If you love camping as much as I do, you’ve likely found yourself in precarious situations over the years where help would have been virtually impossible to contact if needed.
Cell phone technology has closed this gap a little, but with the vast majority of the North American wilderness not covered by cell phone service, you are essentially on your own.
Satellite phones are much better in terms of coverage area, but they are fragile instruments and cost prohibitive to most people.
If you are looking for the ultimate in lifesaving technology during your next outdoor adventure, consider packing an ACR Personal Locator Beacon.
Based on the same technology as the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) used for years in the maritime industry, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is capable of sending an emergency distress signal (via 406 MHz signal) to search and rescue authorities when all other means of signaling for help have failed.
When you activate the unit, an emergency signal (including your name and location) is sent to one of two search and rescue satellite systems orbiting the earth which then retransmit your exact location to the appropriate search and rescue authorities back on earth.
Personal Locator Beacons are not cheap and cost anywhere from $500-700 depending on the features of your unit.
When you purchase a new Personal Locator Beacon you are required to register the unit with the US 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database System.
Another option is renting a Personal Locator Beacon for a reasonable $65-70 dollars per week. If you only make a couple trips a year, this may be a much more cost effective means of acquiring the peace of mind you need.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great information, I think renting makes a lot of sense if it’s just a once or twice a year thing.
I agree Roy! I figure the life expectancy of a personal locator beacon would be about 5 years. At current prices, I would need to go camping 10 times to make buying a personal locating beacon (instead of renting) a more viable option. Interestingly enough, on my last camping trip to a “remote” location in Northern Maine, I was surprised that I had a very strong cell phone signal. I don’t know if there was some crazy ionospheric conditions going on or what.