Which Beacon Should You Carry?

Below is a sneak peek of this content!

A practical guide to EPIRBs, ELTs, and PLBs—and when each one matters When everything goes wrong, your ability to communicate determines how long you wait for help. In some environments, that wait can be the difference between inconvenience and survival. Satellite distress beacons exist for one purpose: 👉 To make sure someone knows you need help—no matter where you are. But not all beacons are the same. Choosing the right one depends entirely on where you operate and what can go wrong. The Three Beacon Types That Matter All modern emergency beacons operate on: 👉 406 MHz (COSPAS-SARSAT system) They differ in how they activate, where they’re used, and what they’re designed to survive. EPIRB — Maritime Use Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon Designed for: Boats, ships, offshore operations How it works: Activates automatically when submerged (hydrostatic release) Floats and transmits distress signal Best for: Offshore boating Commercial vessels Sailing / long-distance passages Why it matters:If you abandon ship or lose power, it activates without you doing anything. ELT — Aviation Use Emergency Locator Transmitter Designed for: Aircraft (required in most aviation environments) How it works: Automatically activates on impact (G-switch) Can also be triggered manually Best for: Private pilots...