{"id":29462,"date":"2025-06-16T14:01:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T14:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oceansignal.com\/?p=29462"},"modified":"2025-09-10T16:17:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:17:19","slug":"epirb-vs-plb-choosing-the-right-beacon-for-offshore-sailing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oceansignal.com\/us\/news\/epirb-vs-plb-choosing-the-right-beacon-for-offshore-sailing\/","title":{"rendered":"EPIRB vs PLB: Choosing the Right Beacon for Offshore Sailing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By James Hewitt, Managing Director, Ocean Signal

When you’re hundreds of miles from land, your GPS plotter might show nothing but blue. It’s in that moment\u2014far beyond VHF range and reliant on satellite connectivity for weather, routing, and contact\u2014that the real importance of emergency preparedness becomes clear. As someone who’s spent countless nights offshore\u2014from Biscay gales to Pacific doldrums\u2014I’m often asked: Should I carry an EPIRB, a PLB, or both?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer? If you’re serious about offshore safety, you need both. But understanding the differences between EPIRBs and PLBs\u2014and their roles on board\u2014is key to building a reliable emergency plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s the Difference? A Technical Overview \u2013 EPIRB vs PLB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons)<\/a><\/strong> and PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons)<\/strong> both transmit a 406 MHz distress signal to the Cospas-Sarsat satellite network, used by global search and rescue organizations (when activated). They also both transmit a 121.5 MHz homing signal for Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft or vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"EPIRB3\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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But beyond that, there are fundamental differences between EPIRBs and PLBs in function, form, and use case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Feature<\/strong><\/td>Ocean Signal EPIRBs (e.g., EPIRB3)<\/strong><\/td>Ocean Signal PLBs (e.g., PLB3)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
Registration<\/strong><\/td>Tied to a vessel (MMSI\/IMO)<\/td>Registered to an individual<\/td><\/tr>
Activation<\/strong><\/td>Automatic (float-free)<\/a> or manual<\/td>Manual only<\/td><\/tr>
Battery Life (transmit)<\/strong><\/td>~48 hours<\/td>~24 hours<\/td><\/tr>
Deployment Location<\/strong><\/td>Mounted on vessel, auto-release<\/a> options<\/td>Worn on lifejacket or kept in grab bag<\/td><\/tr>
Return Link Service (RLS)<\/strong><\/td>Yes, on EPIRB3 (Galileo RLS)<\/td>Yes, on PLB3<\/td><\/tr>
AIS Transmission<\/strong><\/td>Yes (EPIRB3 includes AIS and strobe)<\/td>Yes (PLB3 includes AIS and strobe)<\/td><\/tr>
GNSS Support<\/strong><\/td>Multi-constellation (GPS, Galileo, etc.)<\/td>Multi-constellation<\/td><\/tr>
Primary Use<\/strong><\/td>Vessel-level emergency beacon<\/td>Personal overboard or abandon ship backup<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Understanding the Tech: Acronyms & What They Mean<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re investing in offshore safety gear, it\u2019s worth understanding what all those acronyms in the spec sheets actually mean. Here\u2019s a plain-language breakdown of the most important terms you’ll see when comparing an EPIRB vs PLB:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udce1 406 MHz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n