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Personal Locator

Personal locator beacons are a personalized version of locator beacons used by mariners and pilots. Personal locator beacons are great tools that can be added to your survival kit when you go on hiking, mountaineering or any other extreme outdoor sports activity, which requires you to go in uninhabited areas where regular modes of communication do not exist or dont function.

The personal locator beacon transmits an emergency signal to internationally monitored satellites if it is activated in an emergency. The transmission of signals leads to a chain of events whereas search and rescue teams are dispatched for the eventual rescue of the person who beamed the emergency signal from the personal locator beacon.

Personal beacon locator is used by U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Military, Arctic explorers and NATO. They can make huge difference in survival efforts. The personal locator beacons are waterproof up to 5 meters. The PLB transmits a unique, digitally coded distress signal to the monitored satellites. The PLB has a built in GPS technology and the device can give a 100 meter position accuracy with GPS co-ordinates. The PLB is enclosed in a high impact plastic case that can withstand exposure to raft packing, oil, seawater and harmful UV rays.

How PLB works?

The PLB transmits a digitally coded radio signal to the orbiting satellite. The satellite receives the signal and transmits it back to the ground station, which passes it to an appropriate Mission Control Center, which is ascertained by the national code that is part of the signal.

With use of sophisticated technology, the location and source of the distress signal is determined. Some beacons also transmit location information gained from GPS signals in the distress signals. The distress information (location) is communicated to the appropriate search and rescue authority for action.

It is advisable to carry PLB whenever youre going to remote areas of the world. The technological advancements have made PLB more rugged and a reliable device.

by: Jenny Birkin




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