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March 28, 2024

I recently received an email from a retired United Airlines captain. Here’s what he had to say:

“I remember flying out of Seattle once and getting what we called a “Mount Rainer VFR Departure”… on this day we were very close and had good visibility and could see a Chinook in the bowl at the top of the mountain Helicopter. There’s a group of military people on the helicopter with two body bags on their backs. They’re hikers/climbers who got lost somewhere on the mountain and died. I mention these tragedies because they’re so common they’re not necessary. I’ve been doing things like this for years on my adventures. However, I carry a fully charged and properly registered personal locator beacon with me every time I leave the house.”

Brooks Y., Capt. – Retired

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firefighters rescue (San Bernardino County Fire Department)

Well, Brooks, I hear what you have to say, so let’s take a deeper look at Personal Locator Beacons and see how we can help save some lives.

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What is a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)?

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a small device used in emergencies to help rescue teams find your exact location. When used, it sends a distress signal on a radio frequency that the Coast Guard or other first responders can detect. PLBs can be life saving devices and if used correctly according to the laws of your country, this usually means registering with your local government every 2 years and your PLB device must be FCC certified. This is the perfect device for when your smartphone is out of service and you need help or want someone to know where you are.

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Apple Emergency SOS and Personal Locator Beacons

For those with an iPhone 14 or later, Apple’s SOS signal via satellite is already saving lives.You can search for my site on cyberguy.com in the upper right search area and enter apple for help Learn more about the first smartphone with satellite SOS.

Standalone personal locator beacons predated the Cupertino company’s new SOS feature.

In fact, even though I have an emergency iPhone, I still carry the PLB with me whenever I’m wandering off the beaten path, traveling, or hitting the water. They are durable, waterproof, and able to work almost anywhere in the world, communicating with a satellite network to relay distress calls and exact locations to first responders.

Not long ago I was driving a Sea-doo about 5 miles offshore and within a minute my personal watercraft stalled and sank due to a broken engine impeller seal. I found myself alone in the Gulf of Mexico and was able to activate the panic button to activate the US Coast Guard rescue. Not only did it take its toll on that day, but it convinced me that it was an essential survival tool.

While the iPhone 14 or later can now seek help in a similar fashion, I’m concerned about its durability in the wet and rugged adventurous parts of the world. Here are some suggestions for expert-reviewed personal locator beacons.

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Where can I buy PLB equipment?

There are plenty of PLB devices on Amazon, and we’ve narrowed down the 5 best you can buy right now.

SPOT X Messenger

SPOT X Messenger stock photos.  (Source: Global Star)

SPOT X Messenger stock photos. (Source: Global Star) (Source: Global Star)

SPOT X Messenger features a Bluetooth 2-way satellite communicator, so you can connect it to your phone, communicate with family members, and even search and rescue. It allows you to send SOS messages to 24/7 search and rescue services, send messages back and forth about your emergency, and receive acknowledgment on the way to help via keypad messaging that many PLBs do not offer. You can send a message to any mobile phone number or email address from almost anywhere. At launch, the product had over 800 global reviews, 61% of which gave it 5 stars.

Get SPOT X Messenger

SPOT Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger

A stock photo of SPOT Gen4, a tracking device that transmits location updates as you move and stop.  (Source: Global Star)

A stock photo of SPOT Gen4, a tracking device that transmits location updates as you move and stop. (Source: Global Star) (Source: Global Star)

The SPOT Gen4 is conveniently sized so you can take it hiking, camping, and any other outdoor activity. It provides a critical, life-saving line of communication when you travel beyond cell towers, and it has tracking functionality that transmits location updates as you move and stop. You can even throw one in your child’s backpack for walking home from the bus stop. At launch, the product has over 100 global reviews, 67% of which give it 5 stars.

Get SPOT Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger

Garmin InReach Mini

Stock photo of a Garmin InReach Mini device for two-way text messaging in emergency situations.  (Source: Garmin)

Stock photo of a Garmin InReach Mini device for two-way text messaging in emergency situations. (Source: Garmin) (Source: Garmin)

The Garmin InReach Mini device is a small, rugged, and lightweight satellite communicator that supports two-way text messaging and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. You can also use the free Garmin Earthmate app and compatible devices to access downloadable maps, US NOAA charts, color aerial images and more. At the time of publication, the product had over 2,800 reviews, 83% of which were positive.

Get the Garmin InReach Mini

ZOLEO Satellite Communicator

Stock photo of ZOLEO Satellite Communicator for 2-way global SMS text messages and emails, emergency SOS alerts, check-ins, and GPS location capabilities in emergency situations.  (Source: ZOLEO)

Stock photo of ZOLEO Satellite Communicator for 2-way global SMS text messages and emails, emergency SOS alerts, check-ins, and GPS location capabilities in emergency situations. (Source: ZOLEO) (Source: ZOLEO)

The ZOLEO satellite communicator features 2-way global SMS text messaging and email, emergency SOS alerts, registration and GPS positioning, all compatible with iPhone and Android. It also has a long-lasting lithium-ion battery that lasts for 8 days and over 200 hours of continuous use, checking messages every 12 minutes. At launch, the product had over 1,800 global reviews, 80% of which gave it 5 stars.

Get the ZOLEO Satellite Communicator

ACR ResQLink View

ACR ResQLink stock photos for emergencies with SOS functionality and GPS location.  (Source: ACR)

ACR ResQLink stock photos for emergencies with SOS functionality and GPS location. (Source: ACR) (Source: ACR)

ACR ResQLink is our final choice and once activated it can send an SOS signal containing your GPS location directly to search and rescue forces worldwide. It also features accessory clips including belt clips, oral inflation tube clips, shoulder straps and lanyards for added wearability for hikers, boaters, campers, climbers and all outdoor adventurers. You can even send non-emergency self-test and GPS test messages to multiple contacts via text and email with custom messages. At the time of publication, the product had over 300 reviews, 89% of which gave it 5 stars.

Get ACR ResQLink View

Do you use PLB equipment for your outdoor adventures? Let us know how they serve you.

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