Below is a recent event some of you might be interested in. If you already have a PLB or SPOT or looking to buy one you may be interested in the below links. ETS is a very professional and factual site that brings some good information to light about these two products. Its about the USCG's response time with the SPOT as to a 406 PLB.

Read this first: http://www.acrelectronics.com/alerts/defines.htm

Then ETS's take on this. http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=83

Honestly with the price of PLBs now in the $400-500 range unless you REALLY want the constant tracking feature of the SPOT, in about 3 years you bought a 406/GPS PLB.

You can get a McMurdo Fastfind Max-G for the low $500 if you check around. Another brand I can't remember has an ad in Trade-a-Plane if you are in the market.

With the 121.5 Mhz becoming unreliable for SAR next year, I can't imagine flying around in the backcountry without one of these. The price is cheap when you consider the other crap we spend $$$ on.

Just thought this might help, or further confuse.

Splashpilot wrote:
With the 121.5 Mhz becoming unreliable for SAR next year, I can't imagine flying around in the backcountry without one of these. The price is cheap when you consider the other crap we spend $$$ on.

Just thought this might help, or further confuse.

Are there any 406 ELT type units approved to replace the 121.5 ELTS?

There are some 406/GPS ELT's out there that are direct replacements for the 121.5 ones that most of us have in our planes now.


But in typical aviation fashion they are averaging $1200-over $3000.

I have an ACR 406 PLB,,,,the one thing that I wonder about is that you need to be able enough to push those two buttons,Plane crashes as everybody knows, can be downright nasty,It would be nice to have a device that would combine the two options of the spot and the other device (Be able to leave a snail trail of where you have been in the unfortunate event you or your passengers are unable to function enough to push the buttons and activate the PLB Also,,,, It is part of my passenger briefing to show everybody on board how the device works and what pocket of my vest it is in

I went from a PLB to a spot. One thought was that I might need a hand, but didn't need everybody in the world to know, so with the spot I could let a friend know and let them give me a had.

I also think you might get a quicker response from friends than from SAR.

I know when MotorCiityMaule went down, I was over there and back long befor SAR had even decided whos territory it was to go search, let alone, launch the search.

If he had had the spot, I would have had him home before they even left the ground. And actually, they wouldn't have even been bothered by it, because his friends would have dealt with it.

Gary

shortfielder wrote:I went from a PLB to a spot. One thought was that I might need a hand, but didn't need everybody in the world to know, so with the spot I could let a friend know and let them give me a had.

I also think you might get a quicker response from friends than from SAR.

I know when MotorCiityMaule went down, I was over there and back long befor SAR had even decided whos territory it was to go search, let alone, launch the search.

If he had had the spot, I would have had him home before they even left the ground. And actually, they wouldn't have even been bothered by it, because his friends would have dealt with it.

Gary

Good point............

The solution is simple. I carry both.

375handh wrote:The solution is simple. I carry both.

Me too. ACR is in the vest and spot zip tied to the V-brace.

I get ok text messages from my buddy's spot all the time and he get's mine. I too have a bit more confidence that friends may find me quicker than SAR but I'm activating both, if able and if necessary.

Kannad from NZ has the best prices and looks like the best equipment in the low priced 406 ELT world right now--just at $900 plus install.

The SPOT may work fine if all your friends spend all their time sitting at home checking their e-mail to see if you've sent an SOS. Or, of course you can text it. We all know how reliable sending messages via cell phone can be....

There is merit to having people who are properly equipped coming to save your butt. WHat if you're in a place where a winch equipped helicopter is the only way out?

How many people crash right next to a landing strip, and if THEY crashed on it, why would YOU want to land there next?

Just some thoughts.

I'm thinking that a good 406 PLB AND a SPOT is a good combo.

Note that the latest PLB's (Micro-Fix) have only one button to activate. One handed deal there, instead of the older units which required two.

MTV

Well, I have the 2 button model, not enough $ for a spot as well.Ill push those buttons with my nose and tounge If my arms are not in same area as the rest of me........Just hope the vest stays on and the PLB lands on my face

mtv wrote:Kannad from NZ has the best prices and looks like the best equipment in the low priced 406 ELT world right now--just at $900 plus install.

The SPOT may work fine if all your friends spend all their time sitting at home checking their e-mail to see if you've sent an SOS. Or, of course you can text it. We all know how reliable sending messages via cell phone can be....

There is merit to having people who are properly equipped coming to save your butt. WHat if you're in a place where a winch equipped helicopter is the only way out?

How many people crash right next to a landing strip, and if THEY crashed on it, why would YOU want to land there next?

Just some thoughts.

I'm thinking that a good 406 PLB AND a SPOT is a good combo.

Note that the latest PLB's (Micro-Fix) have only one button to activate. One handed deal there, instead of the older units which required two.

MTV

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want only my buddy's to respond, I'm saying they "may" be able to find me first. Doing anything about whatever the trouble is, well that's a different matter.

If I'm able, the panel switch will activate the 121.5 elt in case the g-switch didn't and I'll be activating both the spot and acr (and yes it is the microfix with the one button) The more the merrier, hell I'll even try the cell phone if able and in coverage.

The SPOT feature I personally find most attractive is the "OK" button. There are too many places in Alaska, even state airstrips, where the only way to close a flight plan would be by Sat phone. So a lot of people, myself included, just file with a friend. In that light, I love the idea of letting people know that I'm at my destination and OK. Or if I'm late returning because of weather I can signal that I'm OK.

Phil

mtv wrote:Kannad from NZ has the best prices and looks like the best equipment in the low priced 406 ELT world right now--just at $900 plus install.

The SPOT may work fine if all your friends spend all their time sitting at home checking their e-mail to see if you've sent an SOS. Or, of course you can text it. We all know how reliable sending messages via cell phone can be....

There is merit to having people who are properly equipped coming to save your butt. WHat if you're in a place where a winch equipped helicopter is the only way out?

How many people crash right next to a landing strip, and if THEY crashed on it, why would YOU want to land there next?

Just some thoughts.

I'm thinking that a good 406 PLB AND a SPOT is a good combo.

Note that the latest PLB's (Micro-Fix) have only one button to activate. One handed deal there, instead of the older units which required two.

MTV

A couple things. Later this fall one of the ELT makers is coming out with a replacement for their 121.5 ELT. I saw it online somewhere, AVWEB maybe. Can't remember the manufacturer but the new box uses the same mount as the old one. Swap out the antenna into the same hole and you're done. Price was $520(approx) if you had their 121.5 unit and about $550 if you didn't.
Mike you're really showing you're age when you say the SPOT is a good alternative if your friends are always by their phone/email. You're allegedly on campus. Take a look out the window and look at any kid. What do you see him/her doing? The SPOT sends text messages as well as emails. Agree that having both SPOT/PLB is best but until people start dying because the SPOT didn't work I'll stick with SPOT because it's so versatile. It already saved a Cub guy in South Dakota a few weeks or so ago when he wrecked. Help was there within the hour after he pressed 911.

SPOT depends on a private business, Globalstar, which is in dire financial straits because of their failing non-functional sat-phone system, to remain in business and answer your call for help. No Globalstar, no up feed and down feed from their satellites. The 406 PLB depends on the US Govt to answer your call, and US, French, Australian, and Russian satellites. I will bet on the US Govt being in business long after Globalstar rolls belly up. Iridium now has some type of tracking unit available. Just heard about it on another web-site. Don't know anything else about it, but an Iridium based product would be my preference over Globalstar. The in air track that SPOT can provide is a good thing, but for an emergency the 406PLB is what I've decided on for my family's safety. Just a personal decision, based on the horrible service I received from Globalstar.

Here's the link to the Iridium based product, called Spider Tracks. I have not idea how big the unit is or what it costs, but if it is Iridium based I'm betting it will work anywhere anytime.
http://spidertracks.com/home.mvc/Faqs

And ARTEX is selling the product using Spider Tracks, here is a link to their page, still no pictures, but they say it is portable and can easily be moved from aircraft to automobile. Don't know if it uses self contained batteries, or if it needs and external power source.

http://www.artex.net/products/index.php?categoryid=26

I looked at the Spidertracks device at OSH. It really looks like a great piece of equipment. It is about 6 inches long by 4 wide and maybe an inch thick. It has one cable, to connect it to power.

It is, however, quite different from the SPOT. It is an automated flight following system. It periodically (you adjust the transmit frequency) sends a signal that goes to a website. You or your significant other or ?? have access to the web site, with password, etc. With that access, you can then track the device. It is a portable device, so can be moved from aircraft to aircraft, a real boon for 135 folks who are required by some contracts to have AFF systems installed.

The device does NOT have an "Ok" button, nor does it have a "911" button.

In other words, someone back home has to look at the web site, and decide if you're where you should be, etc. Or if you dissappear, they'll be able to reconstruct your flight path.

Not really the same type machine.

Also, there is a fairly steep purchase price, AND a subscription cost, which depends on how frequently the little rascal phones home.

All in all, looks like a real professional grade piece of equipment, but probably too spendy and too short of features for most of us recreational flyers.

MTV

I see SPOT has expanded their coverage. You can read more about it here: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?SPOTInc./0d67a1 ... 4a52e6eee5 Looks like Alaska and Canada are pretty well covered now.

tom

Don't believe it. The Globalstar system has been notoriously unreliable in Alaska, and even though the SPOT is using the simplex portion of the system, it's still not going to be that reliable at high latitudes or far west. I have a couple friends in AK who've given up on the thing.

Here's a question for those folks who say they like the "OK" feature on the SPOT: What, precisely, are you telling your friends/neighbors/relatives who you send that "OK" message to do in the event that you DON'T send an "OK" message?

If there isn't some response, then you haven't got ANYthing going for you. And, believe me, the SPOT units are NOT that reliable, that I'd care to use them as stand alone SAR activators.

If you're out there, and you send an "OK" message, and it doesn't get through, there's no way YOU will know that, nor is there any way for the people at "home" to verify that you are in fact, okay.

That's the problem with sorta reliable devices, as opposed to no joke reliable devices.

Bonanzaman--I did mention people and their phones, did I not? Point is, out in this part of the world, it's pretty easy to get out of cell phone coverage as well, even in the middle of town.

MTV

Mike

Here in Southcentral Alaska where I mostly fly I'd say that 80 to 90% percent of the tracking messages get through. It's not perfect, but my wife is generally glued to the computer when I am in route somewhere and she gets enough of a track to have a good indication of generally where I am. We generally don't use the OK function, but when we have tested it, it generally gets through. Problem is that you have to leave your unit in one place when using the OK function for at least 20 minutes as it sends several transmissions in the hopes that one gets through.

We haven't used the unit farther North or in Western Alaska yet.

It is our observation that Spot management generally overstates the capability (coverage) of their product.

(Gee, you'll note that I used the adjective "generally" several times in this post. Hmm? )

Nizina

mtv wrote:Here's a question for those folks who say they like the "OK" feature on the SPOT: What, precisely, are you telling your friends/neighbors/relatives who you send that "OK" message to do in the event that you DON'T send an "OK" message?

If there isn't some response, then you haven't got ANYthing going for you. And, believe me, the SPOT units are NOT that reliable, that I'd care to use them as stand alone SAR activators.

If you're out there, and you send an "OK" message, and it doesn't get through, there's no way YOU will know that, nor is there any way for the people at "home" to verify that you are in fact, okay.

That's the problem with sorta reliable devices, as opposed to no joke reliable devices.

Bonanzaman--I did mention people and their phones, did I not? Point is, out in this part of the world, it's pretty easy to get out of cell phone coverage as well, even in the middle of town.

MTV

The OK message is ideally used with the tracking feature. When the tracking symbol shows you on the airstrip and then an OK message comes thru it's just an extra measure. The lack of an OK message doesn't mean anything. If I need help I'll send that message. And I know all about poor cell phone coverage. It's a lot worse here than northern Minnesota.