Starting February 1, 2009 the COSPAS-SARSAT system will cease coverage 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz emergency beacons and will begin tracking distress signals exclusively from the 406 MHz frequency. All emergency beacon owners and users (including all EPIRBS, PLBs and ELTs) are advised to begin taking steps to replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons soon as possible.

The switch was first announced by the International Cospas-Sarsat Program at its 25th Council Session held in October of 2000. This switch is due to problems in this frequency band which inundate search and rescue authorities with poor accuracy and numerous false alerts, adversely impacting the effectiveness of lifesaving services.

Cospas-Sarsat.org tells us of the advantages of 406: [Continue Reading →]

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In the following video we discus the various types of Position Indicating Radio Beacons. We explore the diffrences between an EPIRB, GPIRB, ELT and the increasingly less expensive PLB’s . We will also be taking a look at the  Spot Satellite Messenger and ask if it’s the right solution for your emergency locator redundancy needs.

 

 GPIRB vs EPIRB vs PLB: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Related Posts:

• Holiday Gift Guide | Spot Globalstar Messenger – Emergency Locater
• Holiday Gift Guide | Spot Messenger Package – $60 Off
• McMurdo Fast-Find 210 – Change In The Way You Think About EPIRBS
• The Death of 121.5 EPIRB For The Coast Guard
• Digital Television Can’t Save Your Life…A 406 MHz EPIRB, PLB or ELT Can!

Panbo, the marine electronics blog, brings us today’s gCaptain Holiday Gift Suggestion. The unit is the SPOT Satellite Messenger & Emergency Locater and it’s fairly amazing.

First a note. This is not a substitute for the most important safety item aboard ship an EPIRB. If you are looking for the best personal emergency solution we recommend the ACR – ResQFix 406 GPS Personal Locater Beacon (PLB) . (EPIRBS are know as PLB’s when used for personal use and ELT’s in aviation).

So what can the SPOT do? Basically it is a unit that updates your position on a google map which your friends can log into and track your position. It also has extensive emergency locating features at a fraction of the price of a PLB or EPIRB. Panbo tells us;

The just announced Spot is a waterproof Globalstar messenger and GPS combo that will purportedly let you alert the authorities (at least the U.S. ones) [we know it uses GEOS SAR but doesn't have global coverage) with your position, or ask for help from your friends or just notify them of where you are, or build an online track of your travels. It will be available in November for $149 with an annual service contract ranging from $99 upwards depending on what features you want to use. There’s not much detail on the Spot site yet, except for some pretty extreme fear marketing, but I’d guess that this product will get some real attention, even from some boaters. And I’m glad that, unlike TracMe, Spot is not confusing the market place by using the term Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

For $149 at Amazon this seems like a bargain to give your family some extra peace of mind and let your kids track your position at sea from your home computer (check with your ISPS DP for your company's policy). [Continue Reading →]

Related Posts:

• EPIRB, GPIRB, ELT, PLB… What’s The Difference?
• McMurdo Fast-Find 210 – Change In The Way You Think About EPIRBS
• Holiday Gift Guide | Spot Messenger Package – $60 Off
• UHF / VHF Bluetooth Headsets for the Mariner
• DSC for the Handheld Marine VHF