Safety Alert SA2G PLB

[Zcootz]

Hi,

First post on this forum, but Ive been having a good look around, great forum!

I was about to buy an Ocean Signal PLB1 for hiking then spotted the Safety Alert SA2G. Just wondering if anyone has any experiences/opinions about the SA2G ? I can't find any reviews and limited discussions about them online which makes me a bit nervous.

The PLB1 seems to be a respected unit but the SA2G has :
- 10 year battery life (PLB1, 7)
- Internal chip antena (I'm a bit concerned about its effectiveness through a tree canopy, the idea of the PLB1's external antenna appeals)
- $40 cheaper than the PLB1 although this ins't a big point, I just want to be the better unit.

Many thanks

Mark

[neilmny]

If I was you I'd go for a GME MT410G. It will cost less and gives a GPS location to emergency services (AMSA).

[Strider]

MT410G is a huge bulky unit. It is worth paying slightly more for something a bit smaller IMO.

All PLBs have to meet the same standards so are pretty much created equal when it comes to safety specs.

Inherent buoyancy, longer battery life, no ridiculous flap on the front and a cheaper price tag would see me take the SA2G over the PLB1.

[neilmny]

Interesting that the SA2G specs mention no IP rating only that it is bouyant.
Bouyant does not mean water proof just that it doesn't sink.

[Lizzy]

This page
http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/Safety-Alert-SA2G
States IPX67 waterproof design

[neilmny]

The link must be incomplete Lizyy, it doesn't work.
It leads to a "sorry the page" etc. etc.
I was refering to the manufacturers web site making no mention of the IP rating.
http://kti.com.au/radio-beacons/safety-alert-plb/

Perhaps CH Smith quotes from documentation in the box????????

[Strider]

http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/Safe ... h-GPS.html

[Zcootz]

I did notice that the sa2g was rated to 3m but the Pb1 10m, either way I'm gong to have bigger problems trying to fish either out on a 3 m deep river.

[Zcootz]

If I was you I'd go for a GME MT410G. It will cost less and gives a GPS location to emergency services (AMSA).

I was under the impression the other two units did that as well?

[Zcootz]

MT410G is a huge bulky unit. It is worth paying slightly more for something a bit smaller IMO.

All PLBs have to meet the same standards so are pretty much created equal when it comes to safety specs.

Inherent buoyancy, longer battery life, no ridiculous flap on the front and a cheaper price tag would see me take the SA2G over the PLB1.

That flap does seem a bit gimmicky. The antenna is the interesting one though. I know they have the same power output but I can't help thinking that the extendable antenna has to help. Does the GME use an internal or extendable antenna?

[Strider]

GME has an extendable antenna. You rip the top off the unit to access it.

[Strider]

Being able to operate one handed is a big factor I think. Hence I went with an ACR ResQlink+

[neilmny]

GME has an extendable antenna. You rip the top off the unit to access it.

Don't know where you got that from Strider you don't rip anything off anything.
The antenna has a narrow security tape across it at a point below the hinge which serves to show if it has been activated.
The antenna "support" hinges into the body of the unit and clips down.
The antenna "support" swings up and in the process the tape will be broken.
The actual antenna which is attached to it is a stainless steel cable.

But lets face it the important thing is to have one and in my opinion it has to be an actual PLB.

[Strider]

GME has an extendable antenna. You rip the top off the unit to access it.

Don't know where you got that from Strider you don't rip anything off anything.
The antenna has a narrow security tape across it at a point below the hinge which serves to show if it has been activated.
The antenna "support" hinges into the body of the unit and clips down.
The antenna "support" swings up and in the process the tape will be broken.
The actual antenna which is attached to it is a stainless steel cable.

But lets face it the important thing is to have one and in my opinion it has to be an actual PLB.

Sorry I was thinking of the McMurdo!

[Zcootz]

GME has an extendable antenna. You rip the top off the unit to access it.

But lets face it the important thing is to have one and in my opinion it has to be an actual PLB.

Are you suggesting that the others discussed aren't ? Genuine question. I'm a PLB newbee but when I checked the specs they certainly looked like they were PLBs.

Thanks for all the feedback, good food for thought

[icefest]

Considering that you'll be carrying it everywhere for the next few years, I'd go for the lighter one.

My personal opinion on the matter is (bearing in mind that I'm no professional S&R guy) that as long as it conforms to the Australian standards it is enough. You won't be moving around after setting it off so you only need to get one GPS signal through and extra ones won't help.

[Strider]

I think Neil was suggesting to ensure you get a proper PLB and not a Spot device, or similar.

Last edited by Strider on Wed 14 Jan, 2015 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Zcootz]

That's it, I'm certainly considering a PLB as the minimum standard.

[neilmny]

GME has an extendable antenna. You rip the top off the unit to access it.

But lets face it the important thing is to have one and in my opinion it has to be an actual PLB.

Are you suggesting that the others discussed aren't ? Genuine question. I'm a PLB newbee but when I checked the specs they certainly looked like they were PLBs.

Thanks for all the feedback, good food for thought

No just meant that the device I would choose would be a PLB (not a subscription type tracking device) that transmits an emergency signal that will be received and dealt with by AMSA and that having a PLB is essential to me and my family if I'm going into places where there is no other means to call for help in an emergency.

Might be worth a read - http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal- ... ing-advice

[tastrax]

All the original hire epirbs in Tassie were from KTI (Australian Company). They have taken a long time to develop this unit and I am sure it will be a good serviceable unit. We would have gone with them when the 406mhz PLB's came in but they didn't have a model available. I think the testing regime is very strict so maybe that is why its taken so long to get to market.

We had no issues at all with the hire units.

[corvus]

You may want to check out this one a bit more expensive however has some really good features
http://adventuresafety.com.au/survive-a ... vAodpoQA0g

[icefest]

You may want to check out this one a bit more expensive however has some really good features
http://adventuresafety.com.au/survive-a ... vAodpoQA0g

Seeing as the op mentioned it in their original post, I suspect it has been considered.

In not sure which extra features you mean other than weight though, as most other parameters of the heavier one outclass the plb1.

[corvus]

You may want to check out this one a bit more expensive however has some really good features
http://adventuresafety.com.au/survive-a ... vAodpoQA0g

Seeing as the op mentioned it in their original post, I suspect it has been considered.


In not sure which extra features you mean other than weight though, as most other parameters of the heavier one outclass the plb1.[/quote


Was lax in my reading of the OP however the PLB 1 is lighter comes with a flotation pouch and is much smaller than the others and it must be a good unit as it was the one I purchased

[icefest]

The other floats on its own, has a longer battery life, send your location every 5 min (4x more often), whistle and mirror.

That said, I went with the lighter one for reasons stated above. (Although it could be as you said corvus: it might just be the better one)

[corvus]

The other floats on its own, has a longer battery life, send your location every 5 min (4x more often), whistle and mirror.

That said, I went with the lighter one for reasons stated above. (Although it could be as you said corvus: it might just be the better one)

Already have whistle and mirror as standard in my kit(as we all should have) so did not need any more,like my old PLB I hope never to deploy this one but more than happy to carry it and its flotation pouch weight of 147gm

[neilmny]

All the original hire epirbs in Tassie were from KTI (Australian Company). They have taken a long time to develop this unit and I am sure it will be a good serviceable unit. We would have gone with them when the 406mhz PLB's came in but they didn't have a model available. I think the testing regime is very strict so maybe that is why its taken so long to get to market.

We had no issues at all with the hire units.

Does that mean they were triggered in actual rescues?

[Zcootz]

I found some more info about the SA2G, it actually has an external flexible stainless steel antenna (from a spec sheet on their website) despite a dealer telling me that they didn't.....

I like your logic Corvus about the best being the one you own

I sat down and drew overlays of the size of the units and was really surprised about the differences.

Heading into Paddy Palin this morning (hopefully they price match) and I think it'll be ReqLink+ or Plb1(hot favourite).

[Zcootz]

Thanks for all the opinions and views

[Zcootz]

After today's shopping trip I ended up coming home with an ACR Resqlink after all. There were very sublte differences between the two in the end but the extra testing provisions of the the Resqlink swung the deal for me even though the PLB1 was much smaller. Interestingly the PLB1 didn't feel that much difference in size in my trouser pocket.

My wife is going to sleep much more comfortably, however she did say I have no chance of escaping from her now

[tastrax]

All the original hire epirbs in Tassie were from KTI (Australian Company). They have taken a long time to develop this unit and I am sure it will be a good serviceable unit. We would have gone with them when the 406mhz PLB's came in but they didn't have a model available. I think the testing regime is very strict so maybe that is why its taken so long to get to market.

We had no issues at all with the hire units.

Does that mean they were triggered in actual rescues?

Yes - quite a few were triggered. They were then sent back to KTI and the batteries replaced and they went back into service.