Garmin In-reach mini as PLB?

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So, it identifies where you're at and allows a rescue. How is this not an emergency beacon?

It can be called a beacon as it does broadcast a signal requesting rescue, but as I understand it, the In Reach is more than just a PLB (Which only broadcasts an emergency signal continuously until the battery dies)

A PLB uses one set of satellites ( the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme, the international satellite system for search and rescue) and is more of a continuous broadcast in the blind (you don't know if your message was received) beacon

Where the Garmin InReach is a two was communications device which uses a different set of satellites (Iridium satellite network, same a satellite phones) to provide two way communication via text messaging. This later service requires a paid for contract similar to any mobile phone.

Both types of beacon will help get you rescued. The Garmin just requires an ongoing payment to provide service.
 
He didn't say it was not an emergency beacon, he said it was not a PLB. A PLB has a specific meaning; it is not a generic term for everything that might be a call for help.


Is there an international (and not corporately) definition of a PLB vs emergency beacon, just out of curiosity? If you break down the PLB acronym I can't find a term that doesn't apply, its a personal device (P) that used radio waves to locate a person(L) and provide beacon for a navigational fix to them (B).
 
These 2 short videos would clear up some of the questions & confusions about PLB vs other radio devices that could be used as emergency beacon.

 
Is there an international (and not corporately) definition of a PLB vs emergency beacon, just out of curiosity? If you break down the PLB acronym I can't find a term that doesn't apply, its a personal device (P) that used radio waves to locate a person(L) and provide beacon for a navigational fix to them (B).
It's about as specific as GPS, which has a very definite meaning but if you look at the individual words making up GPS you can't tell that.
 

It's about as specific as GPS, which has a very definite meaning but if you look at the individual words making up GPS you can't tell that.

I was hoping for a more concrete source vs Wikipedia and corporate/personal websites. Ideally looking for an international organization that would be the regulatory function or even an official government website.

more like this for GPS GPS.gov: GPS Overview

GPS is pretty well defined I guess? Owned/maintained/launched by the US Air Force system that provides 3D global location. There is the Russian GLOSNASS system but everything I’ve ever used that can talk to it rather explicitly says so, so really not much confusion.

So to be a PLB it’s not really what it does so much as that it connects to that SAR network?

but then again that definition defies the first link “PLB sends out a signal on either a 406MHz frequency or Local Area System using 121.5MHz, VHF DSC and/or AIS. “

so unlike GPS there appears to be a lose and informal definition?
 
I was hoping for a more concrete source vs Wikipedia and randomwebsite.com.

more like this for GPS GPS.gov: GPS Overview

GPS is pretty well defined I guess? Owned/maintained/launched by the US Air Force system that provides 3D global location. There is the Russian GLOSNASS system but everything I’ve ever used that can talk to it rather explicitly says so, so really not much confusion.

So to be a PLB it’s not really what it does so much as that it connects to that SAR network?

but then again that definition defies the first link “PLB sends out a signal on either a 406MHz frequency or Local Area System using 121.5MHz, VHF DSC and/or AIS. “

so unlike GPS there appears to be a lose and informal definition?

How about this: NOAA - Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking - Emergency Beacons
 
I’ll take it! So NOAA maintains it (for the US)? Who is the international governing agency for the system? I mean people aren’t launching these satellites out of the goodness of their hearts.

SAR satellites are operated & maintained by US government (& other countries?). We are paying them through our federal tax money every year. So why don't we take advantage of it?

Yes, each country has its own SAR governing agency. For example, NOAA for USA, Basarnas for Indonesia, CAAS for Singapore, etc. I don't know if an international governing agency for SAR exist. If I am lost at sea in Indonesia, NOAA would coordinate my rescue with Basarnas.

I don't know how good the Iridium satellite coverage around Indonesia received by the low power, 1.6 GHz signal of Garmin InReach. I heard it is pretty spotty.

PLB1 5 watt 406 MHz signal had been shown to be pretty effective in Indonesia. Read post # 162 by @Luxe miles diver on page 17 of this thread:
Canadian diver and buddy rescued near Apo Island, Philippines
 
Signal of plb will go through in indonesia. Rescue time depend on the location of the military.

Case :
I went diving in manado area with my plb1 in a plastic waterproof flexible case. Upon surfacing, 15 min later i realized the plb was activated accidentally (due to pressure at depth). Since the antenna of the plb was not deployed and it was only less then 30 min of accidental activation? I did not think much of it (i thought for sure signal would not have gone through as antenna was not deployed and not much time was activated and went on our 2nd dive) (Activation was near resort dive site)

Upon return to land. We saw indonesian military personel at the resort (we thought it was routine inspection for that area). That was maybe less then 2 hour after discovery of the accidental activation. (Manado military have to take boat from mainland to resort island. 20 min away from mainlaind)

Later when we turn on our cell phone (cell phone reception signal only on land near resort) we we shocked to get many missed call, texts, and emails from our family emmergency contact. The message was : jakarta sar detected an activation of your plb near manado. North american Sar Contacted emmergency contact and verify situation. Family Emmergency contact said we were diving in indonesia and cannot reach us. North american SAR told our emmergency contact that jakarta said military was notified!!

That was when we panicked and realized that the plb1 is so powerful that even with the antenna down, and short activation time, the plb satellite signal actually went through! We frantically called NA sar and notified of the accidental activation. (Our family was panicking as they thought something happened to us)

After that trip we bought a proper hard case dive canister for the plb.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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