
home		hike/camp/snow		emergency beacons		guidebooks		contact us

406 MHz EPIRBs and PLBs; Avalanche transceivers

Part 1 - EPIRB, PLB, or avalanche transceiver?

Important decision! Each type of device is suitable for different situations. Remember, though, that carrying or activating an emergency device cannot of itself guarantee a timely response.

EPIRBs and PLBs


McMurdo Fastfind PLB		KTI SA2G PLB		KTI SA1G EPIRB

An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is an emergency beacon designed to float in water and operate for a minimum of 48 hours.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is an emergency beacon for personal use, designed to operate for a minimum of 24 hours. PLBs are often carried on land, when in remote areas, or on a boat/vessel that is carrying an EPIRB, to provide additional safety for individuals.

If you are not required to carry an EPIRB, carry a PLB: they are much smaller and lighter.

Digital (406 Mhz) GPS-enabled beacons determine their location prior to transmitting this location and the beacon's unique reference number. This signal is received and actioned by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Canberra, ACT.

Key points

Outdoor activities can be dangerous. People have been badly hurt or have died in accidents, severe weather conditions, or due to medical conditions where medical assistance was not available.
Do not engage in activities beyond your ability. Always be safe and respect the conditions.
Carrying or activating an emergency device cannot of itself guarantee a timely response.

Avalanche rescue transceivers and related equipment

Mammut Barryvox transceiver

In some places there is a risk of avalanche, and people can be buried under the snow. One of the ways that someone in this situation can be found is by using avalanche transceivers to locate the person.

An avalanche transceiver is carried by someone (in the supplied chest harness) and set to the 'send' mode. In order to find a person who has one of these transceivers, the searcher sets their transceiver to the 'search' mode. The transceiver helps the searcher focus their search. The search can then be fine-tuned with avalanche probes, and finally, snowshovels are used to recover the patient.

Please refer to the Barryvox user manual (opens in a new tab).

We offer the Mammut Barryvox rescue transceivers for collection in Melbourne CBD and Cheltenham. We also offer an "avalanche pack" which includes the Mammut Barryvox transceiver, a snow probe, and a snow shovel.

Key points

Snow sports are dangerous. People have been badly hurt or killed in avalanches.
Carrying or activating an emergency device cannot of itself guarantee a timely response.
Learn safety techniques - undertake an Avalanche Safety course.
Do not engage in activities beyond your ability. Always be safe and respect the conditions.
Always be safe and respect the conditions.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions - there are special instructions for users who have a pacemaker.
Ensure that a transceiver is functioning properly prior to use.
Transmitters and magnets will interfere with the performance of an avalanche transceiver.
Don't carry other transmitters within 30cm of an avalanche transceiver.
Disable non-essential phones and smart watches when you are using an avalanche transceiver!

What about Satellite communications?

We don't offer satellite phones. However, the ZOLEO ZL-1000 Satellite Communicator is a great alternative.

ZOLEO ZL-1000 Satellite communicator

This excellent device allows you to send messages and one-press check-in messages via the Iridium network.

Send and receive SMS-type messages via Bluetooth connection to your phone, using cellular/wifi where possible, and via satellite when cellular/wifi is not available.
Press one button to tell your nominated contacts that you are OK, with your location!

The device has a RRP of $345 (incl GST) and plans start at $32/month (plus $40 once-off activation fee).

More detailed information is available on the ZOLEO product website (opens in a new tab).

Part 2 - Hire rates

Item	2 days	3-7 days	8-13 days	14+ days
PLB or EPIRB	50	50	50 for the first 7 days and then $5/day	Ask us
Avalanche pack(1)	110	130	130 for the first 7 days and then $10/day	Ask us
Avalanche transceiver(2)	75	95	95 for the first 7 days and then $8/day	Ask us

(1) An avalanche pack comprises an avalanche transceiver, a snow probe, and a snow shovel.
(2) The Mammut Barryvox transceiver requires 3 AAA Alkaline batteries. You should fit 3 new batteries prior to use of the transceiver.

Prices do not include delivery and are as at October 2021.
In addition to our hire fee, we require a deposit, refundable upon return of the equipment.

Special offers:

Price cap for end-to-end long distance walks!

Avalanche Skills Training (AST1) course participants:
Hire an Avalanche pack, a pair of Yowie snowshoes and a pair of trekking poles.

2 days - $145
3-4 days - $160

Guidebooks:
We have a selection of guidebooks available for sale.

Customers of -

Holiak Hire (Thomastown VIC)
Vast Outdoors (Moorabbin VIC)
Anchor Marine (Sandringham VIC)
Capacity Sports (Moorabbin VIC)
Annapurna (Adelaide SA)
Exurbia (Norwood SA)

Get a discount off our hire fee if you have purchased anything from one of these businesses in the 60 days prior to the date you collect your hire beacon. Just show us your receipt!

Part 3 - Collection and return

Collection and return is possible at the following locations:

Locations	City	Suburb	PLB	EPIRB	Avalanche
	Adelaide	Glenunga	Yes	*	-
	Albany	Albany	*	-	-
	Alice Springs	Alice Springs	Yes	-	-
	Cairns	Cairns CBD	Yes	-	-
	Darwin	Berrimah	Yes	-	-
	Gold Coast	Coolangatta	*	-	-
	Hobart	Hobart CBD	Yes	-	-
	Kalgoorlie	Kalgoorlie	*	-	-
	Melbourne	Cheltenham	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Melbourne	Docklands/CBD	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Narooma	Narooma	*	-	-
	Newcastle	Newcastle	Yes	-	-
	Perth	Duncraig	Yes	Yes	-
	Sydney	Haymarket	Yes	-	-
	Thredbo	Thredbo	*	-	-

* By arrangement - please give us as much notice as possible.
Other areas - shipping via Australia Post: additional postage and insurance costs apply.

Part 4 - How to proceed

Consider whether you should purchase travel insurance for your trip.
Please contact us either via our on-line enquiry form or by phone, or email.
We will confirm availability.
We will ask you to complete and send us our beacon registration form/agreement - see link at the bottom of this page.
We will provide instructions for the payment of the hire fee and deposit, and collection of the beacon/transceiver.
Where required, we will register your trip with AMSA.
Once you have collected your device, please refer to the beacon user manual extracts (accessible from our home page) or the Barryvox manual.

Want to know more?

Telephone: 0431 176 282 (9am - 7pm AEST)

Email: adventurentals@gmail.com

Download: Beacon registration form/agreement (.docx)