Re: OR - ACR Electronics ResQLink PLB - joe schaffer

Why am I getting these updates?. I joined and sent a message asking 
someone what I needed to do to get started over two weeks ago and still 
no response?


------ Original Message ------
From: "Jlee Snow [email protected] [BackpackGearTest]" 
<[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" 
<[email protected]>
Sent: 8/10/2015 9:25:56 PM
Subject: [BackpackGearTest] OR - ACR Electronics ResQLink PLB - joe 
schaffer


>
>
>http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/OWNER%20REVIEWS/OR%20-%20ACR%20Electronics%20ResQLink%20PLB%20-%20by%20joe%20schaffe/
>
>ACR Electronics ResQLink
>Owner Review
>by Joe Schaffer
>
>August 12, 2015
>
>TESTER INFORMATION:
>NAME: Joe Schaffer
>EMAIL: never2muchstuff(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
>AGE: 67
>GENDER: Male
>HEIGHT: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
>WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.4 kg)
>HOME:  Hayward, California USA
>
>    I frequent California's central Sierras, camping every month with a 
>goal to match my age in nights out each year; often solo. Summer trips 
>typically last 5 to 10 days; 40 lbs (18 kg), about half food related; 
>about 5 mi (8 km) per hiking day. I winter camp most often at 6,000 to 
>7,000 ft (1,800 to 2,000 m); 2 to 3 nights; 50 lbs (23 kg); 1 to 4 mi 
>(1.6 to 6.4 km) on snowshoes.
>
>The Product:
>         Manufacturer: ACR Electronics
>         Web site: http://www.acrartex.com/
>         Product: ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon
>         Purchased: 1/2013
>
>MSRP: $280 US
>
>My measures:
>     weight: 5 1/8 oz (145 g) (includes wrist strap)
>     height: 3 7/8 in (9.8 cm)
>     width: 2 1/8 in (5.4 cm)
>     thick: 1 3/8 in (3.5 cm)
>
>Mfr specs:
>size: 1.3 x 1.9 x 3.9 in ( 3.3 x 4.8 x 9.9 cm)
>weight: 4.6 oz (130 g)
>battery: Class 2 non haz-mat lithium
>battery replacement: 6 years from purchase or 5 years from date placed 
>in service; or after emergency use
>battery life when activated: More than 24 hours; 30 hours typical
>waterproof
>approvals: Cospas-Sarsat, FCC, Canada, R&TTE, Australia, New Zealand
>power: 406 MHz
>
>KEY FEATURES:
>66-channel GPS-enabled personal locator beacon
>No subscription fee
>LED strobe
>Free replacement if used for rescue
>Unique identifying number
>Battery not user replaceable; supports up to 60 operating tests, or 12 
>location (GPS) tests; and 1 emergency use
>
>DESCRIPTION:
>     This device is about the size of a thick flip phone. It is mostly 
>smooth with very few corners. The top half of the case is clear on the 
>sides and about one-third of the top; and otherwise chartreuse. The 
>"ribbon" antenna about 3/8 in wide and 1/32 in thick (10 x 0.8 mm) 
>wraps around the unit, secured in a slot on the right side and a catch 
>on the top at the end of the antenna. The catch is released by pressing 
>down slightly on the antenna end. The antenna then flips to the slot. 
>Slipping the antenna from the slot readies it for deployment. The base 
>of the antenna is a swivel arm. Swiveling up the chartreuse arm raises 
>the antenna to a height of about 11 in (28 cm) with the unit flat on 
>its back. The two operating buttons are then exposed. These buttons are 
>about 3/16 in (5 mm) in diameter; and are spaced about 7/16 in (11 mm) 
>apart. One button has an engraved T to indicate test; and the other a 
>circle icon to indicate on/off. The top of the unit case also has icons 
>indicating the location of these buttons. The unit back has a decal 
>giving instruction how to activate and deactivate the alert. As simple 
>as the unit is to operate, it exceeds my capacities to remember and I 
>carry a quickstart card. These are the high points:
>     a) Activate: Flip up the antenna and press the on/off button for 1 
>second. Red or green light will blink.
>     b) Deactivate: Press the on/off button for at least 3 seconds; no 
>blinking light.
>     c) Red flashing light (between and below the C and R on the clear 
>part of the face) means only an alert is being sent.
>     d) Green flashing light means GPS coordinates are being sent with 
>the alert.
>
>FIELD CONDITIONS:
>     I've carried the unit on 59 outings for a total of 291 days. I've 
>never used it. When I bought it I expected to carry it only on solo 
>trips, but it quickly became part of my emergency packet. I hope never 
>to use it. I haven't even tested it. I was out with my partner showing 
>her how to activate it. "Push this button," I told her, "and the 
>helicopter will come." About 15 minutes later we began hearing the 
>wop-wop-wop of what appeared to be a Marine helicopter coming toward us 
>and I felt a rush of $5,000 panic. The coincidence scared me so much 
>I'm even more afraid to push the test button to see if the unit works. 
>I'll just continue to hope it does.
>

>WHY I BOUGHT IT:
>     In 56 years of backpacking I've never had an emergency. I never 
>expect to. At a stage of realizing I'm not quite as indestructible as I 
>used to be, every step taken is one closer to an immobilizing event. 
>I'm often solo, and when not, I may not wish to bet my future welfare 
>on a walk-out obtaining timely rescue. I fear rattlesnake bite, broken 
>hip and ripped ankle in that order. The unit does not give cause to be 
>any less careful; but rather consolation I won't have to wait for 
>circling buzzards before I'm found.
>
>     I bought this particular unit believing from my research that it 
>does the most reliable job of sending an alert that will be received. 
>While not certain, one of the three telephone numbers I've registered 
>should be able to confirm that I'm in fact in the area from which the 
>alert emanates. With that confirmation, help should be sent very 
>quickly; and even without confirmation help should be sent. I like that 
>the unit has an identifier so the receiver of the signal knows the ID 
>of the unit sending it. Over the life of the unit's battery, the fact 
>that there is no subscription fee makes it half the cost of cheaper 
>hardware that does require subscription. This unit only does the one 
>thing (that I think it does better than other units)--send a signal to 
>a satellite that will receive it. I expect that if I do have need, 
>there will be other factors compounding the severity of the 
>circumstance, to include transmission difficulty. I'd rather have the 
>best chance of overcoming those circumstances than the convenience of 
>other features that accommodate non-emergency communication.
>
>Quick shots:
>     a) small
>     b) light
>     c) inexpensive (compared to subscription devices)
>     d) factory-recommended battery change
>