Thread: PLB and GPS or just an inReach?

I got a free one with some farm stuff the other day winning have for the past couple years only carried my Spot X and Now Garmin Alpha 200i because one unit I can message, sos, gps, and track dog but PLB be good to carry also and have on the boat. Have had a heli rescue after setting off SOS on Spot unit a few years back. Worked perfect at the time but can’t say that they would in all situations.

By in large most inReach pickups go with out any issue, but occasionally the don’t… the worst one I’ve been privy to were co ordinates either generated or provided that were initially 2.2km out. The couples head torches were what located them over a kilometre from a revised position.
Have also seen situations of family being sent messages lacking context or missed scheds and aircraft being prematurely tasked to individuals not requiring help.

Great discussion, thanks.

Ive got a wee plb...about 3" square pouch,lives in day bag...use a gps...marks my points of interest and reinforces my whereabouts and CONFIRMS location on map....MOST people carry cellphones in this modern age....I just upgraded so have topo maps on hand...and if have reception I can also get my location and block boundaries..the PLB is a panic button..the GPS navigation aid....the phone is navigation aid and comms if have reception...I dont see a need for anything else.
heck we go bush to get away from it all......and take half of it with us if still in comms with home.

I see some of the PLB brands advertise that they can replace batteries for $200. Anyone know who might do battery replacements and what the warranty would be.?

There’s plenty of videos on YouTube on replacing the batteries yourself if you were willing to give it a go. Granted some may say “you’re putting your life peril!” Etc but if you’re confident it’s probably better than putting your life in the hands of some Wally you don’t know who’s going to do the exact same thing with the exact same batteries....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Ive got a wee plb...about 3" square pouch,lives in day bag...use a gps...marks my points of interest and reinforces my whereabouts and CONFIRMS location on map....MOST people carry cellphones in this modern age....I just upgraded so have topo maps on hand...and if have reception I can also get my location and block boundaries..the PLB is a panic button..the GPS navigation aid....the phone is navigation aid and comms if have reception...I dont see a need for anything else.
heck we go bush to get away from it all......and take half of it with us if still in comms with home.

I use my cellphone + NZ Topo50 app for all my navigation now. You do not need cellphone reception to establish you position or track. My phone is in Flight Mode to save battery life most of the time.

Not very keen on knowing exactly where I am with a broken leg, and no cell reception though.... Spent the first 20 years of my hunting life with just a compass, but luckily, with a few more years and kg under the belt, comes a bit more ability to fund things that offset the risks. inReach - a good multi-purpose option by the sound of it, but if you really really need a rescue - then at that moment you would want to be pulling out a purpose built specialised bit of kit (PLB) is the logic I'm hearing from the forum gurus.

I use NZTopo on my phone for gps location. Also have an inreach mini. And a plb.
If I had to leave one of these behind, I'd take the plb first, then my cellphone and leave the inreach behind.
If you need lifted out, then you need lifted out.
Inreach is for sure handy for keeping in touch with home.
The only exception I could see for an emergency evacuation might be when something bad has happened at home and somebody needs to contact you.

Just to be a bit more sitting on the fence, the inreach mini is small and weighs hardly anything. And I already have a phone and NZTopo is a handful of dollars for IMO as good a gps tool as any dedicated gps unit I've ever had. And the plb is non-negotiable anyway. The only thing with the inreach (and other similar tools), is an annual subscription fee whether you use it or not. I guess for very low usage, renting a unit would be the answer if you need back country comms.

Good call Ned about the benefit of home being able to contact you. That is a substantial factor I hadn't thought about.

Wouldn’t go out without my PLB. Always have it on my person too so it’s readily accessible. Not much good if it’s in your pack & a fall/slip means you can’t get to it. Used to use a Garmin Rino for nav but passed that on having found NZTopo50 just as accurate for nav but a lot more user friendly. An InReach mini is on my list of gear I’d like to get & will pick one up sometime in the near future- be nice reassurance for the better half to know I’m safe, but she always gets a detailed rundown of my plan- intended area, etas etc before I go anywhere. But the PLB is a must.

Originally Posted by Ned

I use NZTopo on my phone for gps location. Also have an inreach mini. And a plb.
If I had to leave one of these behind, I'd take the plb first, then my cellphone and leave the inreach behind.
If you need lifted out, then you need lifted out.
Inreach is for sure handy for keeping in touch with home.
The only exception I could see for an emergency evacuation might be when something bad has happened at home and somebody needs to contact you.

Just to be a bit more sitting on the fence, the inreach mini is small and weighs hardly anything. And I already have a phone and NZTopo is a handful of dollars for IMO as good a gps tool as any dedicated gps unit I've ever had. And the plb is non-negotiable anyway. The only thing with the inreach (and other similar tools), is an annual subscription fee whether you use it or not. I guess for very low usage, renting a unit would be the answer if you need back country comms.

They now have a yearly plan for low users but its still $300 a year.

Originally Posted by Northkiwi

Good call Ned about the benefit of home being able to contact you. That is a substantial factor I hadn't thought about.

Have you decided what you think you will get yet?

I've found that the magnetic bearing on topo50 to be a bit out, even accounting for magnetic deviation. I've taken the bearing to a land mark on my phone and checked it with a compass and it was a good 20 degrees out.
Any suggestions?

ship it to @gonetropo for a look. he fixed my gps for a very reasonable price!