What is a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)?

A PLB is a compact, rugged device with one single, vital job: to broadcast a distress signal when a life is on the line. Once activated, it sends a powerful 406 MHz digital signal to the international Cospas-Sarsat satellite system, which alerts the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) that you're in distress. It's a one-way emergency device, not a communication tool for everyday chat.

How is a PLB different from a two-way radio or satellite phone?

They serve completely different functions. Two-way radios are for day-to-day operational chat over short to medium distances. A satellite phone or messenger lets you have a proper two-way conversation or send texts from almost anywhere. A PLB is your last-resort backup, the one you activate when all other communication is down and a life is genuinely at risk.

Why does GPS matter in a PLB?

Without GPS, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system can still locate you using triangulation, but this takes longer and is less accurate. A GPS-enabled beacon embeds your exact coordinates into the distress signal itself, so rescuers often know your location to within a few metres from the very first alert, which can turn an hours-long search into a direct rescue mission.

Do I need to register my PLB?

Yes, it's a legal requirement in New Zealand, and it's free. Registering links your beacon's unique code to your details with RCCNZ, including emergency contacts and any relevant medical information. This means that if your beacon goes off accidentally, RCCNZ can contact you directly to confirm before launching a full search and rescue response.

What's the difference between a PLB and an EPIRB?

Both work on the same 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat system, but a PLB is built to be carried by a person for use on land, while an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) is the marine version, often designed to float free and activate automatically if a vessel sinks. Many commercial and recreational vessels are legally required to carry an EPIRB.

How often should I test my beacon?

We recommend a self-test once a month, and always before heading into a remote area. This quick check confirms the battery and internal circuits are working correctly without sending a live distress signal, and it's a simple habit worth building into your regular health and safety routine.

What is an intrinsically safe radio, and do I need one?

An intrinsically safe radio is specially engineered to prevent electrical sparks that could ignite flammable gases, vapours, or dust. You need one if your team works in a Hazardous Area as defined by AS/NZS 60079 standards, such as fuel depots, grain silos, or chemical processing plants. Using a standard radio in these environments isn't just risky, it's a serious compliance breach.

Does a PLB replace the need for radios or daily check-ins?

No. A PLB doesn't replace daily communications, supervision, or rescue planning, it fills the last-gap failure point with a direct distress option that doesn't depend on the local mobile network. The strongest setups use a tiered approach: two-way radios as your primary communication, a satellite device as backup, and a PLB as the final emergency layer.