Missing hunters in Colorado

[HairyScandinavian]

If you hunt alone in the backcountry and want to have a resource that can save your life buy yourself a ACR PLB, it’s the number one insurance that your going to help immediately if you become incapacitated, there is no comparison. I know people fall for the Satelite messengers because of the fandangle extras that come with them like texting and map sharing,etc ….F@#$ all that, if you need help you owe it to your families or loved ones to have the right tool for the job. Power up, and hold the oh shit button await help….end of story.

I carry a PLB because I keep one for when I'm out on the water down here on the coast anyway, but the problem with that is in such case as we've all speculated here a lightning strike or sudden incdicent, the PLB's are all manual trip whereas an InReach with interval pings your body can still be found quikcly.

 

[RickH]

RIP to these guys. Not the news any of us wanted to hear. Like all of us I've been thinking about these guys a lot. I've gotten myself into a few situations over the years that could have went bad easily and lucky for me turned into learning experiences. I was hoping it was going to be the same for these two. At least the families have closure and my condolences to them.

 

[TexasCub]

I carry a PLB because I keep one for when I'm out on the water down here on the coast anyway, but the problem with that is in such case as we've all speculated here a lightning strike or sudden incdicent, the PLB's are all manual trip whereas an InReach with interval pings your body can still be found quikcly.

That’s where I started using them. I was running 100+ miles off the cost to fish for tuna with friends, my son, his friends, I knew I had to take responsibility for doing whatever I could to keep me and my crew safe. I had the larger EPIRB which activates when it gets wet, meaning if I’m sinking and then I learned about the smaller PLB models so I bought one of them to take with me anywhere remote I went or even when I went on other friends boats it was always in my ditch bag.

 

[BBob]

Im
No tech guy but what is the benefit of the arc plb vs inreach type of device? I currently don’t even carry any of these. Kinda rethinking now

PLB's have a much higher transmitting power so a better chance of signal getting out. More robust satellite system. They have one job, SOS. Punch the button and they keep transmitting that SOS until the battery dies. Some newer units have a return confirmation ping that'll tell you the SOS was received.

Pros, cons, & my picks: PLB’s, satellite messengers, & phones

A definitive & unbiased comparison of satellite communicators, including functionality, cost, & form-factor. Plus my buying recommendations.

andrewskurka.com

I'm sending my older unit in for a new battery. I let it go when I bought an inReach but rethinking that now. May carry both in some circumstances.

 

[TexasCub]

Im
No tech guy but what is the benefit of the arc plb vs inreach type of device? I currently don’t even carry any of these. Kinda rethinking now

I posted this earlier in this thread. One thing I didn’t add was that when you hit SOS on a satelite messenger it has to be processed through a comm center and then at some point they relay the information to SARSAT, on the PLB it goes directly to SARSAT, no chances for delay. They also have a powerful strobe which aids in your recovery on most models. Also 5 year battery! In the advanced world we live in today it really is a no brainer life insurance plan.

Keep in mind that any satellite messenger has a much weaker signal than a PLB 1.7W vs 5w. If you’re in the canopy it makes a huge difference especially if you’re injured. PLB uses Govt satellites with a way more powerful signal as opposed to the iridium/Globalstar satellites used by the messengers, once again less chance of no reception. The messengers are great if you want to text while out of a data area, share maps with I don’t know who because if I’m lost or hurt I’d rather have the rescuers know my exact location vs my wife or buddy 1600 miles away trying to convey that, if you want the most reliable I need help now tool it’s a PLB, and a good one can be had for about $400 and up.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

I posted this earlier in this thread. One thing I didn’t add was that when you hit SOS on a satelite messenger it has to be processed through a comm center and then at some point they relay the information to SARSAT, on the PLB it goes directly to SARSAT, no chances for delay. They also have a powerful strobe which aids in your recovery on most models.

Keep in mind that any satellite messenger has a much weaker signal than a PLB 1.7W vs 5w. If you’re in the canopy it makes a huge difference especially if you’re injured. PLB uses Govt satellites with a way more powerful signal as opposed to the iridium/Globalstar satellites used by the messengers, once again less chance of no reception. The messengers are great if you want to text while out of a data area, share maps with I don’t know who because if I’m lost or hurt I’d rather have the rescuers know my exact location vs my wife or buddy 1600 miles away trying to convey that, if you want the most reliable I need help now tool it’s a PLB, and a good one can be had for about $400 and up.

Any brand recommendations?

 

[TexasCub]

Any brand recommendations?

This is in the only brand I’ve owned and the most popular

ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon Series - ACR Electronics, Inc

Learn why a personal locator beacon is your best chance at being rescued anywhere in the world. This subscription free device is a life saver

www.acrartex.com

You can get em on amazon, price varies on how many features you want.

https://www.amazon.com/acr-ResQLink-400-Personal-Locator/dp/B07V6CWS26/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2X09RKS2TJW67&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ry_TgBB7yik3EiqRVp4_yABhhdAMm4OPOR_5wKAtLVt5GBiSsGdyFDOSRt5GqwbgQJRiO_0pWyyyKHNkXBpacaCYnWmImuEYuS7NTsIjuhXUQLrflrM2srrySaNPLTnIkxfbXewL-uW9mzGpl3MYg4Fh8-e8G_G_lgiKr5SRj2zpiY1WG5siQiK25Fnt6sLSDX4_HkLER9kXQZ9FAgLYL466yHN2lY69Iuw3OnfxlrU_YJppFr1f1j3qnpnJGgpSrni6_WzPJ-A3qhhzg52S0mVJAo3IfCxnikewbteSX90.J7d_fp5iVXy5xbBIYf-iLpbVbKi9g4qxAb8SosMx6HA&dib_tag=se&keywords=acr+epirb&qid=1758237961&sprefix=acr+epirb%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-7

 

[homers]

Lots of incorrect info on this thread. I’d like to keep it to the subject of those lost.

 

[grfox92]

I came here to post some information I heard and saw the news. Terrible outcome.

RIP.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[TexasCub]

Lots of incorrect info on this thread. I’d like to keep it to the subject of those lost.

They already found em bud.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Lots of incorrect info on this thread. I’d like to keep it to the subject of those lost.

Care to enlighten everyone?

 

[HairyScandinavian]

This is in the only brand I’ve owned and the most popular

ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon Series - ACR Electronics, Inc

Learn why a personal locator beacon is your best chance at being rescued anywhere in the world. This subscription free device is a life saver

www.acrartex.com

You can get em on amazon, price varies on how many features you want.

https://www.amazon.com/acr-ResQLink-400-Personal-Locator/dp/B07V6CWS26/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2X09RKS2TJW67&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ry_TgBB7yik3EiqRVp4_yABhhdAMm4OPOR_5wKAtLVt5GBiSsGdyFDOSRt5GqwbgQJRiO_0pWyyyKHNkXBpacaCYnWmImuEYuS7NTsIjuhXUQLrflrM2srrySaNPLTnIkxfbXewL-uW9mzGpl3MYg4Fh8-e8G_G_lgiKr5SRj2zpiY1WG5siQiK25Fnt6sLSDX4_HkLER9kXQZ9FAgLYL466yHN2lY69Iuw3OnfxlrU_YJppFr1f1j3qnpnJGgpSrni6_WzPJ-A3qhhzg52S0mVJAo3IfCxnikewbteSX90.J7d_fp5iVXy5xbBIYf-iLpbVbKi9g4qxAb8SosMx6HA&dib_tag=se&keywords=acr+epirb&qid=1758237961&sprefix=acr+epirb%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-7

^ACR is the way to go. Also when you register it (and renew every 2 years) you can add notes such as your normal hunting areas, types of behavior and such, gear you likely have with you, etc.

 

[Floated_down]

Awful news. a sobering reality check before i head out for solo hunting this fall. the mountains of the west can be as cruel as they are beautiful

 

[Choupique]

2nd ACR beacons. ACR is the go-to down here for EPRIBs on blue water boats. They work.

 

[Catag94]

Pretty sure you can share your location via satellite on an iPhone 14 or newer.

Text with it too.

 

[Thomas11]

I posted this earlier in this thread. One thing I didn’t add was that when you hit SOS on a satelite messenger it has to be processed through a comm center and then at some point they relay the information to SARSAT, on the PLB it goes directly to SARSAT, no chances for delay. They also have a powerful strobe which aids in your recovery on most models. Also 5 year battery! In the advanced world we live in today it really is a no brainer life insurance plan.

Keep in mind that any satellite messenger has a much weaker signal than a PLB 1.7W vs 5w. If you’re in the canopy it makes a huge difference especially if you’re injured. PLB uses Govt satellites with a way more powerful signal as opposed to the iridium/Globalstar satellites used by the messengers, once again less chance of no reception. The messengers are great if you want to text while out of a data area, share maps with I don’t know who because if I’m lost or hurt I’d rather have the rescuers know my exact location vs my wife or buddy 1600 miles away trying to convey that, if you want the most reliable I need help now tool it’s a PLB, and a good one can be had for about $400 and up.

So how do replace the batteries? Are they built in or something?

 

[Steve300xcw]

I’d like to keep it to the subject of those lost.

let us know how that works for ya

 

[fracguy]

Dammit man, horrible news. I had to read through 12 pages as I haven't had service all day. Rest in peace gentlemen, hope them elk are talking to ya up there. This stuff used to never bother me, this one got to me a bit. My daughter is getting to the age to go do stuff without dad and all I could think of is my daughter being there. Goes to show how fast and easy things go bad in the back country. I thought of that a bit while out solo. This was not what I was hoping to see.

 

[TexasCub]

So how do replace the batteries? Are they built in or something?

You send it in and they service it and replace the battery, I will tell you this, the batteries do last longer than 5 years but how long would one bet their life on it?

 

[Thomas11]

You send it in and they service it and replace the battery, I will tell you this, the batteries do last longer than 5 years but how long would one bet their life on it?

Exactly! Seems odd u can’t just replace the battery yourself. I’m sssuming there is some reason for that