Thread: PLB EPIRB Distress Beacon - A few highly recommended MUST Do’s. To Be Repeated Again

March was the last time I emailed them and all was well then.
Maybe phone them and find out what's happening
406 Beacons Team
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) & Safety Services
Maritime New Zealand
Nō te rere moana Aotearoa
T +64 4 577 8047 | F +64 4 5778041 | E 406Audit@maritimenz.govt.nz

thanks @rugerman

Only thing different is the capital "A" on the web adress

Good spotting that might be it. Try again with a capital A

Edit; just had a look and it's a lower case a in my email client 406audit@maritimenz.govt.nz <406audit@maritimenz.govt.nz>
Might be their email server on the fritz.

Originally Posted by rugerman

Good spotting that might be it. Try again with a capital A

Edit; just had a look and it's a lower case a in my email client 406audit@maritimenz.govt.nz <406audit@maritimenz.govt.nz>
Might be their email server on the fritz.

Same as mine then, will ring them tomorrow.

Originally Posted by K95

I would also add : Get a small laminated card with instructions of how to activate the beacon and store it inside the beacon pouch. I store mine in a Hi-viz orange pouch labelled "PLB" on my bino harness. Anyone could activate my beacon following the instruction sheet if I am unconscious.

Add a laminated photo of family and on the back put your name, phone number of your ICE person, names of wife, kids etc. It sure can help an injured persons motivation when they hear their name, when hear family names, see photo, etc. A small thing but it makes a difference

Originally Posted by uk_exile

Add a laminated photo of family and on the back put your name, phone number of your ICE person, names of wife, kids etc. It sure can help an injured persons motivation when they hear their name, when hear family names, see photo, etc. A small thing but it makes a difference

That's a damn good idea!!

If you haven't yet registered your NZ Coded PLB, Maritime NZ have a new website to take all the info: https://beacons.org.nz

To kill off all the myth about the registration, the PLB is not a tracker and does not tell the big brother Govt where you are minute by minute in the high country!
Before you head out...


Make sure your beacon is registered and that your details are kept up to date


Read the instruction manual and understand how to operate your beacon


Check the expiry date for the battery, which is shown on the beacon label


Ensure your beacon is stored correctly

Originally Posted by CooeeBay

Check the expiry date for the battery, which is shown on the beacon label

rather than starting a whole new thread i thought it was a good time to bring this one back as there will be lotsa hunters chomping at the bit to get out there.....
anyways anyone know who sorts the battery out on the GME plb? mine expires in january

in the hauraki/coromandel area

Originally Posted by scotty

rather than starting a whole new thread i thought it was a good time to bring this one back as there will be lotsa hunters chomping at the bit to get out there.....
anyways anyone know who sorts the battery out on the GME plb? mine expires in january

in the hauraki/coromandel area

@scotty Here this info might help, my Lil Bro organized a group buy a couple of years back & was sent this a while ago as apparently morons were sending units to China to have cheap batteries fitted.

https://www.gme.net.au/nz/news/warni...nts-on-epirbs/

The info & stories on this site are worth a read

https://beacons.org.nz/

Finally good to see the manufacturers publishing the risk you take with getting unauthorized battery replacement. The same goes for ALL original beacon manufacturers (OEM), like ACR, Ocean Signal, McMurdo.

Originally Posted by bunji

@scotty Here this info might help, my Lil Bro organized a group buy a couple of years back & was sent this a while ago as apparently morons were sending units to China to have cheap batteries fitted.

https://www.gme.net.au/nz/news/warni...nts-on-epirbs/

The info & stories on this site are worth a read

https://beacons.org.nz/

Friendly reminder to check you PLB registration details are up to date.

Your phone and address details are correct.

Emergency contacts - name, address and phone number are current.

Check the PLB battery expiry date. If out of date - replace the PLB or it's battery (Skippersmate)

Bi-annual PLB satellite test only completed. (that's every 6 months)

Just had my ACR ResQLink’s battery replaced at Wilco in Auckland. Cost $274.10 inc GST and courier. So in my opinion, still worth doing that rather than springing for a whole new unit.

Sorry to drag up an old thread.
i did some research & have a couple Questions on the following PLB:

Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 GPS Locator Beacon


it says the following on the website where these are available..

Au Coded: *<< Tick Box |
..I Understand This PLB Is Au HEX Id Coded For NZ And Worldwide Activation And Is To Be Registered With AMSA - Canberra
And Therefore No Contact With Maritime NZ Is Required As All Registration Details Will Be Provided By the Retailer. |
** Prefer An NZ Coded Beacon - ....... Can Be Registered With RCCNZ.

so my questions are
1: Does this mean that Australia has a role in the communication chain in the event of an activation?
2: If so is that role passive or active(ie. we'd require them to do something)?
3: what is the process for maintaining registration details? is it retailer dependant?

I have no experience with PLBs, i'm comfortable with the general mechanicals behind it but i'm interested in where the failure points/depenencies lie in an emergency situation.

I love Oz & the Ockers but i don't have much trust in their systems & processes. Remember it was their navy who blew a hole in the deck of their own warship with the big cannon.
I like to know who i'm trusting my life with if i push the button on this particular device(above)

I asked this here so maybe others will find this of some value i dunno, it's just a request/sharing of information at this stage.

ok done some more research..
when the PLB (above example) is coded to another country ie. (AMSA (oz)) vs (RCCNZ (nz)) & subsequently registered in that jurisdiction (by law)...

1: Does this mean that Australia has a role in the communication chain in the event of an activation?
YES.. the Australian Search and Rescue authorities will be the first point of contact, which may delay emergency response

2: If so is that role passive or active(ie. we'd require them to do something)?
Not sure on the AMSA process, but i suspect there's a handover process involved (based upon the above answer.. ie. the 'delay') but only guessing there

3: what is the process for maintaining registration details?suspect there's a link to the AMSA or some other involved agency in OZ. is it retailer dependant? NO

so in summary.. the plb above should work fine in NZ & it is one of the cheapest on the nz market & nice & compact. most probably never activate them anyhow. on sale at the moment too.