ACR ResQLink 400 - SOS Personal Locator Beacon with GPS (Model: PLB-400) ACR 2921
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IanC
> 24 hourThe chances of ever needing to use an emergency beacon are astranomically low. 911 cell coverage many times is available when regular cell service is unavailable. But if you travel off the beaten path and need insurance against being in a real life and death situation and having absolutely no other way to call for help (from air/sea rescue) this emergency beacon is light and foolproof.
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Xeiot
> 24 hourHope I never have to use it but well worth the insurance. Individual registration is required, free and easy to do with provided instruction.
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Dion
> 24 hourGetting it registered wasn’t easy but not the fault of Amazon or the company that made it.
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1HuntsWithNature
> 24 hourThis will SAVE YOUR LIFE !!!
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Gerry Ullrich V
> 24 hourExpiration date was fresh five years out . I can relax now when beyond cell service
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Roman Wloch
> 24 hourGot this for my son while he jet skis Had it for approx 3 months Noticed it was full of rust Went to test Obliviously nothing works Good thing he did not need it for a emergency
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Ardent Grant
> 24 hourPrimary Drawback.. There are no applicable Rescue Response Insurance Plans. Spot, Garmin, etc all have access to services like GEOS. This does not.
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Michael
> 24 hourSimple design. Easy to use and understand. Thankfully haven’t needed to press button yet but I am ready!!!
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Clayton A. Tomlinson
> 24 hourVery good experience. Arrived on time great price. Easy to understand how to use it. I go offshore and it adds another level of safety
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Pyracantha
> 24 hourActually I hope never to use it, but if the need arose I suspect this unit would be helpful. This replaces a McMurdo Fast Find which Ive had for 8 years and never used. The battery in the Fast Find still shows full charge after all these years, but I thought it best to replace and upgrade. Both are fine units, I just appreciated the longer signal life on the ResQLink. The only downside is the belt clip is close to impossible (dont give up) to attach to the unit and for all the trouble the closure on the belt clip is too wide and doesnt stay on your belt or pack. Also, the antenna can and does deploy when thrown in a bag or pack. Not a big deal, just an inconvenience.
How An EPIRB or PLB Rescue Works
The Anatomy of a Rescue - Stage 1
When activated, EPIRBs and PLBs send a unique distress signal on the 406 MHz frequency to the Search and Rescue Satellites.
Each beacon is programmed with and sends a unique digital code called a HEX ID or Unique ID. The HEX ID identifies the type of beacon and, Search and Rescue use the HEX ID to identify the beacon registration information provided by the beacon owner.
This information can include: who the beacon owner is, the type of vessel the beacon is associated with (for EPIRBs), emergency points of contact, float plans, trip plans, and much more.
The Anatomy of a Rescue - Stage 2
After the satellite receives a beacon signal, it relays the signal to ground stations referred to as local user terminals (LUTs).
The LUT processes the data, computes the location of the distress beacon, and transmits a decoded alert message to its associated national Mission Control Center (MCC). This happens almost instantaneously after the initial beacon signal is received.
The Anatomy of a Rescue - Stage 3
The Mission Control Center then geographically sorts the data, and transmits a distress message to the closest appropriate SAR authority and another MCC if the beacon is registered to another country.
The RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) investigates the beacon alert and launches rescue assets to find the parties in distress.
Rescue Overview
- 406 MHz Distress Call Is Activated
- Search and Rescue (SAR) satellites forward distress signal down to earth Ground Stations
- Ground stations forward the distress to the Mission Control Centers (MCC)
- The MCC alerts the closest Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC)
- The RCC call emergency contacts and dispatch the closest SAR teams
- SAR teams arrive on scene and rescue survivors
- Worldwide – Over 48,000+ people rescued since 1982
- United States – 9,753 people rescued since 1982