THANKS FOR ALL YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS
Chill out dudes! Its all cool.
I Hate telling people what I do and talking things up, but here it go's...
I work for an Emergency Service Melbourne. Before that was an Engineer in the Royal Australian Army. Have been posted in some of the most remote parts of the world with only two other men.
My Brother works as a rescue crewman (swimmer) on a full time rescue helicopter service and always knows of my location when out on the water.
They even fly out and say hello when I am in the area.
I kite with people and alone as very few are interested in long distance racing etc.
@lostinlondon your a good dude, sure i have dealt with you in my time kiting but who are you to say about epirbs being set off when they shouldn't have been? Do you work in the industry or is it urban legend and media beat up?
There would be more false calls and alarms in the city. They are charged and count for call volumes for the services. Better to be out and about than sitting around? Very very very few people "miss out" on emergency care, and when it is due to ambulance ramping where hospitals say they are full and the patient waits with the ambulance and crew on the ramp into the hospital. Nick mcginty (cant spell) thought this was a great idea in wa.
In seven years in the rescue helicopter not once have they been out for a epirb that was a false call.
They spend hours in the air for training a few extra in a real scenario wont hurt.
After Lancelin Ocean Classic i went out in the waves at north passage, a windsurfer slowed down as he didn't like the wave he was on, and snaked me, so my kite lines went slack, fell out of the sky and ended up in death loop. I let the kite go and it drifted past the island out to sea. There were 20 plus windsurfers and none NONE not one offered assistance or checked if i was ok, just blasted past me as i swam in. So i thought it was time to get a epirb/plb
My family are olympic sailors. I have been off shore since a kid. I was due to do sydney to hobart at 17 but after the deaths the rules were changed by cyc to 18min.
Who is to say i can or cannot buy a epirb? I pay my taxes plus gst and expect a service. You can have one when your in a kayak or anything else..
God we pulled a frenchman out in the absolute middle of nowhere over the past few days. And he had NO insurance.
I want to kite out to the cargo ships in Newcastle. My grandfather paddles out there on a surf ski with only leather skin and a lure attached to the ski.
Or maybe a few long downwinders in wa.
After Lano HEADING NORTH the reception gets poor, waterproof iphone cases are hit and miss, been through three phones this summer.
Why not call for help, when Idiots do it all the time after stuffing around, drink driving, throwing things in fires etc??
SO WHATS THE CHARGES IF I DONT NEED MEDICAL RETRIEVAL??
@tighlines - did i meet you at Lano?
Ended up getting a PLB from the USA at $130 vs 460 at witworths still runs off 406 and gps.
Hope we get some wind and off the internet chat x
Take one with you bro, my retired parents take one bush walking as do many people in their group. The authorities actually recommend carrying an epirb bush walking, fishing etc. We take them sailing all the time, in fact it's a rule that every person must have one on their person for most of the east coast yacht races.
Sure we don't want a bunch of knobs setting them off, but they should be carried by 'epirb educated' people to be used in a life threatening situation. Not sure if there's insurance options, but there's been plenty of cases where they haven't charged. It's not something I'd be worried about if the only other option was death.
Maybe wire the epirb into the life insurance company, I'm sure they'd be willing to pay the rescue fee vs death payout 
I carry an PLB (EPIRB) when I am doing something a fair distance off shore. You don't need insurance, but if your trigger one you need to convince emergency services, rescuers & police that you are well prepared and that there was "a threat of grave and imminent danger". You also need to convince them you haven't done something stupid and/or beyond your capabilities.
There are some further details here: bsar.org/manual/personal-locator-beacons-plbs/
A SPOT has the advantage that you can also send non-emergency status updates via SMS and email using programmed buttons: bsar.org/spot
Frivolous and nuisance EPIRB activations are a growing issue for emergency services: bsar.org/manual/personal-locator-beacons-plbs/abuse
Carrying one when more than 2km offshore (ocean) is a requirement in Vic.
By all means carry one, but think very carefully before you activate it.
I've no room for any more safety gear.
My waterproof fax already makes things awkward
Interesting discussion, but the best and possibly cheapest option is a pre-paid smartphone with Telstra, and a waterproof pouch that can be attached to your harness or strapped to your upper arm. The reason why I mention Telstra, is that it will probably work in many remote areas, while many other carriers won't. A pre-paid sim card will also work on 000, even if no credit is available, and may even allow calls on other carriers networks. The GPS is important because rescue aircraft have the capability to locate a phone via it's GPS signal. At sea level a mobile phone will have a range of up to 30kms. Finally, you could actually make a phone call, which has been the case in many sea rescues! These two examples will cost less than $100, if you did not want to risk using your existing smartphone.
www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/mobile-phones/lg-mobile-phones
www.casebuddy.com.au/products/case-buddy-waterproof-smart-phone-bag?utm_source=google-product-search&gclid=COuVjJ64-7QCFUdFpQodKAIA_A
nothing to see way out except the silence of your thoughts and that can be scary
Hug the caost and enjoy the scenery and let your mates or your famialy know what time to start looking for you if you havent touched base.
If you have a raido CH16 you could always have a chat with the S&R for the area before and after you leave, or carry a hand held pretty expensive option
keep the adventure alive.....
see the hookup if avaliable in the SW for march little 20 kilometer run buetiful coast and surf hopefully
Epirb or not is an interesting topic...
Adventurers are going to do what they want.. whether its smart or not..
So why not have one.. just remember your immediate safety out at sea is governed by wind & condom rubber.
If your prepared to sit in unknown water for a few hours on your board singing jaws music then go for it..
Anyone remember the kiter that tried to go across the mediteranean sea? Dont be like him.. although a epirb may have helped his stupid scenario.. another kitesurfing wanker in the publics eye..
Maybe attach 15m of rope to yourself with a 14ft tinny on the end.. you could even have your wife in it so she can give you orders..
A couple of points regarding EPIRB's/PLB's (same thing different name).
You are no longer allowed the older style 121.5 MHz beacons. They must be 406 MHz (most 406 also put out 121.5 for homing by ground crews/aircraft but the satellites only 'listen' for the 406 signal now).
They transmit a digital signal that contains information which includes the individual unit number and if GPS equipped your location. If a GPS signal is received and then transmitted, your location, accurate to a few meters will be sent to the rescue centre. Assuming you have registered your device (a requirement) they will know who to contact. This saves a lot if time and makes it easy to sort out the false alarms as they will have a couple of phone numbers to phone which you nominated when you registered the device. If your EPIRB doesn't have GPS they will still know it's yours but will only have a rough location (within 5km).
This all starts to happen as soon as the signal is received. This can be instant or take an hour or so, it depends on the location of the satellites at the time. Once they work out its probably a deliberate activation they start looking by either asking aircraft of vessels in the area to first try and make contact, confirm the signal (121.5) and then go and have a look. The searches I have been involved with, all land based have been no expense spared. All paid for by Australian search and rescue. From what I've seen the number of people in trouble doesn't come into it, they do everything they can to find you.
In regards to mobile phones and GPS's - a GPS does not transmit a signal and therefore cannot be tracked.
A mobile phone with GPS, and in mobile range can work out a location and transmit that but only if it is set up to do that. It won't just do it automatically if you are lost.
There is at least one mobile provider in Australia that has the ability to track mobile phones even if they are out of range. Problem is the device they use must be within 30km and your phone must be turned on. It also doesn't pinpoint an exact location but gives a rough area that can be narrowed down with time.
If there is the chance you could get in trouble and need help an EPIRB with GPS is the perfect device. If your close to the mainland (100km or less) you could expect to be rescued within a couple of hours. It might cost the taxpayer $10,000 but if your family reports you missing that night and a search starts the next day it could quite easily cost millions and you may never be found.
They spent a lot more than that trying to convince us the carbon tax will stop natural disasters.
Anyone who thinks an EPIRB is an appropriate level of backup to cover yourself while
undertaking over the horizon kite activities is delusion and has no understanding of
the technology.The inherent time delays to accurately plot your position and then
Pass the info to RCC Canberra ,who then look at what's available in the area( they
are looking at cargo ships / Oil industry etc not other blokes out in their tinnies).
The delay in getting the info to a local level will be sufficient for you to die if you are
In the water. Once you wash up somewhere then things change and you could find
shelter and wait. Don't rely on an EPIRB. That's dumb. Likewise people thinking
they are sweet as they have bought a waterproof VHF from Dick Smiths are also
delusional. VHF is line of sight communication only (small amount of skip but not
reliable). That means your antennae must "see" the receiving antennae to communicate
How high is your antennae when treading water? Good luck on calling more than 5 kms
Self rescue is your best option. Chuck some flares in your pocket if doing something
a little different.Your best chance is attracting local help.
Boat or jet ski Support ( with VHF and EPIRB) beyond that.
Plan it right then do it right. You only get one life.
For regular kiting an epirb is an unnecessary burden, but if you have one and you activate it someone will turn up. How long it takes, we'll that's anyone's guess, it can easily be under an hour in some favourable circumstances, or days if you are a solo dick sailing around Antarctica.
AMSA/RCC is well resourced and funded but most likely it will be the state that responds. Ie in WA within 2-300 km of Perth your epirb activation may tie up one or both of only two winch capable helicopters readily available.
Epirbs are for life threatening emergencies, so breaking the seal on your epirb and flicking the switch will get a response but it will be at the expense of those responders no longer being available to rescue someone else.
If you are going to carry one make sure it is properly registered with AMSA on their website and before you ever activate it consider it the biggest decision of your life, because someone else's life may depend on those emergency services being available as well.
Smaller plb type Epirbs are not really intended for in water use either. They are small and light at the expense of durability and water ingress protection. My epirb is water sealed to a guaranteed depth of 1m (ie splash resistant), which isn't adequate for kiting. Check the spec's on anything you carry.
I own acr resqlink+ epirb.
I will prob never use it, but it's cheap piece of mind for the mrs and family. (About $400)
I take it backcountry mostly rather than on water.
I also carry other emergency supplies, and never travel alone.
FFS, there is a lot of idiots on this forum,
If you get into a situation where your ****ed, then just maybe as a last resort it could save ya life, or at very least make it easy to find your body.
Go hard, be prepared.
I've never taken my epirb kiteboarding, seems really unnessary.
25 - 30 knots in Perth today, headin for the Offshore wind flatwater spot - have packed my Emergency kit - 2 Coronas.... Check
Don't forget to pack a knife.... in case you need to allegedly fight off 11 sharks 
www.rebelmouse.com/wordpress-vip-alternative
people are acting as if kiters don't deserve to be rescued from a life threatening situation, Its pathetic.
Tides, currents and rips can all be your enemy even if you are close to shore. So get an EPIRB if you feel you need to, and by all means, if your life is threatened you are entitled to a rescue as much as any Frenchman.
Isnt it funny that all the posts from people who are basically saying GROW UP and be responsible for your own actions and dont involve or risk other peoples lives if you choose to be stupid, get red thumbs! must say something about the self obssesed culture of a minority or majority of kite surfers on this forum. I am commerical helicopter pilot and worked in defence and emergency services for over 20 years, and if i had to go out and risk a crew to go save some kiter who's set of an EPRIB and ended up miles offshore for the sake of being "adventurous" the first thing id do upon return is to spartan kick you off the first cliff i found!
