Boating – May 2018

50 | BOATINGMAG.COM | MAY 2018

BOAT DOCTOR ///BOATINGLAB

PHOTOS: BILL DOSTER

CHECK OUT MORE BOATINGLAB TESTS AT BOATINGMAG.COM.

PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACONS

At one time, personal locator beacons served only to send a

one-way message via satellite to rescue personnel. The wait

for rescue is always painful, but more so when you don’t know

if anybody knows you need it. Today, however, PLBs have im-

proved astronomically because they can also use satellites for

other communications, such as texts, family tracking and the

ability to summon non-emergency towing assistance. Some

can even receive a message, such as “help is on the way.”

We cold-started each device and initiated a test message to

see how long it took to link to its satellite constellation and re-

ceive the message via Gmail. We assume this process should

approximate the time needed to send and receive an SOS.

ACR
RESQLINK+
The one-way standard for emergency personal locator beacons, it
communicates with high-orbit satellites, transmitting the distress
signal. General rescue locale is determined mathematically by the
satellites and reported directly to rescue operators. Once they’re in
the vicinity, the PLB is tracked by its locator beacon.

SELF-TEST: Receive an email
and/or SMS text message
confi rming receipt of your
beacon self-test using the
optional subscription service
at 406link.com.
RESCUE NETWORKS: 
Cospas-Sarsat, FCC, Canada,
R&TTE, Australia, New
Zealand
COVERAGE: Worldwide
COOL BECAUSE: The self-
test function lets you know the
PLB is hooked up and running.
A rescue strobe aids night
location during rescue. Also, it
connects directly to interna-
tional Cospas-Sarsat rescue
authorities.
PROS: It gave the fastest
“OK” transmit time in our test
and offers free replacement
if it saves your bacon. The
communications subscription
at 406link.com also gives
low-battery notifi cations.
CONS: It’s able to send only
one preprogrammed message.
BESTS: Communicates with

the oldest, most prestigious

emergency rescue response

teams from around the entire

world

GPS: 66 channels

BUOYANT: Ye s

WATERPROOF: 16.4 feet/

fl oats

WEIGHT: 5.4 ounces

BATTERY TYPE: Nonhazmat

lithium

BATTERY LIFE: 30 hours

WARRANTY: Five years

RESCUE COMMUNICA-

TIONS: Cospas-Sarsat

ACTIVATION PROCESS:

Register at beaconregistration

.noaa .gov/rgdb. Subscribe

to communications services

at 406link.com.

ACTIVATION COST/

YEAR: Cospas-Sarsat,

free; 406link.com, from $40

annually for confi rmation

emails, SMS and low-battery

notice

TIME FOR SATELLITE

CONNECTION: One minute

PRICE: $250; acrartex.com

DELORME

INREACH EXPLORER

This device is a handheld three-in-one GPS, PLB and two-way sat-

ellite communicator. Save and store waypoints and navigate back

to them while tracking progress on a color-coded map. A digital

compass, altimeter and accelerometer improve utility. Connect iOS

or Android devices loaded with the free DeLorme Earthmate app

via Bluetooth and you can download maps, track your progress on

the Web, and create and manage routes and navigate to them. The

device becomes an operating partner with the InReach.

SELF-TEST: You can send

and receive text messages

worldwide using the Iridium

system. Send 160-character

text messages to fi ve estab-

lished contacts. Link it with

the Earthmate app to receive

and share your position.

RESCUE NETWORKS: The

international GEOS rescue

coordination center receives

SOS messages 24/7 and

arranges local rescue assets.

COVERAGE: Worldwide

COOL BECAUSE: With the

InReach service, you can plan

trips, routes and messaging

online and execute them with

the device. Pelagic anglers

use the device in partnership

with Roffer’s sea-temperature

service to update custom

fi shing plans.

PROS: Two-way communica-

tions are fun and reassuring.

CONS: The small screen

makes navigation awkward.

BESTS: Most versatile

adventure tool

GPS: 32 channels

BUOYANT: No, but a fl oating

sleeve is available.

WATERPROOF: 3.3 feet

WEIGHT: 6.7 ounces

BATTERY TYPE: Lithium

BATTERY LIFE: 100 hours

WARRANTY: One year

RESCUE COMMUNICA-

TIONS: Iridium satellite

network, two-way information

ACTIVATION PRO-

CESS: Register online, select

communications service, and

designate contacts

ACTIVATION COST/

YEAR: From $144 (from $12

monthly)

TIME FOR SATELLITE

CONNECTION: Eight minutes

(one minute for a reply)

PRICE: $380;

inreachdelorme.com

The ACR

ResQLink+ fl oats.

The DeLorme

InReach Explorer is

a three-in-one device.