Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) – 406 MHz GPS EPIRB Technology
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are the smaller cousins of devices found on many safety minded vessels, the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). While we focus here on marine related uses of personal locator beacons, many outdoor enthusiasts use these devices in a variety of other outdoor activities. Solo boaters should be especially interested in wearing a locator beacon since there is no crew onboard to effect their own rescue. Radio beacons need to be registered with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides SAR authorities with your personal contact information and ties it to the PLB you are using. This information is very helpful in determining the validity of questionable alarms and provides a way for authorities to contact family ...