A Personal Locator Beacon ( PLB ) is necessary for anyone who ventures into the wilds on their own , or even in small groups , motorcyclists even more so .
A PLB is an expensive piece of kit , one that hopefully you will never need to use however , should the time come to press the button , then that expense becomes irrelevant and potentially a lifesaver . There are many brands and styles of PLBs on the market , most do the same thing , yet one stands out for its size , weight , and durability .
The Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 is tiny , yet that
doesn ’ t diminish its capabilities and at the core it does what it ’ s supposed to by a simple press of a button ; in fact , it can be operated by just one hand .
The RescueMe PLB1 works with the only officially recognised worldwide dedicated search and rescue satellite network ( operated by Cospas Sarsat ). As this is funded by governments there are no charges to use this service . Be aware that some commercially available emergency tracking devices require an annual subscription , true PLBs DO NOT .
When activated the RescueMe PLB1 transmits your position and your unique ID to a Rescue Coordination Centre via satellite link . Rescue services nearest to you are promptly notified of your emergency and regularly advised of your current location to assist prompt rescue .
This is done through a 66 channel GPS receiver . To aid with the recovery process the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 also has a high-power strobe light that easily visible from great distances . The operational battery life of the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 is greater than 24 hours at temperatures lower than -20 degrees Celsius . Unused the Lithium Primary Manganese Dioxide battery will last for seven years before needing replacement , the same amount of time as the guarantee of the device .
The Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 is currently the smallest PLB on the market . It literally fits into the palm of your hand and weighs just 116 grams , yet that doesn ’ t diminish from
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