My GME MT410 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) battery was marked for expiry so after 7 years of service it was time to replace it.
A PLB is an emergency beacon that, once activated, sends a signal to search and rescue agencies, alerting them of your location and the fact you’re in dire need of their help. You register with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). A PLB is a last resort, only to be turned on in life threatening situations and when no other direct communication is available.
Used by campers, hunters, fishermen, bushwalkers, 4WD drivers, overlanders or other people venturing into remote areas.
A registered beacon provides AMSA with useful information to contact you in the event of an emergency when your beacon has been activated. This information is critical in assisting search and rescue. Once a PLB is activated, the beacon transmits a distress signal that is received by the international search and rescue satellite system. The satellite then notifies the nearest ground station and, through a series of connections, the Rescue Coordination Centre responsible for the specific region will be notified and begin organising a response. A personal locator beacon can be activated anywhere in the world, including land, air and sea.
The replacement was an Australian Made 406MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon from GME, the MT610G. The new one was Half the size of the old MT410, lightweight and compact it can fit easily in a backpack or clip onto the shoulder straps.
GME MT610
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