Why this one
OutdoorGearLab favours the small size and subscription-free SOS role, while stressing the absence of ordinary messaging.
Specifications and sources
- Irish registration
- Only country code 250 can be registered with ComReg.
What independent testers found
OutdoorGearLab
It favours the small size and subscription-free SOS role, while stressing the absence of ordinary messaging. The original review is dated May 2018 with an accuracy update in January 2023; a current comparison-table heading does not make it a new 2026 field test.
OutdoorGearLab test ↗, checked 2026-10-31
Limits and cautions
- Only country code 250 can be registered with ComReg. A seller programming the device does not complete the owner's registration. Tether it and keep it accessible; the unit does not float without a flotation pouch and is not designed to transmit while floating unattended.
- The price above is for the beacon, not an added flotation pouch.
- The seller labels the catalogue brand Recmar while naming Ocean Signal PLB1 throughout the offer. Verify the supplied maker/model label. Dealer authorisation was not independently verified.
- Confirm remaining battery life on receipt, because the maker's seven-year figure does not prove the age of stock on a retailer's shelf.
- Follow the supplied test and authorised battery-replacement instructions, including replacement after activation or expiry.
- Ocean Signal gives two years as standard, extended to five years for eligible PLB1 purchases registered with the manufacturer within 90 days; commercial-use and other exclusions apply. This manufacturer warranty registration is separate from ComReg registration.