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Reviews > Health & Safety > Emergency and Survival Gear > ACR Electronics ResQLink > Owner Review by joe schafferACR Electronics ResQLink
Owner Review
by Joe Schaffer
August 12, 2015 TESTER INFORMATION: NAME: Joe Schaffer EMAIL: never2muchstuff(AT)yahoo(DOT)com AGE: 67 GENDER: Male HEIGHT: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.4 kg) HOME: Hayward, California USA I frequent California's central Sierras, camping every month with a goal to match my age in nights out each year; often solo. Summer trips typically last 5 to 10 days; 40 lb (18 kg), about half food related; about 5 mi (8 km) per hiking day. I winter camp most often at 6,000 to 7,000 ft (1,800 to 2,000 m); 2 to 3 nights; 50 lb (23 kg); 1 to 4 mi (1.6 to 6.4 km) on snowshoes. The Product: Manufacturer: ACR Electronics, Inc. Web site: www.acrartex.com Product: ResQLink Personal Locator Beacon ![]() Purchased: 1/2013 My measures: weight: 5 1/8 oz (145 g) (includes wrist strap) height: 3 7/8 in (9.8 cm) width: 2 1/8 in (5.4 cm) thick: 1 3/8 in (3.5 cm) Manufacturer specs: size: 1.3 x 1.9 x 3.9 in ( 3.3 x 4.8 x 9.9 cm) weight: 4.6 oz (130 g) battery: Class 2 non haz-mat lithium battery replacement: 6 years from purchase or 5 years from date placed in service; or after emergency use battery life when activated: More than 24 hours; 30 hours typical waterproof approvals: Cospas-Sarsat, FCC, Canada, R&TTE, Australia, New Zealand power: 406 MHz KEY FEATURES: 66-channel GPS-enabled personal locator beacon No subscription fee LED strobe Free replacement if used for rescue Unique identifying number Battery not user replaceable; supports up to 60 operating tests, or 12 location (GPS) tests; and 1 emergency use DESCRIPTION: This device is about the size of a thick flip phone. It is mostly smooth with very few corners. The top ![]() ![]() a) Activate: Flip up the antenna and press the on/off button for 1 second. Red or green light will blink. b) Deactivate: Press the on/off button for at least 3 seconds; no blinking light. c) Red flashing light (between and below the C and R on the clear part of the face) means only an alert is being sent. d) Green flashing light means GPS coordinates are being sent with the alert. DEVICE PURPOSE: The sole use of this device is to send an alert with GPS coordinates to Cospas-Sarsat satellites (different from general communication satellites.) Once received, the alert is relayed to a ground station, which transfers it to a Mission Control Center who then routes the signal to a local authority based on the GPS coordinates. The sender cannot influence the rescue coordinator's decision about which authority to initiate the rescue. FIELD CONDITIONS: I've carried the unit on 59 outings for a total of 291 days. I've never used it. When I bought it I expected to carry it only on solo trips, but it quickly became part of my emergency packet. I hope never to use it. I haven't even tested it. I was out with my partner showing her how to activate it. "Push this button," I told her, "and the helicopter will come." About 15 minutes later we began hearing the wop-wop-wop of what appeared to be a Marine helicopter coming toward us and I felt a rush of $5,000 panic. The coincidence scared me so much I'm even mo ![]() WHY I BOUGHT IT: In 56 years of backpacking I've seen two helicopter rescues (broken leg, rattlesnake bite) but never needed one myself. I never expect to. A close friend required rescue from a rattlesnake bite and that third instance got me thinking. I'm not quite as indestructible as I used to be, and every step taken is one closer to an immobilizing event. I'm often solo, and when not, I may not wish to bet my future welfare on a walk-out obtaining timely rescue. I fear rattlesnake bite, broken hip and ripped ankle in that order. The unit does not give cause to be any less careful; but rather consolation I won't have to wait for circling buzzards before I'm found. I bought this particular unit believing from my research that it does the most reliable job of sending an alert that will be received. While not certain, one of the three teleph ![]() Quick shots: a) small b) light c) inexpensive (compared to subscription devices) d) factory-recommended battery change Read more reviews of ACR Electronics, Inc. gear Read more gear reviews by joe schaffer Reviews > Health & Safety > Emergency and Survival Gear > ACR Electronics ResQLink > Owner Review by joe schaffer |