have made my life much easier a few years ago.

 

[spoolin01]

Often enough, if you need one it's already your own ignorant fault. Those odds compound, why make it worse? No thanks, I'll take the 10 year battery replaced at half life over the 1-year battery + subscription (oops, computer glitch!) + middle-men (aren't there hurricanes in Houston?) + no cost savings. Like I said, if you like the other stuff, that makes a difference. I just want something to use in a real emergency, and when the chips are down, I bet I'll remember why it was a no-brainer (won't be my ignorant fault then!). I take the PLB whenever I go on a boat or into the back country. Land emergencies are not as dire, that may enter into the decision. Also, looking at the coverage map, it looks like what you mean is that coverage is arguably >50%, but much higher over land. It appears not to be meant for blue water crossings, as EPIRBs are.

 

[OBXDIVEGUY]

youi're absolutely right, its not for blue water. I hope you don't think I was referring to you as being ignorant, not at all. I just believe that with any gear, if it breaks or the batteries die, it is of course the user's responsibility to know how to maintain it.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Just remember that the PLB does not work at depth. It has to be at the surface with the antenna out of the water, and in the correct position. Water displaces the signal quite rapidly. If you try to open that canister underwater to activate the PLB, the PLB will not function, the seals will break and it may even implode. This is not just for the McMurdo, it is for all PLBs.. as of this writing.

I'm curious about the antenna on the FastFind. The one I saw (an older model) wraps around and around and around into a tiny little space. It looked spiffy, but was about impossible to put back in and it kinked very easily. Have you uncoiled the antenna? Was it easy to put back in its compartment?

No . . .uncoiling the antenna by function means that you are in distress and actually using it. (It has a test button in which to do a "health & battery check" of the unit, and you are only allowed to do so within the top of the hour by convention).

It the antenna accidentally gets deployed, you've got to immediately disable the transmitter function (take out the battery) and send it all back to the mfg to have it tested and repacked again. I would also call my primary emergency contact and tell him that I had an accidental/unintended deployment, and to inform the Coast Guard or other US Command Authority when they call him for confirmation.

(I've actually yelled at a few TSA agents at the airport security checkpoints, who almost deployed the unit by flipping the lid open. . .)

 

[spoolin01]

Seems odd that the activation isn't more 'affirmative' than flipping the case open or deploying the antenna... With the ACR PLB, Aquafix 406, it doesn't trigger until you push two buttons simultaneously for one second. You can practice by deploying and stowing the antenna without triggering it. You can also de-activate the emergency signal using the Off button.

 

[spoolin01]

...I just believe that with any gear, if it breaks or the batteries die, it is of course the user's responsibility to know how to maintain it.

Good reminder. Now that you've mentioned it, I went and checked and the battery on mine is up this year for replacement. Also re-read the manual and did the internal self-check which also checks battery condition apparently - it's intended to ensure the unit will transmit for 24 hours after activation. Interestingly, ACR doesn't recommend it but says the battery is user-replaceable. They do maintenance and testing though, so I'll probably wince and pay up for them to replace it.