Personal Locator Beacons

[jenniwren]

I love wild life and exploring the countryside. It's nice to spot wild animals and plants off the beaten track. Last year I was riding long distance through Shropshire and had the misfortune to break my leg from a fall in the middle of a field. I was lucky and wasn't riding alone and had mobile reception, but there are many places where where this is not possible.

I discovered that there is a system of Personal Locator Beacons which are legal for Marine and Aviation but illegal for land use

[big bill]

I can agree with you that they would be benificial to the hill walkers especially if they were to get caught out unawares and lost on some mountain side or had an accident it would save the search and rescue people a lot of time and money,but I suppose the powers that be are worried that they could be misused or fall into the hands of some misguided and irresponsible yob who would think it great fun to set them off

[jenniwren]

This is a concern to some people but a unit owner is unlikely to lend the PLB to a yob. They have to be registered to the owner with the PLB registry and licensed with OFCOM. At a cost of around £280 for a GPS PLB personally I wouldn't let somone else borrow it.

On top of this the current rules and regulations cover misuse by fines, confiscation and imprisonment. Before any response by the SARs they do go through a system check and being GPS they can pinpoint if it has been set off accidentally at home. Also they can check by phoning the owner or an elected point of contact.

Yesterday there was a marine prankster who was jailed for misuse of the SAR as a joke.

[cybershot]

Am I right in thinking it is possible to locate any mobile phone (off or on) via the means of a GPS system. (I seem to remember my daughter was located on an auto breakdown call out by a similar method)

David

P.S. And now I believe there are on-line agencies to which you can register for tracking purposes.

[jenniwren]

If you're suggesting that an injured person could be located by this means they would have to be reported missing in the first place which could be too late for the casualty in less populated areas.

The PLB has the advantage that the owner can activate it a lot sooner where mobile reception, whistle and shouting have no effect. Any company would be able to stay with the casualty instead of going to the nearest phone which could be miles away. This would leave the casualty at risk.

Yes there are tracking devices but even these can lose sight of the owner in black spots. Many of these rely on SIM cards (mobile phone) and the search area is a lot less pin pointed than with a GPS PLB that gives a bearing within 125 metres. We are talking about people in the country where there is less mobile phone coverage. In areas where the population in more dense you can locate mobile phones by the method you were talking, but it would have to be switched on and would be done by triangulation not GPS.

Another consideration is that the GPS PLB does not need monthly subscription as with tracker devices.

[cybershot]

A very good point. It might be said that the systems I've heard about have a more 'common or garden' application

David

[jenniwren]

Hello David, I didn't mention battery life. Mobile phone battery life is a good deal shorter than a PLB which will transmit for at least 24 hours.

There are tracking devices for vehicles and tracking devices in the mobile phone type panic button you may be referring to which require the SIM card I mentioned before.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by cybershot

Am I right in thinking it is possible to locate any mobile phone (off or on) via the means of a GPS system. (I seem to remember my daughter was located on an auto breakdown call out by a similar method)

David

P.S. And now I believe there are on-line agencies to which you can register for tracking purposes.

I think you are thinking of the alternative emergency number 112 - if you dial this from a mobile they can triangulate your position from nearby masts - it works pretty well but only where there is mobile signal.

I agree the plbs should be legalised - i actually have a ex military Tacbe which a mate in the army go for me when i was planning on solo walking the larig ghru. The TACBE (tactical beacon) is like a PLB but also enables you to use it as a radio on comercial airline channels - I cant use it legally in the UK but if the alternative was bleeding to death or dying of hypothermia in the scottish highland I'd be inclined to use it anyway and deal with the legal consequences later.

[Mr Mag00]

thanks for posting this jenniwren, i do a lot of solo mtb riding and this would be great. I for one will look at the petition.

[jenniwren]

When posting this on various forums I've come against such resistance. The information is there on the Equine Ramblers UK website and I'm sure many haven't taken the time to read it. It is refreshing to get some postings that see the benefit. Thankyou.

The petition is growing daily now and we have an MP who is going to put questions in Parliament. There are others working behind the scenes in the same direction, but Equine Ramblers UK (as far as I know) is the only one presenting the case publicly. The majority of the public do not know that PLBs exist and that they can plug the gap left by negative mobile phone reception.