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#122705 - 10/20/09 05:04 PM PLB Education Needed
DJ2 Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 1348
Loc: Seattle, WA
I have an ACR Personal Locator Beacon that weighs about 12 ounces and cost a lot.

Does the item shown at this link do the same thing as my ACR PLB at half the weight and cost?

http://www.rei.com/product/791972


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#122710 - 10/20/09 07:00 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: DJ2]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Yes, I noticed this item came out two years after I bought my 11 oz. ACR brick for close to $600.

Do some google searches. I've read some reviews that say the transmitter isn't as powerful; others that say the McMurdo is fine. Since it requires special permission from the Coast Guard to actually test a PLB, we must rely on others (who probably haven't done an empirical test either). I have no idea, but I plan to wait until the battery warranty on my current brick--uh, PLB--is up (2 1/2 more years). By then, these gadgets may be down to one ounce and $100, or, better, maybe have a way to communicate so we can tell SAR what the problem is. Let's hope so, anyway! IMHO, the lighter unit is nice but not after I already spent so much money to keep my family off my back.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#122729 - 10/21/09 02:25 AM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: DJ2]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By DJ2
I have an ACR Personal Locator Beacon that weighs about 12 ounces and cost a lot.

Does the item shown at this link do the same thing as my ACR PLB at half the weight and cost?

http://www.rei.com/product/791972



Short answer - Yes.

I'm trying *very* hard not to buy one - it's very difficult. (I also have an ACR)



Edited by phat (10/21/09 02:25 AM)
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
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#122746 - 10/21/09 04:21 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: DJ2]
aimless Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
I had that page bookmarked even before you started this thread. It is going to absorb my dividend this year, and much more out of my wallet. I did some hairier than usual x-country soloing last year and decided I owed to my family to get one.

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#122749 - 10/21/09 04:59 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: phat]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Have to confess to being tempted now that they've halved in price and weight. The battery thing bugs me though. Why the heck can't I replace it every two or three years myself? That way I'd always be reassured I have fresh cells in it.

Cheers,


Edited by Rick_D (10/21/09 04:59 PM)
_________________________
--Rick

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#122771 - 10/22/09 03:11 AM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: Rick_D]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I think the deal of having ACR replace the battery is so they can test the unit and then warrant it for another five years. The problem with that is that the technology is advancing so fast that, as in this case, the unit is obsolete long before the battery is gone!

Sort of like computers!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#122779 - 10/22/09 10:24 AM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: OregonMouse]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By OregonMouse
I think the deal of having ACR replace the battery is so they can test the unit and then warrant it for another five years. The problem with that is that the technology is advancing so fast that, as in this case, the unit is obsolete long before the battery is gone!


Now now - our ACR's aren't obsolete OM, they will work just as well as they ever have, and probably just as well as the mcmurdo.

The "obsolete" is the 50% of the weight neither of us want to carry smile

_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


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#122797 - 10/22/09 04:20 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: phat]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
You're right, Phat, I was thinking of the weight. The weight savings of the McMurdo PLB are very tempting!

Now if they also had a two-way communication device, so one could actually talk to SAR, I probably would buy it!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#122844 - 10/24/09 07:12 AM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: OregonMouse]
GrumpyGord Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 945
Loc: Michigan
The concept of the SPOT is good but in actual practice it seems to be sadly lacking. My family would feel better if I had one which actually worked. There was some indication that an improved model was coming out shortly. Has anyone seen any more information on this?

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#122959 - 10/26/09 10:02 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: DJ2]
dla Offline
member

Registered: 09/06/04
Posts: 275
Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
Hmmmm, interesting. According to the US Coast Guard , the 121.5Mhz stuff was phased out early this year.

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#123335 - 11/03/09 06:16 PM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: dla]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Review of the McMurdo Fast Find for those with wealthy relatives looking for Christmas present ideas. grin
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#123469 - 11/07/09 01:55 AM Re: PLB Education Needed [Re: DJ2]
Keith Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1667
Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
According to the published specs, it's only functional up to 40,000' altitude.
;-)
_________________________
Human Resources Memo: Floggings will continue until morale improves.

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