rescueME PLB3 AIS Personal Locator Beacon

A PLB is carried by a person; an EPIRB serves the vessel. Do not assume a PLB meets an EPIRB carriage requirement. Compare EPIRBs and PLBs.

PLB3 provides satellite distress alerting for personal use, subject to local rules and country configuration. AIS adds particular value on the water. Compare PLB1 if compact satellite alerting is your priority.

No. PLB3 is a distress beacon. NFC provides access to stored beacon and test data; it is not live tracking, remote activation or two-way messaging.

Treat a phone and a PLB as different tools. PLB3 provides dedicated 406 MHz distress signalling, local AIS and 121.5 MHz homing. It does not make calls or send everyday messages.

Both provide 406 MHz satellite distress alerting and 121.5 MHz homing. Choose PLB1 when compact carriage is your priority. Choose PLB3 when you also want local AIS, RLS acknowledgement and compatible lifejacket integration.

PLB3 is a dedicated distress beacon using the Cospas-Sarsat rescue system. A satellite communicator uses a commercial communications service and may support tracking and two-way messages, depending on the device and service. PLB3 does not provide those everyday communication functions.

No. PLB3 distress signalling operates independently of a mobile phone, mobile coverage or an airtime subscription. Battery replacement and servicing remain part of ownership.

Register before your first trip.

Confirm country coding and RLS configuration for your registration route. Register with the appropriate authority and keep emergency contacts current. Ocean Signal warranty registration is separate.

Read the fitting and operating instructions and use only the prescribed self-tests. Arrange authorised battery replacement after emergency use or when required by the expiry label or test result.

Registration guide · PLB3 manual (PDF) · Warranty & returns

The 406 Survivor Club is Ocean Signal’s replacement programme for PLB and EPIRB owners. After a genuine lifesaving rescue, share your story and apply for a free replacement beacon, subject to eligibility and verification. Contact Ocean Signal for submission and beacon-return requirements.

Register the beacon’s unique identity with the official 406 MHz registration authority for its country coding. Use the identity printed on the beacon and keep your emergency contacts current. Ocean Signal product or warranty registration is a separate process.

Yes. PLB3 can be carried independently and activated manually in a life-threatening emergency. Use the supplied belt/webbing attachment as instructed and keep the beacon secured and accessible. Lifejacket-triggered activation is an additional option that requires correct fitting, packing and arming in a compatible inflatable lifejacket.

It can when correctly installed, packed and armed in a compatible inflatable lifejacket. Check the lifejacket manufacturer’s guidance. Manual activation is also available.

It needs compatible AIS receiving and display equipment and must be within range. Check how your equipment displays MOB targets and sounds alarms.

The blue RLS acknowledgement pattern confirms that the satellite rescue system received your distress alert and detected your location. It does not confirm rescue dispatch or give an arrival time. Read the manual to distinguish this pattern from other indicators. RLS availability depends on country configuration.

PLB3 requires its flotation pouch to float. Keep the beacon secured to you and operate it clear of the water with the antenna upright and a clear view of the sky. Do not leave it floating unattended.

PLB3 provides over 24 hours of specified operation at −20°C. Its battery replacement interval is six years from manufacture or five years after entering service. Follow the expiry label and manual, and arrange authorised servicing after emergency use. The battery is not user-replaceable.