Locator Beacon Registration PSA

Electrical & Electronics
1

I bought an ACR Personal Locator Beacon PLB-400 several years ago for peace of mind/safety since I mainly fish solo. It tucks into my inflatable waist PFD, which I wear all the time.

Anyway, I was going through some boat documents kept in my safe and came across the registration form from NOAA for the PLB. As it turns out, my registration had long expired and I hadn’t received a reminder notice.

I have moved since the original registration, so the contact information and operating area all needed updating. A call to NOAA Beacon Registration (888-212-7283) reset my user name and I was able to log on to my account and update everything. The site to register your device for free is www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov

Glad I discovered the lapse and updated before I really needed to be located. So a word of advice–check your registration and put it on a reminder schedule before it’s due again. And while you’re at it, check the batteries on the beacon as well as the charge on handheld VHF radios.

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2

Make sure the battery is not expired while you are at it! I had to take my to a local service center.

3

Yep, checked mine while I was updating. Good for another year-plus.

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4

Good advice Zika. I have changed the battery on mine - it is easy despite the literature enticing one to have a service center do it.

5

That’s good to know. Mine expires next summer, so I’ll try DIY first.

6

I changed the battery on our EPIRB. Not hard at all. I would guess the PLB is similar.

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7

Where are you getting replacement batteries? From the OEM or secondary source?

8

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ92CDBN/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0DJ92CDBN&pd_rd_w=5yhi9&content-id=amzn1.sym.8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_p=8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_r=RV2KPJ64HM3CA22K0K99&pd_rd_wg=jgKOC&pd_rd_r=a39ac94d-3471-440d-941c-393578e188c9&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

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