This was posted 1 year 8 months 16 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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GME MT610G GPS Personal Locator Beacon $299 Delivered @ ARB Tamworth

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GME MT610G GPS Personal Locator Beacon $299 Delivered @ ARB Tamworth
Go to Deal
LGodot on 04/03/2023 - 11:16 arbtamworth.com.au (2100 clicks)
Last edited 06/03/2023 - 15:41 by 2 other users

Not sure why it's on sale, but it's nearly a historical low. These don't go on sale often, so it seems like a decent deal. And if it saves your life then even better ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Can be had at:

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The MT610G is a super-compact, lightweight PLB, offering an impressive 7-year battery life and a 6-year warranty. Featuring a ‘Non-Hazmat’ battery pack for ease of transport, the MT610G ensures you remain safe and connected, wherever life takes you.

Featuring an integrated 72 channel GPS receiver, zero warm-up time, high-intensity LEDs, IP68 Ingress Protection, and an inherently buoyant design, the compact size of the MT610G has not compromised the safety features included.

The MT610G is designed to meet and exceed the latest international standards and is Cospas-Sarsat Class 2 certified.

GME is the only Australian manufacturer of emergency beacons and has been designing, engineering, and manufacturing EPIRBs and PLBs for over 30 years. In that time our beacons have been used to save hundreds of lives around the world.

The MT610G offers enhanced peace of mind for bushwalkers, 4WDers, remote workers, and aviators alike.

Sports & Outdoors Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon GME

Related Stores

ABR Tamworth
ABR Tamworth

closed Comments

  • gunslinger on 04/03/2023 - 11:17

    Does it require a subscription?

    • Godot on 04/03/2023 - 11:18
      +13

      Nope. You just hit the button and the troops show up (so don't hit it accidentally!).

    • Igaf on 04/03/2023 - 11:53
      +12

      You should register it with AMSA.
      https://beacons.amsa.gov.au/registration/

      PLBs can also be hired for ~$10/day

      • frugalferret on 04/03/2023 - 12:12
        +15

        Also free to hire at a few NSW national parks.

        https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/safety/bushwalking-safe…

      • Telios on 04/03/2023 - 14:13
        +2

        Pretty sure you have to register them if you actually want anyone to record the beacon and/or respond to it.

        They might send someone out to investigate an unregistered beacon "eventually" but registration is so easy and only needs to be updated every few years.

  • bob98 on 04/03/2023 - 11:25
    +1

    thanks been waiting for a sale to put one in the ute!

  • shmahoo on 04/03/2023 - 11:26
    +2

    I've been looking for one of these for ages, just haven't been able to find one.

    • MEGASERVE on 04/03/2023 - 12:29

      They sell them at a few places, so easy to find

    • seamonkey on 04/03/2023 - 12:52
      +24

      ironic

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 04/03/2023 - 19:03

      Did you try looking at 406Mhz?

  • CarpeDiem295 on 04/03/2023 - 11:27

    does it come with tracking

    • dangerdanger on 04/03/2023 - 11:31
      +6

      If it comes with tracking, I don't think the battery would last 7 years

    • Igaf on 04/03/2023 - 11:55
      +3

      No. It's an emergency device monitored by rescue orgs worldwide.

    • D3m3ntia on 04/03/2023 - 16:59
      +2

      You're looking for an airtag to track the Mrs, not this bad boy

    • Chridim on 04/03/2023 - 17:19

      You are looking for spot or garmin in reach. Both required subscriptions.
      Useful in a non life threatening emergency to notify you family/friends rather than the emergency services.

      • dogzilla on 04/03/2023 - 18:16
        +3

        We use Zoleo units for work same as in-reach or spot - Aussie made spot tracker one and has amazing two way SMS chat plus tracking plus emergency button.

        Wouldn't use anything else these days, they're awesome.

        • ProlapsedHeinous on 04/03/2023 - 19:05
          +6

          I use a Inreach Mini 2. Pretty good device. best part, if you go missing your device can be pinged remotely without any interaction from the user. handy if you've become disabled or fallen and dont or cant reach the device yourself.

        • wittyusername on 05/03/2023 - 11:54

          Any reason you'd use it over something like the Inreach?

          • Chridim on 05/03/2023 - 15:29

            @wittyusername: Good point, it looks like zoleo subscription is double the price of Spot

        • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2023 - 19:32
          +2

          You would use something else, because all of those NOT emergency beacons. They are sat coms. They do not broadcast on the monitored frequencies, do not help services home in on you from the air, and are nowhere near as reliable (search spot signal trees) etc. Even In the best case you're still relying on a 3rd party to relay your sos direct to Services.

          Ideally, you have both.

          A real plb calls directly for help. Reliably.

          • Chridim on 05/03/2023 - 19:53
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: Ideally you should have both. If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, you really don't want call search and rescue to help you.

            • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2023 - 01:26
              +1

              @Chridim: Yes, you really do if it's a life threatening situation. That literally happens all the time in the Australian outback.

              • Igaf on 06/03/2023 - 13:37

                @[Deactivated]: First sentence is spot on, and search and rescue have often been at pains to emphasise that very point. If you are in immediate or imminent danger - eg little water, little chance of local assistance arriving etc, hit the button and, generally, stay with your vehicle. Depending on circumstances - available resources, remoteness, weather etc it might take s&r many hours to get assistance to you.

                We shouldn't overstate the issue though. That doesn't happen all the time in the outback. Most remote travellers have no problems whatsoever although many wisely carry emergency beacons, sat phones etc jic. Relatively small cost. For regular off the beaten track travellers they are both essential kit.

                Even if they don't save your skin there's a chance they may help others, as happened not long ago with a motorbike accident near Birdsville iirc. Found the incident: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-19/man-rescued-from-sa-o…

  • dangerdanger on 04/03/2023 - 11:30

    Impressive device!

    • Ulysses31 on 04/03/2023 - 11:50
      +2

      Back in my day, it was

      Marco!
      Polo!

      • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 12:09
        +8

        Back, back in the day, it was COOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEE….

        • Ulysses31 on 04/03/2023 - 12:18

          I thought it was an Aussie thing :(

          https://youtu.be/1kBl0fEbhug

          • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 12:34
            +6

            @Ulysses31: Ahha, like all good Aussie things the yanks try to steal it !:
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooee
            Cooee! (/ˈkuːiː/) is a shout originated in Australia to attract attention, find missing people, or indicate one's own location. When done correctly—loudly and shrilly—a call of "cooee" can carry over a considerable distance. The distance one's cooee call travels can be a matter of competitive pride. It is also known as a call of help, distinct amongst the natural sounds of the bush.

          • BartholemewH on 04/03/2023 - 13:02
            +1

            @Ulysses31: Sue-eee?

      • easternculture on 04/03/2023 - 14:03
        +1

        Back in the day, it was the Bat-Signal.

  • PappaLuigi on 04/03/2023 - 11:30

    dont think 10% price beat at Anaconda applies for online purchases

    • Godot on 04/03/2023 - 11:37

      It doesn't :(

    • ninnypoop on 04/03/2023 - 17:28

      They do at the store I go to in Melbourne. I priced match it about 2 months ago with the online retailer caravan mods

  • eug on 04/03/2023 - 11:32
    +8

    If you're using it while hiking, you should also consider the Ocean Signal PLB1 which is smaller and lighter.

    • frugalferret on 04/03/2023 - 12:14
      +3

      And often the same price at supercheap when they have storewide sales.

    • sween64 on 04/03/2023 - 13:28

      Does it have a replaceable battery?

      • Mr Icarus on 04/03/2023 - 13:38
        +4

        None of the PLB’s on the market that i have seen have a user replaceable battery and the cost for returning for a manufacturer replacement pretty much make these disposable at EOL ( 7 years in this models case from date of manufacture).

        Often if they are used in a rescue you will be able to have a replacement free of charge in the use of your rescue story for the products promotion YMMV though.

        If you are a bit more hands on i have replaced the battery's in an old unit i have spot welding and reconnecting in the unit, but that’s a personal risk i take and would never expect somebody else to trust in my self rescue gear.

      • eug on 04/03/2023 - 15:57
        +5

        Does it have a replaceable battery?

        Yes it does, you can send it in to get replaced or you can buy a battery and replace it yourself.

        The battery comes with a plug like a cordless phone battery. You basically open the case, unplug the old battery, plug the new battery, apply fresh silicone grease on the seal, and screw it back together. You can see some photos here.

        Some people would balk at a DIY battery replacement. It's entirely up to you to determine if it's something you want to do. For context, plenty of people service their car brakes themselves which has arguably far greater risks.

  • trantonz on 04/03/2023 - 11:34
    +1

    Keen to know how this work. Would it contact the emergency service directly? Is there any verification process before any rescue attempts?
    Would it work worldwide?
    I knew this service existed however I always thought it required a satellite phone to work.

    • Godot on 04/03/2023 - 11:39
      +6

      They send a signal to a satellite which is then relayed to a local rescue centre. It works all over the world (though rescues will vary!).
      https://beacons.amsa.gov.au/about/how-they-work.asp

    • eug on 04/03/2023 - 11:41
      +4

      You register your beacon here with you and your emergency contact's details.
      You can fill in your trip details as well if you know them beforehand.

      This is what happens when you activate it.

      No satellite phone is needed, although if you think you might encounter a non-life-threatening emergency you would want a satphone as well so you can e.g. tell people you'll be a day late because of bad weather, or call for roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down.

      • Shwayne on 04/03/2023 - 13:42

        Would be interesting if they had a "pulse" functionality to check-in whereby you only transmit one pulse to indicate you're safe, in-case people start looking for you / someone reports you missing. (Rather than requesting a rescue.)

        • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 13:59
          +2

          Look in a Spot Tracker or Garmin Inreach for that.. Cheap enough to buy but the yearly subscription fees are getting a bit rude these days…

          • Telios on 04/03/2023 - 14:18
            +1

            @FLICKIT: Yeah I've got both style devices.

            If I'm going somewhere really remote and dangerous I'll take the tradition beacon that has a massive extendable antenna, integrated flashing beacon, and requires no subscription.

            If it's a safer trip or I want to share details or give visibility for pickup/updates/weather I'll take my Garmin and sign up for a month or two on the freedom plans.

            Like you said, it's getting spicy pricy though.
            Think it was around $100 total recently.

            About $60 for a yearly registration and $40 for a monthly plan.

        • eug on 04/03/2023 - 16:03

          Would be interesting if they had a "pulse" functionality to check-in whereby you only transmit one pulse to indicate you're safe, in-case people start looking for you / someone reports you missing. (Rather than requesting a rescue.)

          I guess the costs of maintaining and running such a system would be too high for a free service. The satellites would have to be upgraded to be able to receive a whole ton of pings from everyone, and the system might get overwhelmed during holiday periods.

          There are other services mentioned above that do just that. They're pretty expensive though!

          • frugalferret on 04/03/2023 - 16:15
            +1

            @eug: The problem would be battery life. Emergency beacons are not powered until they're activated. If you had it powered, obtaining a GNSS fix and then transmitting it's location every hour, the device would be flat in a few days and wouldn't be very useful in an emergency.

            • eug on 04/03/2023 - 16:31

              @frugalferret: You're describing a tracking system, OP was describing a check-in system i.e. transmit a signal one time when you press a button.

              Devices like the Inreach and Spot can do both live tracking and checking in; it's up to the user to make sure they're charged of course.

              • frugalferret on 04/03/2023 - 17:15

                @eug: Even an occasional check-in wouldn't work for emergency beacons. They are regulated and have an expiry date marked on the device to ensure that it's guaranteed to work up until the expiry date.

                Personal beacons are permitted to be worn on your PFD when operating jetskis in certain places, instead of an EPIRB. If the user was sending 'I'm okay' messages then they would be depleting the battery, and the user (and maritime authorities) would have no idea if the device was in working condition.

                If you need a device that can use to check in, then purchase a satellite based tracker/comms device, not an emergency beacon. It's like using your fire extinguisher in the kitchen to put out your stove every time instead of just turning the gas off. Eventually your extinguisher will be empty and when the kitchen catches on fire it won't work.

                • eug on 04/03/2023 - 21:16

                  @frugalferret:

                  Even an occasional check-in wouldn't work for emergency beacons.

                  Yes, no one is suggesting that a check-in feature be added to the existing Cospas Sarsat system, as it wouldn't be able to handle it anyway.

                  If you need a device that can use to check in, then purchase a satellite based tracker/comms device, not an emergency beacon.

                  Yes, exactly like I said in my original post.

    • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 12:24
      +10

      It goes via satellite to the national Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra, then they contact the local authorities… Most these modern beacons like this one also send your GPS co-ords so they know exactly where you are…. If you set one of these off they will call your emergency contact numbers and try to verify you are actually out and about where it has gone off, but in general, if you set this off help is on the way almost immediately…

      If you're somewhere like Tassie where a helicopter can reach the whole state from Hobart one of the 3 Westpac choppers will head to your location pretty damn fast, assuming you're not clouded in you're likely to have a chopper over you in an hour or two…. If the weather is too bad a chopper will fly to a safe place near by and wait for the weather to clear….

      If you're offshore or out in a desert they'll probably send one of the Challanger SAR jets out to spot you, I believe they have the ability to drop an emergency pack with a 2-way radio, water, and such… They will try to identify what's going on then organize a rescue, they'll often circle around until help arrives…
      https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/…

      If you want continuous tracking and such you need to look at SPOT sat trackers, or Garmin Inreach, they're awesome, I carried a SPOT for years for my remote travels but the yearly subscription fee is fairly hefty, they use the sat phone networks… They will transmit your location every few mins but they also have an emergency function like a PLB or EPIRB, the signal goes via their HQ in the USA, then on to the AMSA… Some you can send and receive txt messages on also…

      • drfuzzy on 04/03/2023 - 12:35
        +5

        Why do you know so much about getting lost?

        • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 12:38
          +11

          I roam around a bit, I suspect one day I'll need to call for help so I like to know how it will all work: https://i.imgur.com/Eq7jWzO.jpeg

          You don't want to see my "map of Tassie", there's not much that's not coloured in…

          • Azza69 on 04/03/2023 - 13:13
            +3

            @FLICKIT: I want to see your map of Tassie.

            • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 13:44
              +5

              @Azza69: I exaggerated a little, it's a work in progress :p
              https://i.imgur.com/NTjd0nt.jpeg
              (edit: ignore the couple of black lines down the SW, they're future plans, forgot to turn them off when I did the screenshot.. and sorry for the poor screenshot, working on a Surface Go on the road at the moment)

              • eug on 04/03/2023 - 16:03

                @FLICKIT:

                https://i.imgur.com/NTjd0nt.jpeg

                You should check out Manscaped.

              • Igaf on 04/03/2023 - 18:15
                +1

                @FLICKIT: No Sth Coast walk yet? Have you done the Yo Yo Track?

                • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 18:24
                  +3

                  @Igaf: I'll get the south-coast track done eventually, I planned to do it late 2021 but it was such a wet year it would have been a swamp down there so I did other things… Now the tourists are back, grrrr, it's pretty busy down there which dampens the enthusiasm…. I'll be back on the mainland for 5 months this winter so I probably wont get to it this year…

                  Yoyo track is planned also, I was going to duck through in march-april this year but now I've booked the boat to go do the Canning Stock Route on the bike this year the local stuff has gone on the back burner….

                  I'm aging and starting to feel old so I've got limited time to do the big desert crossings on the bike so that's taking priority for now… lol…

          • Telios on 04/03/2023 - 14:21
            +1

            @FLICKIT: Crazy you've walked the Nullarbor?

            • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 14:32
              +4

              @Telios: Not walked.. I've driven the hwy and taken the motorbike along the Trans-Australian railway line…

              That Australia map, the black & dark blue are in the campervan, all the other colours were on the motorbike…
              https://i.postimg.cc/j2j5Z0NK/P6026734cc.jpg
              https://i.postimg.cc/59Pjjydt/P7018199c.jpg

              Tassie map is a mix of motorbike, tinny, campervan and walking..

              • Telios on 08/03/2023 - 20:54
                +1

                @FLICKIT: Very cool!

                I've walked a lot of Tassie but was looking at some of those trails thinking you must be hiking roads for days!

                Good adventures!

                • FLICKIT on 08/03/2023 - 21:13

                  @Telios: Walking is generally a last resort, I'm a bit of a lazy bugger, lol… When covid hit I decided to do some hiking while there were no tourists around, it worked out well but once I was better set up for hiking it increased my Tassie to-do list significantly…

          • whyisave on 04/03/2023 - 17:53
            +1

            @FLICKIT:

            https://i.imgur.com/Eq7jWzO.jpeg

            Wow

            These kinds of thread-comments are why I love reading them :-D

        • whyisave on 04/03/2023 - 17:54

          Why do you know so much about getting lost?

          Doomsday-prepping !

      • FLICKIT on 04/03/2023 - 13:07
        +3

        To add to the above… Here an example of what they do at times:
        https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-family-bogged-simpso…

      • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2023 - 19:40
        +1

        The spots and such absolutely DO NOT have the same emergency signal abilities like a plb or epirb. You brush over a massive, massive issue by simply saying it "goes via america" first.

        That alone adds a link in the chain, but iirc the satellites and other stations that monitor our part of the world are not on those same frequencies. So youre relying on coverage in aus which is somewhat off to the side of the primary coverage grid. That and aircraft etc will not be able to hone in directly on you.

        They arent comparable. Spot and increach etc messengers, but as far as an emergency beacon goes, they're better thoughy of as unreliable toys. Have both.

        • FLICKIT on 05/03/2023 - 20:14
          +1

          Agree, I did write more about this then it ended very long winded so I deleted it… … They rely on the sat-phone networks which are a bit flaky in the far north and far south of Aus, and not good under a forest canopy and such, which is why I started carrying a PLB also…

          Generally a SPOT is ok but I don't gamble with my life on one… 9 out of 10 messages get out well but a PLB is basically 10 out of 10… (My Spot 4 was a lot more reliable than my older Spot 2 and Spot Connect)

        • eug on 05/03/2023 - 22:44
          +1

          The spots and such absolutely DO NOT have the same emergency signal abilities like a plb or epirb.

          Yup they're not the same; but they both have features that the other doesn't have, and it's best to have both if possible.

          A PLB is the gold standard for emergency beacons but it's an all-or-nothing affair, and it's just one-way communication.

          If you slipped down a cliff or gorge and you can't make your way to an open area as you're injured, you won't know if your distress signal has been received. With a two-way device you can stay where you are and send a distress signal; if it fails then you know you have to try a different location.

          That alone adds a link in the chain, but iirc the satellites and other stations that monitor our part of the world are not on those same frequencies. So youre relying on coverage in aus which is somewhat off to the side of the primary coverage grid.

          Spot uses Globalstar, Australia is within its primary coverage area from the north to well past the south of TAS. Inreach uses Iridium which has full global coverage from pole to pole including the oceans with its 66 LEO satellites.

          Spot and increach etc messengers, but as far as an emergency beacon goes, they're better thoughy of as unreliable toys.

          I wouldn't call them reliable toys as they are being used as emergency beacons. They have limitations just like how a PLB also has limitations. As long as the user understands the limitations and knows how to use them properly, either one can work.

          Have both.

          Yup, having a backup device is always a good idea.

          • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2023 - 23:47

            @eug: Sorry, but this still isnt quite right. We are not in "primary" coverage zone for spot, we're in a data only zone and its degraded performance for a reason. The same as iridium, there are times where the gap between satellites means one satellite is well north of aus while the next is well south. That means your line of site angle to either od relatively low on the sky, so best hope your emergency is occuring somewhere with a convenient sightline.

            Epirb can be picked up by a geostationary one always hovering above.

            Then when Services are on the way, spots etc do not broadcast a local radio homing signal like epirbs / plbs do, that can help land or aerial teams find you.

            Again. They are not equivalent. One should not be thought of as a backup for the other.

            • eug on 06/03/2023 - 00:28

              @[Deactivated]:

              Sorry, but this still isnt quite right. We are not in "primary" coverage zone for spot, we're in a data only zone and its degraded performance for a reason.

              "Primary Coverage" is literally the term that Globalstar uses to describe their Spot coverage for the whole of Australia.

              The same as iridium, there are times where the gap between satellites means one satellite is well north of aus while the next is well south. That means your line of site angle to either od relatively low on the sky, so best hope your emergency is occuring somewhere with a convenient sightline.

              You can wait until a satellite comes within view. That is what I mean by the user understanding the limitations and knowing how to use the device properly.

              They are not equivalent.

              Yes, which is what I literally said in the first sentence of my post.

              One should not be thought of as a backup for the other.

              If your life is at risk, it would be unwise to put all your faith into one single device that you're carrying. As is standard with backup practices, it is a good idea to have a backup that works on a different system so you're not reliant on a single point of failure, whether it's with your device or the network.

              • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2023 - 01:20

                @eug:

                "Primary Coverage" is literally the term that Globalstar uses

                It's what they say for SPOT devices. Weirdly enough when it comes to any other device, like voice capable ones, they suddenly don't…because the coverage is far to shit to enable decent voice calls in our area. Globalstar are low-earth-orbit satellites and there's less of them than the iridium network. I've already explained why the iridium network is inferior to the actual EPIRB system, and SPOT's network is worse. So. What was your point again?

                You can wait until a satellite comes within view

                Yes. In an emergency, life or death situation "just wait" is a simple solution. Why didn't I think of that solution. Oh ,maybe because there's a far superior solution. A real beacon (Epirb/plb) with geostationary coverage so you don't have to f'ing wait.

                Yes, which is what I literally said in the first sentence of my post.

                You said "Yup they're not the same", you did not say "they are not equivalent". You then proceeded to draw a lot of long bows to explain why they're actually kind of the same. Which they aren't.

                But let's circle back, my response was to flickit who said

                "they also have an emergency function like a PLB or EPIRB,"

                And that is completely and utterly false, as is your attempt to explain away why it's "kind of not".

                • eug on 06/03/2023 - 12:07
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]:

                  It's what they say for SPOT devices.

                  Yes, and that is what we were talking about.

                  Weirdly enough when it comes to any other device, like voice capable ones, they suddenly don't

                  What does that have to do with SPOT devices which cannot make voice calls? Sending text messages does not require the bandwidth of a voice call.

                  What was your point again?

                  Judging from the tone of your replies, it really doesn't matter to you what my point is. :)

                  Yes. In an emergency, life or death situation "just wait" is a simple solution. Why didn't I think of that solution.

                  I'm not surprised that you ignored my example earlier where you are not able to easily get yourself to an area where you're confident a PLB would work.

                  Iridium satellites are always moving overhead. You only need to wait a few minutes if your view of the sky is obstructed by something.

                  It's probably fine for you as I'm sure you'll only have emergencies in open areas. Other people may decide to have their emergency in less open areas. The difference between the two types of devices means an injured person can stay put (or minimise movement, e.g. snake bite, broken limb) and call for help and get confirmation if their call for help has been received.

                  But let's circle back, my response was to flickit who said
                  "they also have an emergency function like a PLB or EPIRB,"
                  And that is completely and utterly false, as is your attempt to explain away why it's "kind of not".

                  It seems you just like aggressively arguing semantics for the sake of arguing.

                  A PLB has an emergency function. You activate it in an emergency and your location will be sent out.

                  A satellite communicator has an emergency function. You activate it in an emergency and your location will be sent out.

                  So - they both have emergency functions.

                  And they both have limitations.

                  If someone is going to do an activity where their life is at risk and they require an emergency beacon, they should be responsible enough to learn the differences between the two and decide for themselves which, or both, is suitable for the activity they're doing.

                  If someone is driving through the outback where it's all open desert, a satellite communicator would have no problem getting a signal. The person can then communicate the nature of the emergency, e.g. "Vehicle is bogged but have supplies and shelter for 5 days", or "Bitten by brown snake, applied pressure bandage but need help ASAP".

                  If they're spending most of their time under tree cover, a PLB's UHF signal would have greater signal penetration through foliage, although you still want open sky for a good GPS fix.

                  Different people do different things. Not everyone is climbing Federation Peak solo, some people are just crossing the Simpson in a 4WD.

                  • [Deactivated] on 06/03/2023 - 13:24

                    @eug: You keep saying "no problem" for the messengers when it simply isnt true. Google spot reception issues for 5 seconds

                    • eug on 06/03/2023 - 16:43

                      @[Deactivated]:

                      Google spot reception issues for 5 seconds

                      Nothing Spot-related comes up in a 5-second search.

                      In any case I'd go with an Inreach device over a Spot.

                      • FLICKIT on 06/03/2023 - 18:40
                        +2

                        @eug: I ran a Spot Tracker for over a decade, it wasn't bad most the time… Southern Tas and the Top-End it was a bit flaky down in valleys, I assume due to the geostationary satellites being low in the sky, and under a wet tree canopy it often wouldn't get a signal out, which is why I started carrying a PLB also,..

                        I'm a big fan of sat-trackers, my elderly mum loves following my movements and seeing exactly where I am every 10 mins, and she loves me sending an "OK" message at the end of each day when I'm on the multi-day desert trips, it allows her to sleep soundly at night and not lay awake worrying I may be laying injured on the side of the track somewhere, but users need to be mindful of the above limitations… If you consider a PLB/EPIRB 100%, you'd class the sat-phone network based tracker as 95%, all good through Central Aus, good in open country and such, but they have their issues…

                        • eug on 06/03/2023 - 23:43

                          @FLICKIT:

                          I ran a Spot Tracker for over a decade, it wasn't bad most the time… Southern Tas and the Top-End it was a bit flaky down in valleys, I assume due to the geostationary satellites being low in the sky

                          Globalstar is LEO so if you waited a short while you might be able to get a good angle. This is where Iridium is better as there are more satellites, but as a result their service costs more.

                          I was down at South Cape Bay two years ago at the southernmost point of Tas and could make and receive phone calls on Iridium from underneath tree cover, inside a tent. The call dropped every few mins but I was surprised it even worked in the first place. When I was in the open a short distance away facing where Antarctica would be, calls worked fine with no dropouts.

                          I'm a big fan of sat-trackers, my elderly mum loves following my movements and seeing exactly where I am every 10 mins, and she loves me sending an "OK" message at the end of each day when I'm on the multi-day desert trips

                          Yup, that's a big advantage that a satellite-based device has. I used an Inreach Mini on some multi-day NZ hikes and parents back home greatly appreciated the peace of mind from the live tracking feature.

                          Both Iridium and GPS reception did suffer in valleys as expected, but being a 2-way device I knew when my messages weren't going out so I could retry in a few mins when a satellite comes within view or I'm in a different area.

                          but users need to be mindful of the above limitations…

                          Yup, that's the key point - users need to know the limitations of their equipment and how to use them.

    • joelmuzz on 04/03/2023 - 12:40
      +2

      When you trigger it it starts transmitting to satellites.
      Satellite network relays the message to local area authority (AMSA in Australia) who will call local state emergency services who will send helicopter, boat or car subject to availability.
      This is basically a 000 callout with consequences for misuse. Ie it is not for a car breakdown.

      Worldwide the response from emergency services is mixed, don't expect much from the third world countries, best case they might call your emergency contact who can start paying money to get action or private charter rescue.

      These are a one button emergency rescue call-out. There are more modern satellite messaging devices available to actually tell a friend to send non emergency help, eg tow truck. But they cost ongoing subscription.

      These are not a tracker. They do nothing until you press the button and extend the antenna and then it's basically a oneshot thing

    • trantonz on 04/03/2023 - 13:28

      Thanks everyone for explanation. I might just get one JUST IN CASE even though I haven't left Melbourne metropolitan for a long while

      • Igaf on 04/03/2023 - 13:35
        +2

        Decent city but that's tragic. Put your dough into a train or bus fare to Geelong, Bendigo, Torquay. Anywhere, really.

        https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/sailing-fares/latest-far… You might meet FLICKIT and get to see a map of Tassie

      • whyisave on 04/03/2023 - 17:56

        Also, remember these batteries last 7-years,
        before you need to decide whether you want another one,
        or see if you can replace the battery (which is not "easy").

  • snappy1234 on 04/03/2023 - 11:36

    These don't work when Caving

    • Ulysses31 on 04/03/2023 - 11:51
      +4

      Missed a chance to use: spelunking

      • UrMumsOnlyFan on 04/03/2023 - 12:20

        I never miss a chance to spelunk

  • pichxlonco on 04/03/2023 - 11:41
    +1

    Are these like the ones I've seen some people wearing on their ankles?

    • Ulysses31 on 04/03/2023 - 11:51
      +1

      Frankston anklet

      Hmm… JJJ Band?

    • Igaf on 04/03/2023 - 12:06
      +2

      No, they're a fashion accessory some crims like to wear.

    • MEGASERVE on 04/03/2023 - 12:33
      +1

      No they're for criminals on house arrest so the police can make sure they're doing their time.
      This is for if you're out in remite areas and get lost so help can find you

  • cyrax83 on 04/03/2023 - 11:56
    +1

    Would it be too much activating this down the road when I run out of fuel?

    • edfoo on 04/03/2023 - 12:35
      +8

      Try it yourself and let us know. My guess is you won’t receive fuel but a big fine instead.

    • node modules on 04/03/2023 - 12:39
      +1

      yeah. maybe ok if someone's life is at risk

    • joelmuzz on 04/03/2023 - 12:45
      +1

      You will get a $20k helicopter rental fee and a day in court.

      • banana365 on 04/03/2023 - 14:00
        +5

        No. If "down the road" is in an urban area or can be reached easily by road they'll likely send a police car to check first. AMSA receive false activations quite often, typically accidental, sometimes misguided. These typically result in a stern taking too. Malicious or bad faith activations are likely to get a firmer response. If it looks odd, e.g. not marine or remote, they don't throw everything at it straight away.

        Our local AMSA guy was telling us about receiving dozens of alerts from the same area at the same time. He went to investigate with his directional antenna and discovered a tub full of retired EPIRBs sitting outside a warehouse. It had rained, filled the tub with water and set off most of the water activated beacons. I think he holds the record for the most alerts responded to in one day.

        • node modules on 04/03/2023 - 15:16

          any action taken against him?

          • banana365 on 05/03/2023 - 01:08
            +1

            @node modules: The company disposing of the old beacons? No. It was perhaps careless, but definitely accidental.

    • WazzaP on 04/03/2023 - 12:47

      Yes, they're for life threatening situations only and generally where you're out of mobile phone coverage so can't call 000.

      • factor on 04/03/2023 - 21:47

        Also useful if in range of mobile. The alert is routed to someone with a clue about maps, and they will try to call you. Calling 000 without an address and nearest cross street is going to get you help more slowly than a beacon / AMSA coordination centre.

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