From coastal fishing and kayaking to sailing and days offshore, carry a dedicated way to raise the alarm when mobile coverage disappears and you need emergency assistance.
Explore recommended PLBs ↓Mobile phones are useful close to shore, but coverage can become unreliable as you travel further out. For anglers, kayakers, sailors and recreational boaters, carrying a Personal Locator Beacon provides another way to call for help.
When activated in a serious emergency, a PLB transmits a dedicated distress alert and your position through the international Search & Rescue satellite system, without depending on the local mobile network.
A Personal Locator Beacon does not rely on the same cellular network as your everyday phone.
Activate your PLB in a serious emergency to transmit your distress signal and location to Search & Rescue.
Keep a dedicated emergency beacon ready without an ongoing monthly satellite airtime subscription.
Whether you're fishing from the coast, paddling further offshore or spending the day on a boat, these compact emergency beacons give you a dedicated way to raise a distress alert when the situation becomes life-threatening.
An ultra-compact, waterproof Personal Locator Beacon designed to transmit your GPS position and a dedicated 406 MHz distress alert through the global Search & Rescue satellite system.
Best for: anglers, kayakers and sailors wanting the smallest possible emergency beacon to carry on their person.
A compact, inherently buoyant emergency beacon with an integrated digital display providing visible confirmation of GPS acquisition, battery status and beacon activation.
Best for: boaters, sailors and watersports users who want additional on-device reassurance during an emergency.
A compact emergency beacon combining GPS and Galileo positioning with 406 MHz satellite distress alerting and a 121.5 MHz homing signal for rescue teams.
Best for: anglers and boaters wanting a proven marine and outdoor PLB supplied with a buoyancy pouch.
Kayak fishing close to shore and heading miles offshore on a boat can involve very different safety requirements. Tell us where you're going, how you're travelling and what equipment you already carry, and our team can help you choose the right emergency beacon.
Choosing emergency equipment is easier once you understand how a PLB works, how it differs from an EPIRB and where it fits alongside equipment such as marine VHF radios.
A Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB, is a compact emergency beacon carried by an individual. When activated in a grave and imminent emergency, it transmits a dedicated 406 MHz distress signal through the international Cospas-Sarsat Search & Rescue satellite system.
Yes. A PLB does not depend on a conventional mobile network. It communicates through the Cospas-Sarsat satellite-based Search & Rescue system, making it suitable for emergency use when you're offshore or otherwise beyond cellular coverage.
A PLB is a compact beacon intended to be carried by an individual and manually activated in an emergency. An EPIRB is primarily designed as emergency equipment for a vessel and, depending on the model and installation, may include automatic activation or deployment capabilities.
No. PLBs such as the rescueME PLB1, ACR ResQLink View and McMurdo FastFind 220 do not require a monthly or annual satellite airtime plan. They use the international Search & Rescue satellite system rather than a commercial messaging service.
Your beacon should be registered with the appropriate authority for its country coding. Registration links the beacon's unique identity to you and your emergency contacts, providing useful information to Search & Rescue authorities if it is ever activated.
No. Buoyancy varies by model. For example, the ACR ResQLink View is inherently buoyant, while the FastFind 220 is supplied with a buoyancy pouch. Always check the instructions for your beacon and make sure it is carried and used correctly on the water.
The two devices perform different jobs. A marine VHF provides voice communication with nearby vessels, coast stations and rescue services, while a PLB is a dedicated satellite distress beacon. Carrying both can give you more than one way to raise the alarm if an emergency develops.