rescueME PLB1: My New Personal Locator Beacon

[@carlbernsen1290]

I’ve just ordered one of these after debating it for a year. Finally decided it was necessary since a lot of my local off-road motorbiking routes are rarely used and with very steep rocky drops. If I went over the edge I’d be invisible to someone driving only 20m above me. There’s no mobile reception in the hills either. One point, wear your plb on your body, not your pack. It’s ‘last resort’ and in a worst case scenario you wouldn’t have your pack on you.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Hi Carl. Good move on purchasing one of these. Hopefully one of those items you never have to use but essential to have if you needed to.

[@KathysOutdoorAdventures]

Smart to carry one with you! We got to learn how to use these in search and rescue. Great review~

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Thanks Kathy! One of those things you hope you won't have to use but critical to have if it was ever needed.

[@AmyOutdoors]

Good one! Thanks for the walk through.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Thanks Amy, just saw your new episode go up. Off to watch your latest instalment now!

[@HikingMan]

Thank you for the useful information.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Thanks for watching, glad you found it helpful.

[@jonesy2418]

Great review Undecided on which PLB to purchase RescueMe or KTI. Can the antenna be deployed with one hand on the RescueMe like the KTI. It seems to have the edge with regards to size, battery life and water resistance. Cheers.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Thanks Ken! The antenna is fairly firmly wound so would probably be tricky to extend it with one hand only. I haven't used the KTI before but that seems like a good little device as well.

[@npal379]

Hi there. What is the correct LED status indication sequence to indicate a successful 121.5Mhz Beacon test on this unit? Pg 9. 4.1 Beacon test (sentence 4) of the manual states: "After a delay the strobe light will flash once and the LED will flash to show the pass or fail status." Does a P (pass) or F (fail) appear or is there one flash for pass and two for fail? Manual is vague

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Hi Npal. Yes, I can see how that part is a bit unclear. A successful test will have either a green or amber light on the LED and the number of times it flashes indicates the number of hours usage the PLB has had. I've only tested mine a couple of times so far and both times the LED indicator has flashed green once, showing that the PLB has had less than one hour's use. A red light on the LED during the test of course indicates there has been a failure, each described in the table on page 9 based on the number of flashes of red. Fortunately you don't have to remember all that if you actually have to it activate for real out in the field. Just hit the ON button! Hope that all makes sense and answers your question.

[@npal379]

Many thanks for the reply. Will go ahead and test the Beacon. Took it with me on a 30km tramp the other day. So light!

[@JakeMarcin]

Very sensible having one of those Hopefully you never have to use it so we never see a full review video haha

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Haha, funny you say that because that's exactly a thought I had while I was editing that video. Hopefully one gear review I'll never have to do on how it performed!

[@TrekkingWest]

Hey mate. Love the review. Can I ask, how much did it end up costing you?

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Thanks Josh! I bought it from Snowys Outdoors online which seemed to have the best price on them for $319. I saw them for as much as $399 in other stores.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

@@garypascoe9682 thanks, glad you found the video useful. Sounds like you got a great deal on your PLB1!

[@paulhughes2268]

Washed down a creek nearly drowned have one on order was on my own no help no mobile service Paul Cowra n.s.w

[@FreedomOnFoot]

That's a big reminder of the importance of having one of these types of devices. Glad you managed to survive that ordeal and may you be united with your new PLB quickly!