ACR ResQLink View PLB Review (PLB or InReach?)

The ACR ResQLink View is a compact personal locator beacon designed to provide peace of mind for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike. With its rugged construction and advanced features, this device is a must-have for anyone who spends time in remote or hazardous environments. The ResQLink View is capable of transmitting your location to emergency responders via satellite, making it a vital tool for search and rescue operations.

One of the standout features of the ACR ResQLink View is its built-in digital display. This screen provides real-time feedback on the device's GPS coordinates, battery life, and other important information, ensuring that you always know where you stand. The display is also useful for performing self-tests and verifying that the device is working properly.

The ResQLink View is also incredibly durable, with a tough polycarbonate casing that can withstand extreme temperatures and water immersion. It's also buoyant, making it easy to retrieve if dropped overboard or lost in a body of water. And because it's so small and lightweight, the ResQLink View can be easily attached to your person or gear without getting in the way.

Overall, the ACR ResQLink View is an essential piece of equipment for anyone who ventures into the great outdoors. With its advanced features and rugged design, this personal locator beacon is a reliable way to call for help in an emergency and stay safe while exploring remote areas.

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[jshepard]

2:58 Excellent video. A couple points. Even if your signal is received immediately, there is an additional step I didn't hear you mention. The Mission Control Center gets a lot of false PLB alarms, so they will attempt to contact you before dispatching help. They call the two emergency contact phone numbers associated with your registration. Then, if they fail to make contact, they forward the SOS to someone who can actually go look for you - SAR, local sheriff's department, Coast Guard, whomever it might be. Of course, getting to you takes time as well. I wouldn't be surprised if first contact with rescue personnel realistically takes a couple hours, maybe more if you're in a very remote place.

[billruttan]

Another advantage of an inReach (or similar device) is that, if you “go missing”, your previously sent messages (which include GPS derived position) can be used to establish your general direction of travel and “Place Last Seen” (aka “Last Known Position”) for the benefit of searchers.

[scottfranco]

That was a great overview, thank you. I am going to use the ACR unit as a backup rescue device for my aircraft.

[ACRArtex]

Great video Cris. Very detailed. Another important point is that Personal Locator Beacons come programmed to specific countries, so make sure you buy one that is programmed for the country you live in so that you do not need to get it reprogrammed.


Stay Safe Out There Everyone!!

[sylviadelvallegarcia]

Excellent overview Cris. You're a gifted communicator. Really appreciate your offering. Feeling totally confident now in knowing the difference between both units. Will be getting both...just to be on the safe side. All the best.

[raymieh]

Love this video. I am paralyzed and I go riding alone. Driving alone etc. Deep in the hills.
Remember Panicking is your worst enemy. Stay strong.

[joeglennaz]

Wow, this is an excellent video. Finally someone who went into detail about these things. I carry an ACR personal locator beacon and I really like it for all the reasons she said the extra power the five-year battery, no subscription fee and I do feel like if I had to choose one, I would go with that one because I would have the best chance of getting me rescued. But I’m about ready to buy a Garmin in reach because there’s definitely value in being able to text friends or family or just being able to communicate with the rescuers. Best of both worlds have both units think of it as insurance save up for it and so you spend $600 on both of them it’s your life you’re talking about here or maybe the life of someone else as you also said. The only thing I would say is I personally keep my beacon attached to my person not in a backpack, not clipped on a backpack. If a backpack goes over a cliff and you can’t get to the Beacon it won’t do any good. I take the lanyard and Lupa through my belt loop when I’m hiking that way it’s on me. Thanks again for the detailed review and discussion.

[flaviogioffredi]

Outstanding!! The video is very clear, great job !!

[thomasmyers]

Thanks Cris for the video. Very helpful. I'd been using the inReach for a few months but returned it for the ACR. The reason I did so is the inReach can send back-and-forth texts, but only theoretically. It doesn't work like a cell phone in that very few of your texts will actually be successfully transmitted - in my experience no more than 10% were actually received. Now I'm in the Appalachians so your own mileage may vary but the only advantage of the inReach is the ability to communicate with it, and since that feature doesn't work very often if at all I couldn't justify the higher up-front cost plus the monthly subscription cost. You also have to consider the activation fee, and if you use the least expensive Garmin "Freedom" plan you will need to pay that fee every time you deactivate (winter for me) and then reactivate. So if your reason for buying the Garmin is as a sort of substitute cell phone you probably will be disappointed.

[WillNGo]

Good video. Thanks. Redundancy is a great tip. I've got both an ACR EPRIB and now an ACR PLB top model with the text. (I had a SPOT with the blinking lights, it never worked consistently and I had trouble figuring out the blinks.) I have a sailboat, and I'm scheduled to crew on a boat crossing the north Pacific. I wanted a personal PLB for a couple of reasons. First, I usually sail solo - until they make a boat Autopilot that can turn around and come back my best bet is the Coast Guard or another boat. My PLB also broadcasts an AIS (ship ID) signal at 161.975 MHz (curious how this works in conjunction to the 121.5 MHz homing signal you mentioned). So what (I guess) will happen is, I'm in the water, I trip my alert and rescue monitors either send out the Coast Guard (if I'm just sailing off California) or if I'm in the north Pacific all the local (? 100 miles?) ship traffic will know someone is in need of rescue, where they are with a homing signal when they get close. I specifically wanted the AIS signal because coast guards will often be too far away. If you've ever sailed with AIS you'll never want to be without it. Tells you the name of the vessel, it's speed, heading and how close it will be to you when it passes. And in my registration additional information I mentioned the dates I expect to be sailing across the Pacific. I also think it's far more likely that anyone prepared enough to have one of these devices will more likely need it for someone else who's less prepared and in an emergency.
As a member of a crew we'll have the boat's EPIRB, and 3 - 4 PLBs on our PFDs. I know these devices have limited battery power, EPIRB 48 hours, PLBs 24 hours. Should tripping these sequentially be part of the emergency plan? Boat sinks, take to the life raft, trigger the EPIRB... 48 hours, trip one of the PLBs.... no 'we're on our way' signal, maybe wait a couple more days before tripping another. (The CG should have within the first battery multiple data points of drift and windage.)
Who gets sent? I've made two emergency calls. One on VHF to the USCG just off the coast of Southern California. They sent out the L.A. County Life Guards. Another time my radio didn't seem to be working so I used my cell phone 911, they also sent out the Lifeguards. I think who ever gets your signal already knows who's best positioned to help you. And of course monitoring VHF Emergency Channel 16, the USCG often alerts anyone in the vicinity of someone in trouble that they go to help.

[mikegreene]

Amazing Review! Learned so much on how this all worked. Definitely the ACR is the unit for me. Thanks for putting this together!

[arihirschman]

OMG! I have to buy PLBs for two of my kids and was trying to figure out which ones to get. I have the ACR and like it, but... Very informative. Many thanks. Great video. I will send them the info and let them decide.

[dingus]

For those worried about being out of communication with the rescue teams, you can always carry a walkie talkie of some kind. I personally carry a 5w CB radio that I could use on the designated emergency channels here in Australia. While I normally set it to either the general national parks channel or whatever channel my friends are on, it could always be switched to 5/35 in an emergency after activating my PLB, and the emergency channels are monitored quite heavily here

[zodar]

Good video I am researching these plb's now and this is good information.

[marauderhot]

I have an ACR PLB for me and one for my dog who I always hike with. If I'm hurt I will activate both, I want him found. I also carry a Sat phone they are less than $60 a month now.

[trs]

Extremely informative, and helped me a lot to understand much better and also make a purchase decision. Thank you.

[MrWhichword]

Excellent information. Thank you. I just bought an ACR.

[joshuabenedictos]

Super helpful video and really in depth. Thank you for sharing all of this information!

[ionageman]

I like the idea of both .. the inreach I can talk to a professional .. the acr has a stronger signal, is a gvt service .. press the button and pass out, wake up in hospital .

[aroubin]

Super helpful, exact information I was looking for as I was evaluating these exact devices. Thank you!