When is a Personal Locator Beacon not a PLB?

[Critter]

The recent introduction of the "TracMe Personal Locator Beacon" is causing confusion among consumers. If you are thinking of buying one to serve as your distress beacon...DON'T!

TracMe is NOT a 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon.

TracMe is not a distress beacon at all. TracMe does not notify authorities you are in distress or provide location information.

TracMe is not suitable for use on backcountry adventures, in aviation or boating or for similar situations where distress alerting may be critical.

Doug Ritter examines the issues involved and explains why this misleading name could end up killing people. Doug reviews the critical differences between a real 406 MHz PLB and this homing beacon. TracMe may well have a place in the effort to save lives, but read Doug's commentary and you decide if TracMe is doing the right thing by calling their device a PLB:

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=65

Please help spread this around the web; get the word out and save lives.

 

[kr1]

I just bought a FRS radio for $10. That radio with either your knowledge of your location with or without a GPS would probably be more useful. 50 times the output power and voice communications would be possible with your rescuers if they have FRS/GMRS radios.

The company seems to make it clear it is not a real PLB but it annoys me that they have used terminology that appears to be made to confuse the unwary consumer. I am also curious that they are using NASAR's logo on their web page. They seem to imply that NASAR has approved use of this device. When you read it, it says only that they are a member of the organization. Again, it appears to be deception to me.

KR

 

[ironraven]

Misrepresentation of goods... very naughty....

 

[skammer]

I just bought a FRS radio for $10. 50 times the output power and voice communications would be possible with your rescuers if they have FRS/GMRS radios.

kR

FYI,

SAR in any form as far as I know rarely uses FRS or GMRS (outside of short trng missions) and never monitors the frequencies.

Better off with a cell phone and gps or signal fire.

Skam

 

[mete]

Whatever system you have , make sure it works in your area. GPS may have problems in thick forest. Cell phones require towers and rural areas have few and mountains interfere. Radio also has problems in mountains.

 

[skammer]

Whatever system you have , make sure it works in your area. GPS may have problems in thick forest. Cell phones require towers and rural areas have few and mountains interfere. Radio also has problems in mountains.

Smoke doesn't take batteries.

Skam

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Whatever system you have , make sure it works in your area. GPS may have problems in thick forest. Cell phones require towers and rural areas have few and mountains interfere. Radio also has problems in mountains.

True PLBS work in most environs, even heavy woods and deep canyons. I agree they cannnot be relied upon 100% and a simpler method (fire mirror etc)is a must in any kit, But the PLB is about the best thing going right now. :thumbup:

These TracMe www.tracme.com seem like an okay idea for a scout troop or a ski lodge or campground to give to people venturing out into the surrounding area, but since almost no one in the SAR community has the tracking equipment or even monitors FRS they are not much good as a general distress signal.

I believe it may actually be illegal in some areas for emergency response groups to rely on FRS or GMRS, as a primary means of communication

 

[mp510]

I just bought a FRS radio for $10. That radio with either your knowledge of your location with or without a GPS would probably be more useful. 50 times the output power and voice communications would be possible with your rescuers if they have FRS/GMRS radios.

The company seems to make it clear it is not a real PLB but it annoys me that they have used terminology that appears to be made to confuse the unwary consumer. I am also curious that they are using NASAR's logo on their web page. They seem to imply that NASAR has approved use of this device. When you read it, it says only that they are a member of the organization. Again, it appears to be deception to me.

KR

If your FRS Radio is anything like the cheap FRS/GMRS radios, you aren't going to be able to make contact with a unit that's more than 1 or maybe 2 miles away. They have notoriously low range, and are easily affected by things in the air and the surrounding enviroment.

 

[kr1]

FYI,

SAR in any form as far as I know rarely uses FRS or GMRS (outside of short trng missions) and never monitors the frequencies.

Better off with a cell phone and gps or signal fire.

Skam

Yep. On our team we have several people that have amateur licenses/radios that can receive FRS/GMRS frequencies. Saying that, we would have to know that we should be listening.

KR

 

[kr1]

If your FRS Radio is anything like the cheap FRS/GMRS radios, you aren't going to be able to make contact with a unit that's more than 1 or maybe 2 miles away. They have notoriously low range, and are easily affected by things in the air and the surrounding enviroment.

Again, absolutely. The GMRS versions can be 5 watts output IIRC which can give some decent distance.

And keep in mind I am not suggesting that they should do this but rather than spending the money for this device you could save lots for a transceiver that might actually be of use.

KR