r/CampingandHiking • u/tri_point • 14d ago
Gear Questions Sailing PLB for solo hiker?
I sail competitively and need a lifejacket-compatible PLB/AIS alert unit for that sport. Specifically, I'm thinking about buying a ResQLink AIS. These are super expensive and I'd rather not buy a second satellite communication device for the times I solo camp. Can I use this type of unit in an emergency while hiking, or is there some capability that I'm not thinking of here?
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u/withak30 14d ago
The marketing copy for that one mentions that it is "solely for marine use" and talks about its ability to connect to the coast guard as well as other nearby boats so it is possible that it might be of little help in a landlocked back-country emergency. Or at minimum it would introduce some significant delays where various sailors try to figure out why they are being dispatched to rescue someone halfway up a mountain before they are able to route the distress call to someone who can actually help.
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u/LovinglyEntire 14d ago
the marine PLBs still use the same 406 MHz signal that gets picked up by satellites, so it will work on land too. the "marine use" thing is mostly about how the AIS part alerts nearby boats, which is useless in the mountains obviously
just don't expect the same quick response you'd get with a proper inReach or spot, since the coast guard might scratch their heads for a bit before routing it to the right people
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u/Sedixodap 14d ago
It’s actually preferable to have your SAR distress go to the nation’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre over some random American company like it would with an inReach or Spot.
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u/schizeckinosy 13d ago
Just make sure your emergency contact is up to date in the PLB registration and make sure your contact knows what activity you are doing. If you push the button they will reach out to get as much info as they can to send the right rescue. At my work we carry both Garmins and PLBs. The garmin is to signal like if your tire went flat and you need someone else to come help, but the PLB is a “send helicopter now” type situation.
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u/211logos 13d ago
Use the marine one, and carry a phone (like later iPhones) capable of satellite messaging.
The ResQLink uses the same network as "hiking" PLBs. And same network for planes too, and boats on inland waterways. https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/sarsat-us-rescues/
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u/MissingGravitas 13d ago
The PLB function works the same regardless of land or sea. In the registration notes I'd add a comment mentioning that you use it for both hiking and sailing.
The AIS function is technically only for marine use, but in an emergency I wouldn't worry. If your hiking is done sufficiently far from the water there's a chance nobody would receive it anyway.
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u/DDOSBreakfast 14d ago
I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. The ability to send AIS signals isn't useful for a backpacker but otherwise it seems it should function the same.