GME MT410G beacon

[ninjapuppet]

Ive been calling this an epirb ever since I bought it because the shop who sold it to me called it an epirb. most sellers online also misleadingly call it an epirb too. I went to GME yesterday and was informed that it is actual fact a PLB, not an epirb which are designed for boats.

I think i paid about $650 for it about 2 years ago and now its about 2/3 the price from most online sellers.
battery lasts 7 years and replacement was quoted to me (2 years ago) to cost $220. These days it costs $191 to replace.
weight: 289 grams. To me, its worth every gram and i'd still carry it if it was 10x as heavy but as a comparison, my friend's spot 2 weighs less than half of this.

you can rent beacons from the infotrack center in Glenorchy and some DOCS offices in NZ for $30/week.
I read the rental form and it said if activated, you will be liable for an $800 rescue fee, + 200 battery replacement fee.
In NSW, you can borrow one from the blue mountains visitor centers for free, and there are drop off box at certain locations in case you finish up your hike after hours

After activating mine a few weeks ago for search and rescue, i had been awaiting for the bill to send off to insurance.
I found out today that Australian and NZ residents do not get charged for search and rescue operations if they are genuine, as mine was.
The MT410G is equiped with a GPS so a helicopter was heard within 5 minutes of me activating it, but it took them 2.5 hours to locate me because i was down by a river in a valley with very steep walls, just enough for the chopper to fit in.

I was glad none of us were in a critical state since I was getting abit anxious with the 2.5 hours wait. During that whole time the chopper was whizzing back and forth not seeing us even though we could see the chopper. They spotted us after we made a massive bon fire 3m wide
The SAR guys told me after that the PLB had told them i was on the other side of the river! thats why it took them so long. I guess it can be abit inaccurate when signals are distorted by cliffs. But my Garmin GPS had located me exactly where we were, so I found that very strange.
so much for advertisments saying i'd be rescued within half an hour! haha
The rescue guys were very skilled and they were all volunteers, as they are in Australia. They are true heroes.


Then came the battery replacement when i got back home. The guys at GME said that PLBs cant be sent over australia post and had to be via courier due to its battery?!?! I find this quite funny since I bought from an authorised dealer who delivered it to me in the post. I bet most sellers ignore this issue.

I was quoted over the phone $191 but when i got there for battery replacment, I was pleasantly suprised.
What they do is contact AMSA for a incident report and if it was a genuine rescue, GME's policy is to offer you a brand new replacment!!!
I am not sure if this is the same for other PLB brands, but it certainly gives GME a big plus in my books!
There are now smaller PLBs out there with longer battery lives but also at a much steeper price range!

[ninjapuppet]

I forgot to mention that the new replacement was free, not the $191 I was quoted for a battery change.

I hope this info doesn't give anyone evil ideas on how to cheaply replace the plb batteries when the 7 years is up.

Got pointed out by an observant member here that the gme PLB also emits a second homing frequency for the chopper to hone in. That's all good if the chopper has equipment to detect it but i am not sure our chopper was equiped with the honing device. Maybe the steep cliff walls did distort my emitted signal. I had the beacon on the entire time.

So a tip for anyone being rescued is to make yourself as easy to see as possible from the air and get to high ground with least trees if possible. This wasn't an option in my circumstances. Though we
wouldn't have had to wait 2.5 hours if the Bon fire was started earlier.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Ive been calling this an epirb ever since I bought it because the shop who sold it to me called it an epirb. most sellers online also misleadingly call it an epirb too. I went to GME yesterday and was informed that it is actual fact a PLB, not an epirb which are designed for boats.

Ive been trying to tell people that for months.....

[north-north-west]

*shrug*
When I get one, I'll still call it an EPIRB, because I'll be buying an EPIRB rather than a PLB.

Thought I doubt I'll actually take it diving, which I've seen some weirdos do . . .

[Drifting]

ok- what did you do to yourself NP? You can't leave us hanging like that....

[north-north-west]

This would have been the packrafting mishap. He does explain it all. Somewhere.

[ninjapuppet]

we were basically packrafting some calm waters following a river when the river starts to go underground and beneath boulders.
couldnt go back against the rapids. couldnt go sideways because of cliffs on both sides. I stupidly tried to go forwards which wasnt such a good idea. so the only sensible way was up via helicopter.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5417

[Kevin]

Content removed by poster.

Last edited by Kevin on Fri 24 Dec, 2010 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Lizzy]

I have the GME MT410G (GPS equipped version). The brouchure says 'a PLB is distinctly different to an EPIRB.....unlike an EPIRB the MT410/G PLB when activated in a maritime environment, requires assistance to keep its antenna clear of the waters surface'. It also says batteries operate for minimum 24hours, 7 year battery life.
Cheers
Lizzy

[Kevin]

Content removed by poster.

Last edited by Kevin on Fri 24 Dec, 2010 11:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Lizzy]

No problem,
The GME MT410G weighs 250g & claims a position location within 45m (GPS equipped model) or <5km non GPS model

[Out_Walking]

It's nice to read about the use of a PLB.

I did the Overland Track on my own last winter and I hired the GME MT410G from the Park's office at Cradle Mountain. It's great for peace of mind when solo walking as I had this vision of breaking a leg and left waiting for someone to come along! Being a pretty clumsy walker I thought it was an essential piece of kit.

I found that it was no problem carrying the GME MT410G and was so impressed I bought one. I take it everywhere even on short day walks. I began thinking that on a simple short walk the temptation would be to carry minimal gear which is what I had been doing. I then thought I would be just as likely to have a problem and get caught out on these short walks. I did a 9 km walk last weekend in the Otway Ranges in Victoria and didn't see another walker all day. I can imagine if I had a problem I'd still be there! The result now is that I'm easy to spot as I'm the only bloke carrying a pack of gear complete with the GME MT410G on just a day walk

[ILUVSWTAS]

It's nice to read about the use of a PLB.

I did the Overland Track on my own last winter and I hired the GME MT410G from the Park's office at Cradle Mountain. It's great for peace of mind when solo walking as I had this vision of breaking a leg and left waiting for someone to come along! Being a pretty clumsy walker I thought it was an essential piece of kit.

I found that it was no problem carrying the GME MT410G and was so impressed I bought one. I take it everywhere even on short day walks. I began thinking that on a simple short walk the temptation would be to carry minimal gear which is what I had been doing. I then thought I would be just as likely to have a problem and get caught out on these short walks. I did a 9 km walk last weekend in the Otway Ranges in Victoria and didn't see another walker all day. I can imagine if I had a problem I'd still be there! The result now is that I'm easy to spot as I'm the only bloke carrying a pack of gear complete with the GME MT410G on just a day walk

Not entirely true, most unexpected injuries occur on daywalks. Probably just as important to carry the PLB on day walks than it is on overnighters. I carry my PLB on daywalks all the time.

[Out_Walking]

Not entirely true, most unexpected injuries occur on daywalks. Probably just as important to carry the PLB on day walks than it is on overnighters. I carry my PLB on daywalks all the time.

True! I agree with you...!

[Taurë-rana]

I then thought I would be just as likely to have a problem and get caught out on these short walks...The result now is that I'm easy to spot as I'm the only bloke carrying a pack of gear complete with the GME MT410G on just a day walk

May be the only bloke, but I do it too! The upside is that it's good training for overnight walks.

[north-north-west]

I've been doing it (without the PLB) ever since getting the Load Limo. Principally to start getting ready for the WArthurs. Have to start doing some rougher terrain soon.

[Lizzy]

Me too- except I was wandering our local streets with a full pack to prepare for my walk in the SW. Picked the biggest hills around near all the housing development & the builders/truck drivers all thought I was nuts
Best I could do whle trying to study for exams & get back to the kids in a decent amount of time- but my legs sure did appreciate it when it was time to head up Alpha Moraine!!
PS- didn't take the PLB around the street either... but did have the phone if I needed a rescue

[north-north-west]

The way a lot of builders and truckies drive, you probably were in more danger there than the WArthurs.