I wanted to share this with everyone. I have been using a PLB (personal locator beacon) for 5 years now. It is attached to my auto inflatable vest. They recommend either replacing the battery or getting a new one at the 5 year battery life. The battery replacement was more then 50% of the cost of a new one so I went with the new one. The new one is also smaller then the old one so another benefit. Any way I was sailing the other day and felt my leg vibrating (cell phone going off) so I looked at the phone and it was Boston Coast Guard Station which got my attention. The coast guard lieutenant asked if I was in distress to which I replied No and asked how he got my number. He replied the my PLB was sending a distress signal which shocked me and I looked down at my vest and sure enough the led and strobe were flashing. This was very odd because you have to deploy the antenna to get to the activation switch and the antenna was still in the locked position. Anyway I thanked the lieutenant and assured him that I was not in distress. He was very pleasant and happy I was safe.
A couple of points to make:
1. These devices work very well (other then the inadvertent activation
) and more importantly the coast guard is on top of it.2. The manufacture (ARC) is sending me a new one at no cost so that they can evaluate the inadvertent activation. Note: The old one never had any inadvertent activation in 5 years and the new one had one in 5 days hmmmmm
As a side note I assume that If I hadn't answered the phone that I would have been visited by a cutter out of Woods Hole or a chopper out of Joint Base Cape Cod. Now that would have been very exciting! NOT!!!!!
Keith
