Personal Locator Beacons Save Lives OffRoading

Personal locator beacons, or PLBs as they are commonly called, help save lives when you’re lost, injured, or in a remote location that doesn’t have cell service. They’re an essential piece of gear for outdoor enthusiasts who spend time off-roading, hiking, camping, or boondocking in the wilderness.

What is a Personal Locator Beacon?

Personal Locator Beacons, or PLBs as they are commonly known, send a distress signal to search and rescue authorities worldwide using 406 MHz satellites. They work in all weather and in the most remote places on Earth, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

How Does a PLB Work?

When activated, a personal locator beacon sends a 406 MHz distress signal to the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System. When this distress signal is picked up by these satellites, they reroute it to the closest receiving center back on Earth.

Depending on the model, activating your personal locator beacon may look different, but in most cases, all you have to do is extend the antenna and turn it on. When this happens, your distress signal will be relayed to a network of government-funded satellites that are part of the Cospas-Sarsat program.

Man Down alarm The satellites then alert local search and rescue authorities. From there, they can dispatch search and rescue teams to your exact location to help you in an emergency.

PLBs are a small investment for safety in the backcountry and beyond. They’re an easy-to-use tool that can save lives, especially when you’re off the beaten path or without access to cell service. A great gift idea for any adventurer, hiker, or off-roader.