handheld aviation radio for backpacker?

It is supposed to be worldwide, sharing between US and Russian satellites.
I understand satellite phones are not completely worldwide.

Since it is a 406 mHz beacon, once you fill out the registration on the NOAA
website, they know who you are and what phone numbers to call. I even added
the N numbers of the planes I usually fly. You can update it at any time if
you lend it to a friend. For instance, I could send it with my father when
he goes fishing in Canada.

The GPS models give location to within 100 meters within 5 minutes or so.
For less than $500, I can't imagine why someone wouldn't buy the GPS models.
We just had a Baron go down near my home airport and it took 3 hours to find
him even though he was conscious in a corn field and was talking to Center,
he couldn't walk out though. I keep mine accessible when I fly now. I
usually just put it in my headset bag after I take my headset out.

It only weighs 13 oz. and is useful even if you had to ditch in water, it is
buoyant but works better with the antenna out of the water. It reduces the
time to rescue even if you are somewhere it can't get a good view of the
sky. The NOAA website has some good information. It is such an advantage
over the useless ones in the airplane. I just wish they had a "G" sensor on
them, that would be nice.



"Dan" wrote in message
ups.com...
Will the PLB monitoring agency coordinate a rescue worldwide (i.e. say,
Mexico or the Caribbean) or only within the US? Will other countries'
SAR facilities be informed?

--Dan

So if I go down in the Sea of Cortez (like that Mooney a few years
back) and activate this thing, I should expect the Mexican coast guard
to arrive in a few hours?

--Dan


Ron A. wrote:
It is supposed to be worldwide, sharing between US and Russian satellites.
I understand satellite phones are not completely worldwide.

Since it is a 406 mHz beacon, once you fill out the registration on the NOAA
website, they know who you are and what phone numbers to call. I even added
the N numbers of the planes I usually fly. You can update it at any time if
you lend it to a friend. For instance, I could send it with my father when
he goes fishing in Canada.

The GPS models give location to within 100 meters within 5 minutes or so.
For less than $500, I can't imagine why someone wouldn't buy the GPS models.
We just had a Baron go down near my home airport and it took 3 hours to find
him even though he was conscious in a corn field and was talking to Center,
he couldn't walk out though. I keep mine accessible when I fly now. I
usually just put it in my headset bag after I take my headset out.

It only weighs 13 oz. and is useful even if you had to ditch in water, it is
buoyant but works better with the antenna out of the water. It reduces the
time to rescue even if you are somewhere it can't get a good view of the
sky. The NOAA website has some good information. It is such an advantage
over the useless ones in the airplane. I just wish they had a "G" sensor on
them, that would be nice.



"Dan" wrote in message
ups.com...
Will the PLB monitoring agency coordinate a rescue worldwide (i.e. say,
Mexico or the Caribbean) or only within the US? Will other countries'
SAR facilities be informed?

--Dan

I haven't read any stories of rescue forces ignoring people for laughs.

If you are hours away from other people using normal transportation, then a
reasonable person would assume it would take a rescue some time to get
there. At least they know where and who you are. Personally, I would carry
equipment with me to survive a time until rescue. The 406 mHz GPS beacons
are just a big bonus.

Ron



"Dan" wrote in message
ps.com...
So if I go down in the Sea of Cortez (like that Mooney a few years
back) and activate this thing, I should expect the Mexican coast guard
to arrive in a few hours?