A PLB, or personal locator beacon, is a 406 MHz beacon that can be used anywhere in the world, including the most remote locations like on oceans, mountains, and in deep wilderness. The satellite system can locate a beacon’s distress signals and within minutes, the appropriate rescue coordination center can notify authorities of the activation for initiation of search and rescue.
These beacons are part of the internationally operated COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system that supports search and rescue operations around the world. When someone in the US activates a 406 MHz beacon, the distress signal is detected by satellites and relayed first to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) in Florida, and then to authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), dramatically improving the chances of survival in critical situations. For PLBs triggered in the state of Colorado, the AFRCC will contact the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR), and our state coordinators will determine which county the distress signal is coming from and contact that AHJ. The AHJ then determines what resources need to be deployed.
To better assist rescuers, your PLB must be registered before use. You should visit the NOAA website before taking it into the backcountry and ensure it is registered and you have provided your personal information as well as emergency contact information. The registration website is https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/index. Beacon registration must be updated every two years with NOAA, or upon the PLB’s sale or destruction.
Each year, CSAR receives many calls regarding PLB activations in Colorado. Most are false. When the call comes in, however, we don’t know it’s false and must treat the activation as if it is a real emergency. This takes time and may involve deploying backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) teams or aviation assets. In 2024, CSAR received notice of 23 activations and of those, only five were determined to be “actionable,” meaning assets were deployed. Of the five, only three involved real incidents requiring BSAR assistance. Of the 18 false activations, the vast majority were:
- A lost PLB that was never reported missing
- A PLB thrown in the trash and later disturbed by some kind of movement, e.g. it was in a garbage truck headed for the landfill
DEACTIVATION AND DISPOSAL OF PLBs
How do you properly deactivate and dispose of a PLB? Here are a few steps:
FIRST: Use the same registration process ( https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ ) to notify NOAA that the device is being deactivated and disposed of.
You may also call NOAA during business hours:
888-212-7283 (toll-free)
301-817-4515 (local)
SECOND: Unscrew the small screws on the back of the device that secures the back cover and carefully remove the lithium battery pack – it will unplug easily.
THIRD: Recycle the lithium batteries as usual (do not throw in the trash) and contact your local recycler for instructions to recycle the remaining electronic components.
IF YOU HAVE A FALSE ACTIVATION:
Immediately turn the device off, then contact the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at 1-800 – 851-3051. Advise them of your false activation and they will cancel the alert.
ARE THERE FINES FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER A PLB, OR FOR ACTIVATING A FALSE ALERT?
YES, there could be substantial fines for failure to register a PLB that is activated, or for intentionally sending a false activation. FCC fines can range up to $112,500 per incident.
If your PLB is lost or stolen – visit Frequently Asked Questions | SARSAT
For more information on PLB’s, visit NOAA: Frequently Asked Questions
