PLB Innovation For Boaters: Know They're Coming For You
Date Posted: February 15, 2023
Source: BoatUS Magazine

According to ACR, ResQLink View RLS is the world's first PLB with the capability to provide the user with a clear confirmation message via a digital display screen verifying that the international satellite system Cospas-Sarsat has received their distress message and location.

"Now we can offer the latest innovation in life-saving technology to our beacon owners with a confirmation light, or even via a message on our ResQLink View RLS display screen, as reassurance that help is on the way — a significant boost for morale in a life-threatening emergency," explains Mikele D'Arcangelo, vice president of global marketing and product management for ACR Electronics.

Incorporating a multi-constellation receiver that uses both the Galileo GNSS as well as the GPS Satellite network for faster location and improved accuracy, ACR PLBs operate on the three Cospas-Sarsat satellite systems including the new MEOSAR.

This ensures they will offer near-instantaneous signal detection and transmission enabled by the global MEOSAR satellites and upgraded ground-station components.

Using the next-gen network, anyone activating a ResQLink PLB can expect their beacon to be located within 100 meters (328 feet), 95% of the time, within five minutes of the distress signal, according to ACR.

Comment Submitted by Gaz - February 27, 2023

Kudos to ACR. For years I have had attached to my personnel life jacket an ACR EPURB or now its equivalent. Today my jacket is of the inflatable type and the ACR EPURB is tiny. I never go on the water without my jacket near me and get the strangest looks from people seeing all the gear I have attached to my jacket. To the consternation of many a charter captain I wear it on their boats and I never go out in the dinghy without wearing my jacket ie: PLB. I've unintendedly been in the water and while it was not a life threatening situation it is enough to make you realize accidents do not happen conveniently. Worst case scenario I will be found, may not be alive but I'll be found.

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