"Beam me up Scotty"......

[ribbert]

I ride a lot of remote areas, mountains, National Parks, heavily forested areas and I mostly ride alone (I have no friends). Most of these roads have no barriers and going over the edge would be a loooooong way down, many of them through uninhabited country that see very little traffic.
Occasionally I also ride to places I couldn't walk out of, if my bike carked it, that have barely surviveable overnight conditions.

So, if I were to go off any one of a thousand corners on any given day, I simply would never be found. Much of this country is so rugged that even a rough idea of where I might be would fail find me for a very long time, if at all.
Not that one needs to be in remote areas to be hidden from view after a fall, I can think of a couple of occasions where motorcyclists remains have been found years later only a stones throw from a busy road but shielded from view, I can think of many roads I regularly travel that are relatively close and busy where this could easily happen.

The rider in the link below recorded a final message to his family on his phone believing he would not be found. He was only 30' off the road and you can hear the cars passing in the background.
He lay there for 27 hours with a fractured back, broken sternum, broken ribs, punctured lungs etc and the one time he tried to move he passed out.

This happened on the Dragon, he braked heavily for a corner and his mate rear ended him (on Harleys), they both went off the road and down a ravine, his mate died at the scene. Despite the road being busy, it would appear that it was not an obvious place for anyone to pull over and he was very lucky someone eventually did while he was still able to call out.

https://youtu.be/r9fwDjQqpio

I have been using a "Spot Messenger" The social capability of these is great. At the end of the day I just press a button and it sends a message to my nominated recipients via email saying I have arrived at my destination for the night and all is well, a Google Maps link and coordinates. The second message says I'm OK but the bike's not, send recovery vehicle and the third message is the "Oh shit" one and goes to search and rescue.

The annual subscription cost aside, it is linked to a private satellite service and only offers about half the coverage of a proper PLB.

I recently upgraded to this:



It's about the size of a pocket camera with rounded corners and fits easily into a jacket pocket

No ongoing costs and it is linked to the Cospas/Sarsat satellite system which is what aviation and marine operators use and has the widest coverage, basically pole to pole.

You don't need to be travelling to far flung corners of the globe to need one of these. You'd be surprised just how close to home or civilization you could disappear off a corner if riding alone. 
I have forgone the message capability of the Spot Messenger in the interest of giving myself the best chance of being found should I need help beyond phone range (which with my provider is anywhere beyond my driveway) and that's really what it's all about, getting rescued if you need rescuing.

This is not just for solo riders either, being in a group is no help if there's no phone coverage - or you're riding over the North Pole (or South Pole)

This is one gadget I hope I never get to try out.

Just a thought gentlemen.

Noel

[red]

Noel,

So, what does it cost to buy it, and how much more, for yearly services?

Cheers,
Red

[ribbert]

Noel,

So, what does it cost to buy it, and how much more, for yearly services?

Cheers,
Red

Red, the Sarsat network is an alliance between half a dozen countries that was set up to provide a global search and rescue operation for air and sea. It now includes land based beacons (PLB's). I read somewhere that 33,000 lives have been saved since it's commencement.
It's a serious bit of equipment, push that button and they will send the cavalry, no matter where you are.

Unlike the other two private satellite systems, there are no ongoing costs, your taxes pick up the tab. Just purchase the unit, register it and you are covered forever.
It cost $300 in Australia and would be less in the US.

I forget the figures now but the response time and positioning accuracy are amazing. It also comes with a signalling mirror and a whistle. It is only intended for use where life is at risk - they don't deliver pizza.

Noel