PLBs and DSMBs

[Jeff_O]

Where did you get this info?

What is a PLB or a Personal Locator Beacon?

TraditionalMountaineering provides information and instruction about alpine mountain climbing safety skills, gear, off trail hiking and light weight backpacking, photographed on actual mountaineering adventures.

www.traditionalmountaineering.org

See July 1st 2003 date for this:

However, the EPIRB/PLB technology was not legal for use in land based applications until July 1, 2003. Governed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) it was not available because there was not a unified overseeing body for land-based rescues. In a marine environment, there is only one rescuing agency, the US Coast Guard, so coordinating rescues and responses has been a relatively easy task.

Probably see same on FCC webpage too.

Here is the same essentially from FCC:

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) transmit personalized distress signals in the 406 MHz spectrum range and aid in search and rescue missions. For example, if you are in a remote area and out of the range of cell phone service, you can use a PLB to send a personalized emergency distress signal...

www.fcc.gov

It says 2002.

 

[Dan]

Mistake meant Nautilus Life Line. It is not a PLB. User can change the two batteries it uses, but Care must be taken and change oring to be sure. Anyway it has a very good depth rating. Not so the PLB 400. Though why not put them both in the big waterproof container if possible.

As you said Nautilus Lifeline has very good depth rating. So it doesn’t need to put it in waterproof container. I took it down to 40m without any problem. You need to put the silicon jacket over it though to prevent the latch from getting caught / hit something & unlatched underwater.

 

[Jeff_O]

As you said Nautilus Lifeline has very good depth rating. So it doesn’t need to put it in waterproof container. I took it down to 40m without any problem. You need to put the silicon jacket over it though to prevent the latch from getting caught / hit something & unlatched underwater.

With the FCC link on PLB a down load file shows, ACR and Mc Murdo Ltd being mentioned. They were starting first trying looks like 2001.

 

[Pressurehead]

You need to put the silicon jacket over it though to prevent the latch from getting caught / hit something & unlatched underwater.

Ok, I have not tried this, the latch on mine is very hard to open, 'tight as drum'.
I have mine in my tech shorts with the safety sausage and reel [Scubapro light weight ones for warm water and the Apeks heavy duty one for around here].
A tight fit in the Scubapro pockets, could unclip in those if pulled out in a hurry, something to think about.

 

[Dan]

Or backrolling into the water from a dinghy if you have it clipped on your belt.

 

[Dan]

I carry both PLB1 & Nautilus Lifeline nexGen (NLn), as shown below. If I’m lost at sea, but I still see boats in horizon, then I’ll launch NLn. If I don’t see any boat in horizon, then I launch my big gun, the PLB1.

Here’s my “newest/greatest/comes with the Happy Meal” signaling devices. The PLB1 case is shorten to just fit PLB1 & it’s tethering string (red) to the lid. All of the items on the left side of the picture are fit inside my left BCD pocket & tethered to D-ring outside the pocket. My DSMB & finger spool fit inside my right BCD pocket.

View attachment 894486

Update:

I lost my PLB1 cradle and Rodney of Trionics graciously gave me his spare cradle as shown below:

Here’s how the cradle attaches to PLB1.

The black rubber band is looped around the BCD shoulder strap so you can have the PLB1 sits on top of your shoulder with its antenna pointing up and the flashing strobe light aiming up towards the sky, as shown in the previous post.

I find a good place to store the cradle and the rubber band on my storm whistle, as shown below.

The whole kit fits inside my left BCD pocket. When I need them, I just unzip my left BCD pocket and pull the leash out.