About the Personal-EPIRB
What Everyone Ought to Know About the Personal-EPIRB
These are not GMDSS equipment. The PLB is essentially a miniature EPIRB. Many operate on 121.5 MHz, which is the frequency used for homing in by SAR vessels and aircraft, however 406 MHz units are now available also. Due to their small size they can be attached into wet weather gear, or carried in a pocket or panic pack. It is not as accurate as other units and will localize your position to around 12 nm, because the transmitters are line of sight only. The 406 MHz PLB will give accuracy to 3 nm. There are also small hand held PLB units that are 406 MHz and GPS equipped. Some units are configured to activate in water, and most operate for at least a 24-hour period and some work up to 48 hours. The PLB is not a substitute for a vessel specific 243/121.5 MHz or 406 MHz EPIRB.
As PLB’s also are known as Crew Overboard Beacons some boats also have a portable direction finder. This is small handheld device that allows the boat to find the 121.5 MHz homing signal emitted from the PLB
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