McMurdo PLBs

I do not think there should be any difficulty about re-registering - no more difficult than registering in the first place, anyway.

Batteries are very easy to replace, but not cheap - typically £70 to 80. I have decided that when mine comes to need its second replacement battery I shall replace the whole thing.
 
Just send the form (either paper or electronic) to Falmouth and they'll update the database. Probably worth putting a note in the comments box confirming that you mean to change the owner details - they do the updates manually and if they get what otherwise looks like a new registration for an existing beacon they may wonder if you've got the id wrong.

Assuming you're talking about the Fastfind 220 or similar models, the battery is not user-replaceable. I'm sure it's possible to DIY, but it doesn't look easy, and personally I'd give it a miss. The battery shelf life is six years, and by then I assume new beacons will be even smaller and cheaper, so I expect to buy new rather than replace batteries anyway.

Pete
 
I took 3 months for my registration to be processed.

I think that after 6 years when the battery needs replacing the plb will be obsolete. There will be a much better model to buy so no need to worry about batteries.
 
single said:
Here is what prompted the question
Click to expand...

Ah, right, that's not the 220 I was talking about. It's an older, much bulkier, design, but they are still on sale new because they have a user-replaceable battery which some people insist on.

So in answer to your original questions, (re)registration is easy, replacement batteries are available and just clip on.

That said, do check the prices, because the newer models are under £200 now. I have no idea how much the replacement battery for the eBay one would be, but you only have £80 or £90 headroom for it before the new Fastfind 220 works out cheaper.

Pete
 
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Had a quick look for you. None of the current McMurdo suppliers I have pricelists for are showing a spare battery pack - Last time we had these in (somewhere around 2012) the battery packs were around £89.99 retail.

Doesn't sound like the best value deal, especially as the seller doesn't have provenance on the PLB:

"*I don't know much about this item. It was part of a larger lot I bought in a general sale. Although I can't be 100% sure, I don't think it has been registered because there are two registration forms in the box (pre-printed with all relevant codes) which are not filled in and there is no completed registration label behind the battery. There were several of these boxed PLBs included in the lot I bought, so I think they are surplus shop stock. I have no use for them so will be selling them here on Ebay. Expiry date on battery is Oct 2009 (the battery is easily replaceable and can be purchased from several retailers including ebay)."

He's also a bit cheeky, saying that the PLB retails at £400+. that's like saying a Betamax video recorder retails at over £200! :confused::p

Also, as I mentioned the other week...on the McMurdo "SAR Lifecycle" webinar I attended a few weeks ago, they mentioned that they are seeking to develop a combined AIS/PLB in the not too distant future....so as Pete says, give it a few years and this will be just another yellow brick! :)
 
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prv said:
Ah, right, that's not the 220 I was talking about. It's an older, much bulkier, design, but they are still on sale new because they have a user-replaceable battery which some people insist on.

So in answer to your original questions, (re)registration is easy, replacement batteries are available and just clip on.

That said, do check the prices, because the newer models are under £200 now. I have no idea how much the replacement battery for the eBay one would be, but you only have £80 or £90 headroom for it before the new Fastfind 220 works out cheaper.
Pete
Click to expand...

As I understand it both have user replaceable batteries, The FastFindMax is the older, bulkier, non-waterproof one, its only advantage is it's longer transmission endurance than the 220PLB @ 48hrs. The prices I've been quoted for replaceable battery packs are £124 and £70 respectively. The difference in price beween COSPAS/SARSAT only and those with GPS augmentation is small enough to make the former a no-brainer. The <£200 price probably refers to the non GPS augmentation.
The combined PLB unit has made the EPIRBs I've had for the last 14 years totally redundant, re-batterying a n ACR406 costs more than a new combined PLB.
Regarding the e-Bay offer - I wonder how long the unit has been on the shelf? If 3 years it probably only has 2 years to go.


People might find this Powerpoint presentation by COSPAS/SARSAT interesting

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/BMW 2012_files/2012 BMW Beacon Survey_Secretariat.pdf
 
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charles_reed said:
As I understand it both have user replaceable batteries
[...]
The <£200 price probably refers to the non GPS augmentation.
Click to expand...

Wrong on both counts. I have a FastFind 220, it cost me just over £200 three years ago and is now slightly less, and it is a sealed unit that would have to be returned to the manufacturer for battery replacement.

Pete
 
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