CRT Commission

[ditchcrawler]

38 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

There you go with helpful factual information again.  You'll upset those that don't do joined up thinking ...

This is where we are at the moment, just click it and the map should open

https://w3w.co/herds.onwards.powering

 

[Mike Todd]

15 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

This is where we are at the moment, just click it and the map should open

https://w3w.co/herds.onwards.powering

 

Whilst it would not open by a click, it works fine by cut and paste into browser

[Iain_S]

18 hours ago, IanD said:

Except that the W3W app shows your location and the destination and which direction it's in and how to get there, like any navigation app does -- I've used it to find people on a festival campsite... 😉 

Now try it without the app, which will be unusable when your phone battery goes flat.

[IanD]

Just now, Iain_S said:

Now try it without the app, which will be unusable when your phone battery goes flat.

Well you won't be able to call the emergency services then, will you? 😉

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, Iain_S said:

Now try it without the app, which will be unusable when your phone battery goes flat.

 

If your phone battery is flat, surely you cannot 'try it' again as your phone will be dead.

[Momac]

7 minutes ago, Iain_S said:

Now try it without the app, which will be unusable when your phone battery goes flat.

There will of course be circumstances when communications fail .

 

[Alan de Enfield]

57 minutes ago, Momac said:

There will of course be circumstances when communications fail .

 

 

Which is when a PLB comes into its own.

[Mike Todd]

26 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Which is when a PLB comes into its own.

Quite a few new cars have for several years incorporated an emergency call facility - never tried it, accidentally or intentionally!

[Momac]

28 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Which is when a PLB comes into its own.

£330 for this example. But something that  could be worth considering . 

1 minute ago, Mike Todd said:

Quite a few new cars have for several years incorporated an emergency call facility - never tried it, accidentally or intentionally!

Yes my 2019 car has that facility.

[alias]

4 minutes ago, Momac said:

£330 for this example. But something that  could be worth considering . 

Yes my 2019 car has that facility.

 

I think I can guess which responders might be passed a message if a PLB is triggered at sea or in the mountains, but I'm curious about who would be contacted to respond in the event of an activation somewhere like the All Oaks Wood moorings near Brinklow?

[Alan de Enfield]

13 minutes ago, Momac said:

£330 for this example. But something that  could be worth considering . 

Yes my 2019 car has that facility.

 

6 years battery life, (then ~£100 for a new battery) free registration of your details, no monthly charges / contracts - 'free for life'. 

Emergency services notified of your exact (GPS within a couple of metres) location.

Works anywhere in the world, on land or water.

 

We both have one - its a no brainer.

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, alias said:

 

I think I can guess which responders might be passed a message if a PLB is triggered at sea or in the mountains, but I'm curious about who would be contacted to respond in the event of an activation somewhere like the All Oaks Wood moorings near Brinklow?

 

The relevant organisation dependent on the location of the accident (ambulance service, mountain rescue, Police etc) are notified for 'on land' emergencies.

 

 

Unlike EPIRBs which are registered to a specific vessel and must be re-registered if moved to a different boat, a PLB is registered to a person and so can be carried with you wherever you are - at sea, hiking, mountaineering or in any remote location or situation where you may require rescue. PLBs are subscription-free devices, so have no cost of ownership after the initial purchase.

The McMurdo FastFind 220 is small and light enough for you to carry on your person at all times. Using advanced technology, the FastFind 220 transmits a unique ID and your current GPS co-ordinates via the Cospas-Sarsat global search and rescue satellite network, alerting the rescue services within minutes. Once within the area, the search and rescue services can quickly home in on your location using the unit’s 121.5Mhz homing beacon and flashing LED SOS light.

During 2025 there has been a review /consultation by the Government on the use of making PLBs mandatory on all water-bourne vessels :

 

 

Personal Locator Beacon registration in the UK could become mandatory, under new proposals by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Known as PLBs, the devices are designed to send an SOS signal, along with your location, to the rescue authorities when manually activated by the user.

The MCA wants to bring PLBs under the same mandatory registration requirements as Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).

It would apply to all PLBs used at sea, along the coast, and on inland rivers, lakes and canals.

Registration information would include: the vessel name, radio call sign, PLB manufacturer’s serial number and any locating frequencies and identifiers; a brief description of the vessel (if applicable), including its type, gross tonnage, superstructure, deck colours and identifying marks; the HEX ID ( hexadecimal identity which are 15 characters for first-generation beacons and 23 characters for second-generation beacons) which provides a unique code transmitted by 406 MHz beacons; the PLB owner’s name, address, telephone number and email; up to three alternative 24-hour emergency contacts including name and telephone number (alternative contact ashore); the passenger and crew capacity of the vessel.

HM Coastguard said the introduction of mandatory Personal Locator Beacon registration reflected the changes in technology and would extend registration obligations to hovercraft and other types of watercraft covered by the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023.

This includes any personal watercraft which is capable of moving under power and can carry one or more people such as power boats, RIBS, tenders, sailing dinghies, keel boats, motor or sailing yachts, jet skis, Fliteboards and E-foils.

Edited December 20, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, alias said:

 

I think I can guess which responders might be passed a message if a PLB is triggered at sea or in the mountains, but I'm curious about who would be contacted to respond in the event of an activation somewhere like the All Oaks Wood moorings near Brinklow?

Well the old bill got called when one that was nicked offshore went off in a house in Aberdeen 

[Momac]

2 hours ago, alias said:

 

I think I can guess which responders might be passed a message if a PLB is triggered at sea or in the mountains, but I'm curious about who would be contacted to respond in the event of an activation somewhere like the All Oaks Wood moorings near Brinklow?

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/police-service-across-the-uk-welcomes-land-based-location-equipment-becoming-lawful#:~:text=From today%2C people can lawfully,arduous and expensive search activity.

Note the above is not news as it is dated 2012

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

12 minutes ago, Momac said:

Note the above is not news as it is dated 2012

 

Indeed, prior to 2012 it was unlawful (a large fine) if a PLB or EPIRB was activated on land - there had been calls for the change for many years from both the emergency services and the 'potentially at risk' part of the population.

 

We have one on the boat, registered to the boat, and one each registered to us personally. 

SWMBO can be 'miles off piste' when riding her horse and if there is no phone signal (or flat battery, or .......) she has a means of notiftying the rescue services of her location.

Similarly, when solo hiking I have mine with me.

 

And for ~£200 .................

 

McMurdo FastFind ReturnLINK PLB - Brand New - UK Coded - 03/2031 Expiry Date | eBay UK

 

 

McMurdo FastFind 220 V2 Z423 GPS/Galileo PLB Personal Locator Beacon 5035963007358 | eBay UK

 

 

Edited December 20, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[alias]

28 minutes ago, Momac said:

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/police-service-across-the-uk-welcomes-land-based-location-equipment-becoming-lawful#:~:text=From today%2C people can lawfully,arduous and expensive search activity.

Note the above is not news as it is dated 2012

 

 

 

Thanks that's helpful.  

[Tam & Di]

I don't know if they have international application, but it would obviously be incredibly useful for climbers lost somewhere such as in the Alps where they often have do do searches by helicoptor.

[matty40s]

mountain:top:somewhere...

[IanD]

///agent.sticks.dangerously : just outside our Morris practice hall

///reform.split.bother : two squares away

[Batavia]

Or one which could have been sold to Heisenberg:

velocity.position.hazy   -  near the entrance to my workshop

 

Edited December 20, 2025 by Batavia

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, Tam & Di said:

I don't know if they have international application, but it would obviously be incredibly useful for climbers lost somewhere such as in the Alps where they often have do do searches by helicoptor.

 

Yes - they work, (and are well known) world wide on land or water.

 

The PLB is registered to your country (it is important ti ebsure if you buy a secondhand one that it is UK registered (lots are bought in from the USA for resale  as they are much cheaper)

 

The PLB sends it's 406Mhz signal to the satellites, the satellites then decode the country of registration and send the information (name, address. phone number etc) and the location to the relevant countries  rescue  centre.

 

The rescue centre then notes the GPS location and either forwards it onto the relevant service, or, (if you are on holiday climbing in the Swiss Alps) to the local rescue centre where the accident has happened.

 

It is almost instantaneous, and the 'helicopter' or ambulance can be on its way in under 5 minutes.

In practice, in the Uk the rescue centre will try and contact you on your mobile to ensure that it has not been activated accidentaly, no answer and they call your 'emergency contact number' and asks (whoever answers) if they'd expect you to be "on a canal in Cheshire" or "up a mountain in Tibet" etc

If they get no answer from either you, or your emergency number, the rescue services are notified (the default is that it is an emergency) and the Helicopter / ambulance sets off after a short delay.

 

The maximum time between 'pushing the button' and the emergency services being informed CAN BE up to 30 minutes as it is occasionally possible that there may be a few minutes delay until a satellite comes 'into view'.

 

The PLB also has a 121.5 Mhz transmitter that is the international distress frequency which is also transmitted to allow ground triangulation for the "last mile" where the person may be buried in snow, under trees etc or where they are not easily spotted.

It also has a built in flashing light sending a continuous "SOS" to help visibility.

Edited December 20, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[alias]

9 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Yes - they work world wide on land or water.

 

The PLB is registered to your country (it is important ti ebsure if you buy a secondhand one that it is UK registered (lots are bought in from the USA for resale  as they are much cheaper)

 

The PLB sends it's 406Mhz signal to the satellites, the satellites then decode the country of registration and send the information (name, address. phone number etc) and the location to the relevant countries  rescue  centre.

 

The rescue centre then notes the GPS location and either forwards it onto the relevant service, or, (if you are on holiday climbing in the Swiss Alps) to the local rescue centre where the accident has happened.

 

It is almost instantaneous, and the 'helicopter' or ambulance can be on its way in under 5 minutes.

In practice, in the Uk the rescue centre will try and contact you on your mobile to ensure that it is not activated accidentalal, no answer and they call your 'emergency contact number' and (who ever answers) if they'd expect you to be "on a canal in Cheshire".

If they get no answer from either you, or your emergency number, the rescue services are notified (the default is that it is an emergency) and the Helicopter / ambulance sets off after a short delay.

 

The maximum time between 'pushing the button' and the emergency services being informed is 30 minutes as it is occasionally possible that there may be a few minutes delay untill a satellite comes 'into view'.

 

The PLB also has a 121.5 Mhz transmitter that is the international distress frequency which is also transmitted to allow triangulation for the "last mile" where the person may be buried in snow, under trees etc or similar here they are not easily spotted.

It also has a built in flashing light sending a continuous "SOS" to help visibility.

 

I am wondering, in the absence of information on what the problem is, how an ambulance service would triage those calls amongst other demands that they have at the time.  

 

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

I have one of these, may come in handy one day.😉
https://www.breitling.com/gb-en/watches/professional/emergency/V76325221B1V1/

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, alias said:

I am wondering, in the absence of information on what the problem is, how an ambulance service would triage those calls amongst other demands that they have at the time.  

 

I have no idea how they allocate priority to PLB calls.

 

Those may be 'townie targets'  but we see nothing like those response times in our rural area.

 

In March of this year SWMBO was leading two horses (one each side) from the stables to the field, one horse decided he didn't like the other and tried to take a bite out of him - unfortunately SWMBO was in the middle and he grabbed her arm tearing all of the flesh off her forearm (about 10" long x 4" wide).

 

Long story short - phoned 999 and was told the ambulance would be betwen 45 and 60 minutes. Having explained she was losing blood copiously and was drifting in and out of conciousness the answer was still the same - 45 to 60 minutes.

I managed to get her in the car and we made it to hospital in about 20 minutes, I left the car at the A&E doors and got her into a wheelchair and went into A&E.

 

The A&E took one look at her and forgot triage and she was shipped striaght thru for emergency surgery. One of the A&E nurse threw up and passed out when she saw the wound.

The hospital decided they did not have the competency to do anything so she was Blue-lighted to the Midlands major burns unit at Nottingham for reconstructive surgey.

 

Anyway after a few weeks and lots of reconstruction and skin grafts she was back 'in harness' (but with a bit thinner left forearm).

 

Previously to that I have called 999 several times and we get the Ambi-copter as we never seem to have any ambulances close to us.

 

Heli in our garden ........

 

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2025 by Alan de Enfield

[alias]

16 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I have no idea how they allocate priority to PLB calls.

 

I wasn't really expecting anyone to know the answer, just curious about how they deal with the question.

 

18 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Those may be 'townie targets'  but we see nothing like those response times in our rural area.

 

They are nationally agreed targets, often less than 100% met, and presumably most often missed in remote areas.  I assume their targets also include air ambulance response.

 

48 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

The A&E took one look at her and forgot triage and she was shipped striaght thru for emergency surgery.

 

To me that sounds like a triage decision to prioritise her having seen the injury (rather than a call centre person reaching a remote decision based on a checklist).  Glad she got the care she needed and made a good recovery.

 

I think it would be useful to understand how PLB alerts are prioritised as it might help people to decide whether, as you did, to make progress towards a location for care because the urgency hadn't been understood, and with a PLB actuation there is no feedback.  

 

[Allan(nb Albert)]

18 hours ago, Tam & Di said:

I don't know if they have international application, but it would obviously be incredibly useful for climbers lost somewhere such as in the Alps where they often have do do searches by helicoptor.

Would have been helpful to me.

 

Had an accident solo walking in North Wales a few weeks ago but unable to get assistance due to no reception on either of the phones I was carrying. Unwilling to wait until someone realised that I had gone missing and looked at my tracker app for location, I walked three quarters of a mile on what I thought was a badly sprained ankle. 

 

Badly sprained ankle turned out to be two fractures which have required surgery ...