Scuba diver's Personal Locator Beacon - how never to be lost at sea

[DandyDon]

Isn't the 1 watt toy would send a different signal to nearby boats, while the 5 watt gorilla would send directly to the satellite?

Read that first sentence outloud and see if you understand it?

The larger Nautilus like Chief carries has a line of sight range of 18 Km/11 miles - almost the closest distance between Cozumel island and the mainland. Have you seen any claims on the range of their mini toy? When that dive boat sank while trying to cross to PDC a few years ago, they were halfway between and I doubt it would have reached nearshore boats at either. One woman got off one cell call before her phone died, and fortunately the guy on the island answered and got a search going, but I think some of them drifted 20 miles before they were found. A one watt toy with no strobe is just asking for trouble.

Sorry, DD, I guess I meant PLB. Haven't you been easily carrying on in a water proof case? Easy peasy?

Yeah, an EPIRB is a bigger gadget for boat that automatically goes off if the boat sinks I think. ACR makes 4 different PLB models; see Personal Locator Beacon Comparison Chart | ACR ARTEX

I carry the 2881 (5 watts, 30 hour signal) in the small HDVSEATEK canister, and it floats. The 2880 is slightly smaller (0.2"/0.8 ounces less), but you need to carry it in a float pouch - and I don't see why anyone would want one as it's the same price usually. There are two larger models at the link with 6.3 watts, one with 36 hour signal, but you'd need the larger HDVSEATEK canister, and I do not think they float. I think there is a float pouch for those too.

$100 canisters at CANISTER for PLB: SCUBA Diver Emergency Locator Beacon/VHF Marine Radio.

 

[NDL_Diver]

The Lifeline sounded perfect for the occasional, vacation diver because it is small and simple and inexpensive, but if it doesn't have enough power to do the job then I guess not.

New Nautilus Lifeline Marine Rescue GPS

"The all new Nautilus LifeLine is less than half the size of our original radio and is incredibly simple to use. Simply undo the latch and open, turn on, remove the red distress cap and press the red button. That’s it! Your GPS position, accurate to 1.5 metres, and a man overboard distress message will be broadcast to all AIS equipped ships up to 34 miles away as well as a special DSC message to the marine radio on your own vessel. Your Nautilus LifeLine floats and is waterproof in all sea conditions. Just keep the o-ring clean and forget about it for the next 5 years!"

I would think it would work about the same as the existing Nautilus. Per their manual "
Stations within range that are equipped with a modern VHF marine radios should automatically switch to
channel 16, alarms will sound, lights will flash, and your GPS coordinates and a brief message should be
shown on the screen of each radio." 1Watt is plenty for this

The PLB1 send the data to satillite that gets relayed to search and rescue. This requires more power (5 watts) to reach a satillite. There is a 1/2 watt homing beacon not on a message on VHF marine (it does not appear to be from specs).

I would rather have my dive boat or any boat receive my message than have the search and rescue send out the Marines.

The message can be acnowledged and recalled upon rescue (I going to assume a similar function on PLB 1)

The life line does not work on land since it is VHF marine frequency only.

If I was away from land, and out from shipping lanes where no ships or boats were near I would go with a PLB1. For diving off a boat or live a board I would go with a life line.

For sure I would go with an older model, but they are having certification issues so they may no longer be allowed without a license or something.

YMMV

Al

 

[Dan]

Read that first sentence outloud and see if you understand it?

The larger Nautilus like Chief carries has a line of sight range of 18 Km/11 miles - almost the closest distance between Cozumel island and the mainland. Have you seen any claims on the range of their mini toy? When that dive boat sank while trying to cross to PDC a few years ago, they were halfway between and I doubt it would have reached nearshore boats at either. One woman got off one cell call before her phone died, and fortunately the guy on the island answered and got a search going, but I think some of them drifted 20 miles before they were found. A one watt toy with no strobe is just asking for trouble.
...

I have not read the Cozumel boat sunk accident. Did anyone in the boat use Nautilus Lifeline to sent out SOS or just that one lady with cellphone?

If 1 watt is sufficient power to send out VHF signal up to 34 miles to all ship equipped with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) which is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS) for identifying and locating vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships, AIS base stations, and satellites, so why waste the 5 watt power to send out 406 MHz to the satellite & bring the big guns (The US Marines, The US Navy or USCG) for just lost at sea around Strait of Cozumel, where there are plenty of boats around & not that far off the PDC?

I'm confused. I can understand that, the higher the frequency, the more gorilla power you would need to send out SOS signal. To send out 406 MHz signal, a PLB would need that 5 watts, but not for VHF (30-300 MHz), which would only need about 7-74% power of that of PLB with 406 MHz.

 

[seeker242]

If 1 watt is sufficient power to send out VHF signal up to 34 miles to all ship equipped with the Automatic Identification System (AIS)

I work on AIS systems for a living. It's not sufficient. Not to go 34 miles to another boat. A standard AIS, which transmits at 12 watts, can sometimes only be picked up to 10 miles max. 1w would not be nearly as good!

so why waste the 5 watt power to send out 406 MHz to the satellite & bring the big guns (The US Marines, The US Navy or USCG)

If my life was in imminent danger, I would want 500 watts!

or just lost at sea around Strait of Cozumel, where there are plenty of boats around & not that far off the PDC?

That's what the VHF part of the lifeline was good for...until they removed it...

 

[NDL_Diver]

That's what the VHF part of the lifeline was good for...until they removed it...

"as a special DSC message to the marine radio on your own vessel"

It has VHF DSC message just not chat.

Will know more when I get mine.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Please advise, I am looking at getting a PLB but I am unclear about what is a good, simple system for divers, do I need a special housing? We are warm water vacation divers, what is a good PLB for us?

Hi Kathy,

Kevrumbo didn't say why he suggested the McMurco Fastfind and aluminum canister? I'm sure the Fastfind has its selling points, I can't tell from the owners manuals he linked, but I carry the ACR 2881 as Mike described in post 1. This particular model floats if you drop it at sea as well as being water resistant on the surface, and now is a great time to buy one with their $50 cash rebate. Be sure to buy at a site offering it for $245 like ACR 2881 ResQLink+ PLB Personal Locator Beacon The GPS Store as many other sites charge much more for the same item. Amazon lists it for $317, and some sites charge much more.

It does take some operator understanding and setup, like you need to register it so they will know who to look for if it ever goes off & more, renew the registration ever 2 years - watch for the email reminder, and the battery will need to be replaced after 5 years costing $112 to $150 depending current offers from authorized technicians. Even if you carry it for 5 years and then discard it tho, that's only 94¢ a week to know you can call for emergency help from anywhere with a clear sky view. I carry mine in my car everywhere. I saw a new story today about a guy who took 3 days to crawl to the road and signal for help after he wrecked his car at the bottom of an embankment, out of sight, and his cell phone failed. I got a cheap camera pouch it fits well to help keep me from knocking the folding antenna lose or worse - accidentally setting it off, and it rides in my car console, in my backpack when I get out for farming or a hike in the great outdoors, in my roll-on for any trip anywhere, etc. It only weighs a few ounces and can fit in the cargo pocket on trousers.

Note: If you ever do have to use it in an emergency, that will deplete the battery, but this company will replace it with a new one for free if you send it in with a good rescue story. They have a collection of used ones and stories. That's a small reward after saving your life one day, but a nice one.
​

Yes, you do need a canister to take it diving, and I have rented & carried the McMurdo aluminum model - but even at 2 pounds, it was heavier than I liked. Then I found the HDVSEATEK nylon canister that is much lighter. I used a cable tie to hang it from a bolt snap that I can clip to a D-ring on my BC. It comes with a carrying pouch, but that is not for diving (some people don't notice that in the instructions), and you do need to keep the o-ring moist with just a little silicone grease. Costs less than half as much as the McCurdo, about $100 including shipping at CANISTER for PLB: SCUBA Diver Emergency Locator Beacon/VHF Marine Radio.

Again, one of the original first, most simple and proven PLB/Dive Canister container solutions that has served me for close to ten years:

http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/down...-Dive-Container-Instruction-Sheet.pdf?did=371
McMurdo Dive Canister - Star Marine Depot
McMurdo Fastfind Max-G PLB - Star Marine Depot

Pro:
-The easiest most convenient PLB/Dive Canister solution. No mixing & matching different manufacturers' products, wondering about "fit & form" compatibility or modification.
-For US Citizens, readily available & delivered from any shop-online US store.
-Attachment point is a machined slot in the Aluminium housing in which 2 inch webbing (i.g. weight belt; BP waist belt) can be securely threaded through and fixed in place with a triglide or weight belt buckle.

Con:
-Size & weight, cannot easily be stowed in a pocket.
-Expensive. (But it will pay for itself obviously if the stowed PLB facilitates your rescue).

Easy maintenance, just fresh water rinse the housing, clean & silicone grease the O-rings and replace them every year if frequently used. And in nearly ten years, my Aluminium housing has never leaked, and the threads have never "seized" shut due to corrosion.

You don't go cheap on putting these together DandyDon (Look at all the purchasing & functional iterations that you & Mike have gone through above and throughout this thread!) --spend the money, get the PLB/Dive Canister combination from a single supporting source "one & done", and have greater peace of mind with a proven "Keep it Simple" unit.

 

[Dan]

I work on AIS systems for a living. It's not sufficient. Not to go 34 miles to another boat. A standard AIS, which transmits at 12 watts, can sometimes only be picked up to 10 miles max. 1w would not be nearly as good!

If my life was in imminent danger, I would want 500 watts!

That's what the VHF part of the lifeline was good for...until they removed it...

That sucks. It sounds like a false advertisement. I'll cancel my order then.

 

[DandyDon]

DandyDon (Look at all the purchasing & functional iterations that you & Mike have gone through above and throughout this thread!) --spend the money, get the PLB/Dive Canister combination from a single supporting source

I have had no problems. Mike shaved some off his antenna, but not me. I've rented & used the McMurdo canister you suggested, but owning the lighter HDVSEATEK at less than half the price works well for me.

Your suggested $415 McMurdo Fastfind Max-G is interesting, but not as appealing as other choices. The $225 plus shipping McMurdo FastFind 220 PLB is lighter, but only floats in the pouch - so I like the $200 ACR 2881 better.

 

[cvchief]

The 2 electronic devices (PLB1 & NL) are small enough, so no biggy for me to stick them in my BCD pockets.

Well, yea, you now have two emergency only devices and STILL no way to talk to the boat. And you really should have no need to open the new lifeline since it is of no use unless you are declaring an emergency, so less flooding issues with less function.

 

[cvchief]

"as a special DSC message to the marine radio on your own vessel"

It has VHF DSC message just not chat.

Will know more when I get mine.

That struck me as something a liveaboard might use and ISSUE the radios to their divers. That might be cool. You know the maker is a liveaboard owner? ( I know because when I sent my first one back, I got a call from the Puget Sound Coast Guard Station one night. Apparently it was laying in a workshop in Canada and blowing up the Emergency VHF alarms in the US and Canadian stations. They were very very nice, but I think they were annoyed with the bells and whistle constantly. I ended up calling the liveaboard emergency number to fix it.)

I can't imagine saying to a Coz Capi, 'hey we need to do xyz to sync my lifeline to your radio.'