Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)

PLBs are personal devices that can be used to receiving emergency help when in distress out in the wilderness or out at sea. They are being sold by various companies at a steep price, compared to the cost of the components they use. They usually have a non-rechargeable battery that typically lasts for 10 years, but the PLB manufacturers usually recommend changing them after 5-6 years. Once expired, the battery has to be replaced, typically only by the same company that sold the device - at a price almost as high as the purchase price of the PLB. And because the battery pack is often built in a proprietary way, it's hard to find these batteries for sale anywhere in order to replace them ourselves.

Registration / permit

Most countries require a registration of your device's unique ID.

🇳🇴 Norway: In Norway (NKOM) registration is required and a yearly fee needs to be paid (sektoravgift).
🇬🇧 UK (free registration): https://www.gov.uk/register-406-beacons
🇺🇸 USA (free registration): Forms / PLB form
406registration.com: Does not work in Norway.
- https://www.406registration.com
- https://www.406registration.com/en-US/you-should-register-your-beacon-with-the-national-authority-associ-6.aspx
ACR

McMurdo FastFind 210 / 220

Where to buy

Note: McMurdo FastFind PLB has more than 2g lithium in the battery and cannot be carried on flights.

DIY Battery replacement

I bought a second hand FastFind 220 from Finn.no with a battery that had expired in 2021 (produced in 2014). Note that in 2025, I tested the battery and it shows 3 bars (FULL). But I would still like to replace it to be on the safe side.

Battery replacement video

Info:

Uses 2 spearate battery packs
Each pack with 2 Lithium Manganese Dioxide battery cells, with spot welded tabs and a proprietary plug that I cannot find anywhere.
Nominal voltage: 3 * 2 = 6V each.
Total voltage of the two packs: 12V.

Tip! I replaced the 3 flimsy phillips screws on top with torx screws, and I keep a small torx screwdriver with my PLB in case it needs to be opened in the field. I keep my old batteries as a backup so that worst case they can be switched in the field. This gives a little extra security.