Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
PLBs – for Bushwalkers
PLB stands for Personal Locator Beacon. It is a device carried by a bushwalker which, when activated, transmits a message which is received by satellites orbiting the Earth, and is then relayed to emergency services. In the case of an activation by a bushwalker this will usually be a rescue helicopter. The helicopter then goes to the coordinates the beacon transmitted (or uses radio direction finding to home in on the beacon) and can then rescue the distressed bushwalker.
The system is the primary emergency communications method for remote areas as the system works world-wide – which is why it is also used extensively by ships and aircraft. Beacons are available which are small and cheap enough to be practical for bushwalkers, so these pages will give you an introduction into what they are, what types are available, how they work and how to use them effectively.
BSAR encourages people bushwalking in areas without mobile phone coverage to carry a PLB. They are available for bushwalkers either at a nominal cost or for free from the following locations:
| Area Serviced | Where From | Time | Contact Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains | Blue Mountains Heritage Centre (Blackheath) | 9am-4:30pm | Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath | No Charge |
| Blue Mountains | Katoomba Police Station | after hours | 217 Katoomba St, Katoomba | No Charge |
| Blue Mountains | Springwood Police Station | after hours | 4 Jerseywold Ave, Springwood | No Charge |
| Snowy Mountains | Snowy Region Visitor Centre Jindabyne | 8:30am-5pm | 49 Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne | A small fee – contact office for details |
| Snowy Mountains | Perisher Valley NPWS Office | Seasonal | Kosciuszko Road, Perisher Valley | A small fee – contact office for details |
| Snowy Mountains | Tumut Visitor Centre | 9am-5pm | The Old Butter Factory, 5 Adelong Road, Tumut | A small fee – contact office for details |
| Namadgi | Namadgi Visitor Centre | 9am-4pm | Naas Road, Tharwa | $10 per day |
| Budawangs/South Coast | IGA Supermarket, Milton | 6am-12am | On the highway in the middle of Milton – you will have to ask for the store manager | $100 deposit, $10 weekly hire fee |
| Post to anywhere in Australia | EPIRB Hire | Any time | Web site or phone 0415 263 750 or 0410 506 709. | Minimum charge $88 for 7 days. |
| Post to anywhere in Australia | Bushwalking Blog | Any time | Web site | $15 per day, $10 per day for more than 6 or more days. |
| Post to anywhere in Australia | Adventure Rentals | Any time | Web site | $55 for 3 days + deposit and delivery |
| Post to anywhere in Australia | Oz Satellite Rentals | Any time | Web site | $45 for 1 week + delivery |
As well as being available for hire, PLBs can also be purchased at most quality outdoor stores (such as Alpsport or Paddy Pallin) and ships chandleries (such as Bias Boating or Whitworths).
Think Before You Trek
Think Before You Trek is a bush safety initiative between the NSW Police Force and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. BSAR NSW supports the TREK initiative. It encourages bushwalkers to TREK:
- T – Take adequate supplies of food, water, navigation and first aid equipment.
- R – Register your planned route and tell friends and family when you expect to return.
- E – Emergency beacons (PLB’s) are available free of charge from the NSW Police Force and NPWS.
- K – Keep to your planned route and follow the map and walking trails.
As part of this programme it can provide bushwalkers and adventurers in the Blue Mountains with a free or low cost loaned Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). These PLBs are available from several police stations and National Parks Offices (See table above). Click here to read more.
Dispose of Old Beacons!
In February 2009 the satellite monitoring of the older style 121.5MHz and 243MHz beacons was switched off. While monitoring of these frequencies will still be continued by land based stations, shipping and aviation the lack of satellite monitoring of this system means it is unreliable as an emergency system and therefore is not recommended.
This means all 121.5MHz and 243MHz beacons should be disposed of. Please note they should not be thrown in the rubbish as the batteries are hazardous. Old beacons can be disposed of at no cost at Battery World shops.
For further information about the shut down of the old 121.5MHz and 243MHz beacon systems read below or visit the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) beacon information page.
BSAR NSW appreciates the assistance of Steve Langlands, AMSA, in preparation of these pages.