Dear All,
EPIRBs are designed principally for marine usage and are built quite
ruggedly so as to withstand that environment while PLBs (personal
Location Beacons) are generally some what lighter and more compact,
and are probably more useful for the average non-marine user, and the
prices are around the same. PLBs an be easily carried with you when
you go yomping off into the bush birding. As a large percentage of
birders are in that time of life when little things like cardiac
arrests and stroke rear their ugly heads, they are a worthwhile
investment, they help the Ambos find you before the feral pigs do.
I will be buy one of the new 406MHz PLBs, with GPS facility later in
the year, when I start getting back in the scrub. The advantage of the
GPS models over the standard EPIRB/PLB is location range. The standard
models are accurate to <5KM, while GPS models are accurate to <100m.
The difference in price is around 30-40%.
Do not be tempted to import your own from OS, as you may have trouble
registering the device with Maritime Safety, who will be co-ordinating
the search for you. Anyone who wants to read up on EPIRB/PLBs, go to http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/distress_beacons.asp
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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