Fine, PLBs are for personal maritime emergencies and EPIRBs are for sinking ships. Either one will get a rescue.
The story about the wildfire is here: http://wunderwood.org/most_casual_observer/2009/08/fighting_a_wildfire_with_milk.html In the Sierras in August, any wildfire is serious, even a single-tree fire like we fought. I'm fine with taking some time to get an antenna up. I'm talking about what you decide to put in your pack at the trailhead. Since you didn't read the blog post, I'll repeat it. My preference is to avoid rescue situations. Reliable communications can help me do that. Once you are in a rescue situation, activate the beacon and pray. wunder K6WRU On Jun 30, 2013, at 6:05 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote: > PLBs actually aren't legal for sinking ships (or crashing airplanes), there > is a different category of device for that. > > Personal Locator Beacons are meant to do one simple task: summon help in an > emergency. > > Calling someone to tell them you're at a different trailhead is not an > emergency. > > If I'm off in the backcountry, I'd suggest that a medical emergency and risk > of being overrun by a wildfire aren't that different. > > If you want to report a wildfire that isn't threatening you, that isn't an > emergency, and if it takes you a bit to get an antenna up, and find someone > to relay a message, then by all means pull out your KX3 and a random bit of > wire and tell someone. > > A satphone (according to your post) is about $120 for a given outing. A PLB > is about $250 for five to seven years. > > It's good to have more than one tool in your toolbox. > > -- Lynn > > On 6/30/2013 5:41 PM, Walter Underwood wrote: >> There are a lot of emergency situations that benefit from two-way >> communication. PLBs are great for sinking ships, but not so good for >> distinguishing between a wildfire and a medical emergency. >> >> I've dealt with a few emergencies in the backcountry. On one trip, we had >> both a wildfire and two medical situations. You can draw your own >> conclusions about heading into the backcountry with me. :-) >> >> Hey, I wrote a long blog post about that: >> http://wunderwood.org/most_casual_observer/2011/10/emergency_communication_in_the.html >> >> wunder >> K6WRU >> >> On Jun 30, 2013, at 5:32 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote: >> >>> Well, in that framework - I would have to agree that the PLB is better ..... >>> How do I get one .... :-) >>> Ariel NY4G >>> >>>> Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 17:24:45 -0700 >>>> From: k...@coldrockshotbrooms.com >>>> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Amp >>>> >>>> Yes, but..... >>>> >>>> The original poster is going to be 200 miles from town. He may or may >>>> not be in VHF range of something when he needs help. I'm pretty sure >>>> he's out of range or he'd just get a couple of handhelds and call it done. >>>> >>>> The Personal Locator Beacon frequency is monitored by two sets of >>>> satellites -- a constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites that can >>>> determine location, and a few geostationary satellites that see a wide >>>> area of the planet, looking straight down at the surface of the earth. >>>> The latter can read the GPS on the PLB. >>>> >>>> The signal goes straight to search and rescue folks, and the beacons are >>>> registered so they know exactly who they're going to be looking for. >>>> >>>> Which would you prefer: push a button and it's done, or calling on >>>> several bands and hoping one is open? >>>> >>>> Again, I love amateur radio, and I would consider it part of my >>>> emergency toolkit, but I'd trigger my PLB first in a real emergency. >>>> >>>> -- Lynn >>>> >>>> On 6/30/2013 5:09 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote: >>>>> Some HT's have GPS and with APRS one can send messages. I have used it >>>>> on hikes so my wife can track me on the internet as I hike. The HT sends >>>>> a beacon signal out and the movement can be tracked through APRS.fi Any >>>>> Ham can get an APRS account. I have even used APRS on my iPhone for >>>>> the same tracking capability. Remote from civilization though you would >>>>> need an HT with APRS like the VX8R by Yaesu or a TinyTrack tracker. With >>>>> the HT however, you can call for help and the reach can be substantial >>>>> depending on elevation or having a nearby repeater. Having worked 45 >>>>> states on Field Day just using a KX3 and a G0GSF dipole, I have no qualms >>>>> with getting out and reaching people with a KX3 on HF. When the 2m >>>>> module gets out - I have a complete package for all modes of remote >>>>> operation. >>>>> Ariel NY4G >>>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> -- >> Walter Underwood >> wun...@wunderwood.org >> >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Walter Underwood wun...@wunderwood.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
