I will show you in this Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 Review how this small Personal Locator Beacon can save your life. It’s important to always have an emergency beacon on you when heading into the great outdoors.
Breakdown of what the RescueME Offers
- SOS Distress Call
- Fast Accurate Positioning
- Waterproof
- 7 Year Battery
- High Intensity Strobe Light
- Homing Beacon
- Compact & Lightweight
- No Subscription
Let’s take a closer look at this powerful Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
SOS Distress Call
The Ocean Signal RescueME has a powerful SOS signal with a retractable antenna. No matter if you are on land or sea, the Global Cospas Sarsat rescue system will pinpoint your location and send your information to Search and Rescue teams (SARs) in your area. If you’re in trouble or have severe injuries, you can activate the RescueME with one hand. With the flip of the protective cover, you can easily call for help, anywhere in the world.
Fast Accurate Positioning
The Ocean Signal RescueME sends out a signal to the rescue coordination center via satellite where the team will quickly relay your information to local rescue teams. Your homing beacon and LED strobe light will help the SAR teams reach you more quickly. The local search and rescue teams will be advised regularly of you current location.
The approximate accuracy of the system is within 5 nautical miles, but is usually much better.
The rescue system is overseen by NOAA. Here is some additional information about them.
Here is a map of the searches that were ongoing and being monitored by NOAA at the time this article was written.
This goes to show you how many thousands of people around the world rely on SAR teams but the sad part is, how many people don’t get rescued or have to wait longer because they didn’t have a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or an Emergency Satellite Messenger (ESM)?
Waterproof
The RescueME is waterproof to 50 feet at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. See the full specifications Here.
7 Year Battery
The battery is a Lithium Primary Battery and uses Manganese Dioxide (LiMnO2). It will last up to 7 years, as the battery is not being used until activation, and the battery will last at least 24 hours after activated. The battery life is based on a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
The battery must be replaced by an authorized dealer. You will have to contact the distributor in your area. The battery replacement cost is typically under $50.
- 7 Year Battery Life / 7 year warranty
- 24+ hour operational life
- Free to use, no subscription charges
- High brightness strobe light >1 candela
- 66 channel GPS receiver / Unique mounting clip
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
High Intensity Strobe Light
The RescueME has a high intensity strobe light, rated at over 1 candela. The strobe light is a necessity as the accuracy of the positioning is only to within 5 nautical miles. The strobe will definitely help the SAR teams pinpoint your location when they get close to you.
Homing Beacon
The homing beacon will help the search and rescue teams to locate your position once they arrive in the search area.
Compact and Lightweight
It may be difficult to find a smaller or more lightweight emergency locator than the Ocean Signal RescueME. It has a weight of 4.09 ounces. It is 2.95 inches tall by 2.01 inches wide by 1.28 inches thick.
The RescueME just might be smaller than your wallet, but it will be more valuable if you find yourself in a life-threatening emergency.
No Subscriptions
I would like to leave you with some great news. Many other emergency location devices have an initial purchase price, PLUS, a monthly or annual subscription fee.
The Ocean Signal RescueME PLB1 only has the initial price and requires no subscription.
My Final Thoughts
There are many types of personal locator devices and emergency satellite messengers available. They range from SOS locator beacons only to a full satellite messenger with navigation.
The Ocean Signal RescueME is a powerful, yet compact and lightweight personal locator beacon that may be perfect for you but you need to look at how you will use it and what your needs are. The RescueME can be used on land or sea, but my personal opinion is that it may be better for someone on a large body of water and not on land, especially in the mountains.
I would love to have the RescueME on a hike or backpacking trip if that was all I had but this would not be my first choice as I do most of my outdoor excursions in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado.
Please Email Me with your questions or thoughts on the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 or Leave a Comment Below.
You can also explore more Satellite Messengers models HERE or Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) HERE.
- 7 Year Battery Life / 7 year warranty
- 24+ hour operational life
- Free to use, no subscription charges
- High brightness strobe light >1 candela
- 66 channel GPS receiver / Unique mounting clip
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
If you would like to see ALL the Satellite Messengers in another review, check out my Emergency Radio Reviews.
Check out these top 11 satellite messengers of 2023 in this YouTube video below.
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Ocean Signal RescueME PLB1
Pros
- SOS Distress Call
- Compact & Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
- Global Satellite Network
- No Subscription Plan
Cons
- No Messaging
- No Navigation
- Accuracy
This appears to be an extremely useful piece of equipment that could no doubt be a life saver. The price seems fairly reasonable given that, unlike so many similar items, there is no subscription fee as you point out. The only bit I didn’t understand (forgive me, I’m not in the USA) is why this wouldn’t be suitable for the Rocky Mountains? Are there other places for which it wouldn’t be suitable?
It’s my opinion that the RescueME is more suited for the open water and not as much in the mountains. I say this because the emergency satellite messengers offer 1-way messaging, 2-way messaging, tracking, navigation and weather forecasts. They don’t all offer these things but some offer all of them.
Garmin says that the inReach models are accurate to within 15 meters, but more likely 5 to 10 meters. This is much more important when you can be down in a canyon and the 5 mile accuracy wouldn’t help much in that situation.
This is just my opinion but I would want the Ocean Signal RescueMe when out on a large lake or the ocean. If I am on land and hiking, especially in the mountains, I would go with an Emergency Satellite Messenger such as the Garmin inReach Explorer+
https://hikingemergencybeacon.com/garmin-inreach-explorer-review/
or the Garmin inReach Mini
https://hikingemergencybeacon.com/garmin-inreach-mini-review/
You can see all of the beacons or messengers at:
https://hikingemergencybeacon.com/emergency-radio-reviews/
Let me know if you have any questions.
Rick
Great site and reviews with loads of really useful information.
Regarding the accuracy as I understand it, the OS PLB1 uses the COSPAS/Sarsat system (approx. 54 satellites) that has a dual redundant system. First a quick location using doppler (5 miles) and then GPS to get a more accurate location (100m or better). It also has a homing beacon for precise location by nearby rescuers.
The Garmin devices use the Iridium network (approx. 60 satellites), so coverage would be presumably be similar by GPS, but as far as I can understand it doesn’t have the dual redundant system or homing beacon.
I reckon if you were deep in a canyon either one may have serious limitations.
Personally I decided to go for the OS PLB1 for hiking and mountaineering, as it is simpler (one button) so ideal for use in a crisis, the battery life is epic and won’t be flattened by non-emergency functions and also no monthly fee.
Hope that adds to the discussion and have a safe and enjoyable time outdoors.
Hi PHil. I appreciate the great feedback and analysis of the two systems.
The Ocean Signal PLB1 is a great Personal Locator Beacon (PLBs) and I will purchase it myself this coming year. Choosing one of these great PLBs or Emergency Satellite Messengers (ESMs) is a personal choice and depends on how you want to use it and what functions are important to you. It’s great to at least have the S.O.S. distress call at your fingertips, at a minimum.
I currently own both the SPOT X and the SPOT Gen3 and I really appreciate having the 2-way and 1-way messaging plus the built-in keypad on the SPOT X to communicate with friends or family and also other hikers in our group if we decide to split up. I will be buying the Garmin inReach Mini and Explorer+ in January, followed by all of the others, including the OS PLB1, later in 2020, so that I can have an opinion based on actual hands on experience with all of these.
Thank you for leaving some great comments.
Rick
I don’t usually go on sea very much so I don’t think that I will be getting this one. But it really is very good and I’m glad that it does really work and those that go on the sea can make use of it. I will share it with some of my friends who love to cruise during their vacation. They’ll really love it. Thank you for this review.
The RescueME can also be used on land but I would agree that it is better and actually a great device when you’re on the open water.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing.
Rick
Very very nice one here. For me, this will be a very good go to because I like going on some nice surfing and crusing with my speedboat. One doesn’t know what can happen at anytime and a good product like this rescueme plb1 will be nice. Thanks a lot for sharing this. Cheers.
The Ocean Signal RescueME is really meant for the open water. It even comes with a flotation pouch. The strobe light and homing beacon are especially great when you’re out in the middle of a large body of water.
Rick
Excellent tips you have up here concerning this location beacon and I couldn’t be more certain about the efficiency of this ocean signal rescue me plb1. Getting the right location beacon can really help to save a life and I would be willing to take a chance with it. I personally love all the features that this boasts of and it would surely be a worthy purchase for me. The price seems steep though but then, the quality it offers outshine the price. Hence, it is a worthy buy
Price is always a consideration plus the functions that each emergency beacon offers. I had to choose a different emergency satellite messenger that fit my budget at the time, to at least have something with me, but I plan on upgrading soon.
Rick
For what is worth, this ocean signal plb1 is really a beast among its kind. Seriously? I love everything about it. All the features are really cool and it seems like a very great purchase to me that would serve me well in days to come especially when going on hiking and camping. Often, we overlook how little objects like this location beacon can really save a life in the most dangerous situations. This is very cool with me and I’d look forward to getting one for myself.
Hi Ramos. I agree that this personal locator beacon or many of the others are what we all need when we go out on a hike. There are so many to choose from but this is a power house in a small package.
Rick
Great and helpful article about Ocean Signal RescueME PLB1. I’ll tell you what…earlier today, I went hiking in a place I’ve never been to before. That was not scheduled it was a decision of the last moment but unfortunately, I had no food with me. Problem is, my blood sugar can drop dramatically and go into shock. With no food, I was exposed to danger. Now I realise the importance of being organised and having the proper equipment if something goes wrong. Well done, I like the product!
You and I have both been in similar situations. We don’t always plan for every occasion and we think a real quick hike is always going to go perfectly as planned or unplanned.
I use to go hiking all of the time without a personal locator beacon or an emergency satellite messenger but not any more. Maybe I’m getting older and realize I’m not invincible and sometimes it takes longer to get over rough terrain, especially at high altitudes.
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment.
Rick
The site is wonderful. Great graphics, Beautiful pictures you personally took in Colorado. I enjoyed the reviews on the Rescue Beacons. I found your topic very interesting. I had to ask myself how could anyone get lost using some of these devices. I see a big difference in the signals from one product to the next, but I gotta tell ya, I would purchase the PLB1. I don’t think there would be a problem locating anyone who had one of those.
I also enjoyed the Trails you shared on your site. The pictures tell a great story of the beauty Colorado possesses . There are still places that we can go that have been kept the way they were meant to be. There are dangers of course in just about everything we do, but being lost in the wilderness, out west would not be fun without some sort of locator device.
I feel like your site has offered 2 great topics. The first being the Reviews, The second being the hiking trails. Wonderfully designed.
Thank you for the great read,
Wendy
Thank you for the feedback on the beacons, messengers and the site. To me these go hand in hand and I don’t head out to the mountains unless I have a satellite messenger on me.
I love hiking and seeing all of the beautiful areas in the mountains but I have been surprised at how much I enjoy writing and videoing the areas also.
Rick