Do you carry an EPIRB?

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons)
I have searched the threads and haven't found any about that actually seeks to identify how many PP members carry or use an EPIRB as part of their traveling emergency kit.



I believe all 4wd'ers should carry one for remote traveling. They are simple to operate and ensure that someone will receive your emergency beacon and be able to find you quickly. Anyone can activate one if, in a worse case scenario for example, you become badly injured and need to say get your kids or someone else to operate for you. They operate independently and are not reliant on other systems/power.

I know that emergency services often get false alarms from them, but you can't legislate against idiots being born.

EPIRBs certainly make life much easier for emergency services to locate a party in distress rather than the enormous search efforts that are sometimes needed to locate missing/overdue parties based on possible routes/last sightings, etc.

The 121MHz EPIRB system is being phased out on 1 Feb 2009 - so if you have one of these you really need to start thinking about changing over to the better 406MHz systems. See: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/TVC%20406%20-%20Jan%2007.wmv

So, do you carry an EPIRB as part of your vehicle's emergency kit?

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

I don't at the moment but I have researched getting one. We go to some out of the way places so we really need something like an EPIRB. If I had a boat it would be a no brainer as they are an essential piece of emergency equipment imo.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

They are only for immediate life threatening situations, a broken arm/leg, out of fuel, lost is not life threatening. You will be up for a big $$ if you activate inappropriately.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Not for the short coastal trips I currently do........ but if I were doing a BIG trip to remote parts I would deffinitley buy or hire one, and probable one of the new ''Spot - personal trackers' as well.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

They are only for immediate life threatening situations, a broken arm/leg, out of fuel, lost is not life threatening. You will be up for a big $$ if you activate inappropriately.

In remote parts of Australia, especially NT, any situation where you are stuck and likely to run out of water IS a life threatening situation.

Many people have quickly perished after becoming lost/stuck and not being able to call for help or, when the alarm was raised, help taking too long to find them.

If every bushwalker had one, for example, Search Operations would be resolved a lot quicker each time someone became lost/stuck. So too for 4wd'ers undertaking remote travels.

I strongly recommend anyone undertaking remote 4wd trips carry one.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

They are only for immediate life threatening situations, a broken arm/leg, out of fuel, lost is not life threatening. You will be up for a big $$ if you activate inappropriately.

In remote parts of Australia, especially NT, any situation where you are stuck and likely to run out of water IS a life threatening situation.

Many people have quickly perished after becoming lost/stuck and not being able to call for help or, when the alarm was raised, help taking too long to find them.

If every bushwalker had one, for example, Search Operations would be resolved a lot quicker each time someone became lost/stuck. So too for 4wd'ers undertaking remote travels.

I strongly recommend anyone undertaking remote 4wd trips carry one.

I'd still get clarification from the authorities first on what constitutes life threatening

[Jim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim]

For remote travel ... I take the EPIRB out of the boat as a last resort measure. It is, however, registered to a six meter Haynes Hunter boat ... try finding that in the middle of the desert :shock:

Our emergency contact person for the EPIRB is also the contact person for our remote trips.

Jim

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

I cary a Spot Satalite receiver.

here is a copy of a post on the Bruiser Forum Here

SPOT Satellite Messenger



It costs about $149.99 and requires an annual service contract of $99.99 per year. The track progress is an additional $49.99 per year.
When activated you have an option to get insurance that allows coverage for up to $100,000 for private Search & Rescue teams above what federal, state & local can provide.

-Ben

Stolen from, http://www.findmespot.com/Home.aspx

With the SPOT Satellite Messenger, you and your loved ones have peace of mind knowing help is always within reach. SPOT is the only device of its kind, using the GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, and then sending its location – with a link to Google Maps™ – and a pre-programmed message via a commercial satellite network. And unlike Personal Locator Beacons, SPOT does more than just call for help. Tracking your progress, checking in with loved ones, and non-emergency assistance are also available, all at the push of a button. And because it uses 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world – even where cell phones don't.

How it Works-
Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact coordinates from the GPS network, and send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information – which may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our country’s embassy or consulate, or other emergency response or search and rescue teams – as well as notifying your emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal.



Help Function
ASK FOR HELP: In the event of a non-life threatening emergency, you can use this function to notify your SPOTteam – the friends and family you have chosen as your contacts – that you need assistance.

Once activated, SPOT acquires your exact location from the GPS network and routes it along with the HELP message through the SPOT satellite network every five minutes for one hour or until cancelled. Your contacts will receive an SMS text message including coordinates, or an email with a link to Google Maps™ showing your exact location.

Check in
Also known as SPOTcheckingSM, this feature allows you to let your SPOTteam – the friends and family you have chosen as your contacts – know that all is well, notify them of your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date.

When you press the OK button, SPOT acquires your exact location from the GPS network and routes it through the SPOT satellite network. Your contacts receive either an SMS text message on their mobile phone with your message and coordinates, or an email with your message and a link to Google Maps™ showing your exact location.



Track Progress
Also known as SPOTcastingSM, this feature allows friends and family to follow your progress in real time using your password, or to save waypoints so you can review your entire route at a later date.

How It Works:Once activated, SPOT acquires and sends your GPS coordinates to your SPOT account every 10 minutes. Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps™. To continue tracking on longer journeys, the SPOTcastingSM function must be re-activated every 24 hours.



Coverage
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles off-shore of these areas.



Functional Specifications
SPOT features four key functions that enable users to send messages to friends, family or emergency responders, based upon varying levels of need:

Alert 9-1-1 – Alert emergency responders to your exact location
-SPOT sends one message every 5 minutes until power is depleted or 911 is cancelled.

Ask for Help – Request help from friends and family in your exact location
-SPOT sends one message every 5 minutes for one hour or until Help is cancelled.

Check In – Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay
-SPOT sends three identical messages to the SPOT service for redundancy. The first of those three messages is delivered.

Track Progress – Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™
-SPOT sends one message every 10 minutes for 24 hours or until SPOT is powered off.

Small and LightSize: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5” (111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm)
-Approximate Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams)

Battery Life Includes 2 AA 1.5V lithium batteries; under normal usage a full battery charge should meet or exceed the following
-Power on, unused: Approx. 1 year
-SPOTcasting tracking mode: Approx. 14 days
-9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
-SPOTcheck OK/√: 1900 messages

Operating Conditions - SPOT works around the world virtually anywhere

Operating Temperatures: -40°F to +185°F (-40ºC to +85ºC)

Operating Altitude: -300 ft to +21,000 ft (-91 m to +6,492 m)

Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams)

Dimensions: 4.38 x 2.75 x 1.75 inches (approx. 111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm)

Floats in water
-Waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes

Humidity Rated:
-MIL-STD-810E Method 507.3, 95% to 100% condensing

Salt Fog Rated
-Per MIL_STD 810E Method 509.3, 5% NaCl, 95% distilled water

Vibration
-Per SAE J1455
-Random, 20 Hz to 2000 Hz, 0.04g2/Hz, one hour per axis

Drop
-Dropped twice on all six sides from one meter onto hard surface.

Certifications
-ROHS and WEEE compliant.
-Certified to FCC and CE emissions, immunity and safety regulations.
-Meets FCC part 25 regulations, Canada type approval, CISPR Publication 22 (1985 1st Edition), RTTE Directive (1999/EC), IEC 60950 safety standard, and European EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.
[/quote]

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Interesting gadget Ben, has it worked well for yourself with the track function?

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Interesting gadget Ben, has it worked well for yourself with the track function?

I haven't used the track function yet, but this weekend would of been a perfect opportunity.

Beyond the 911 function I got it to send "OK" messages to the family, so they can stop worrying when in the bush.

-Ben

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

I will try this post again as my last one disappeared for some reason.

So I have now purchased one of these SPOT systems from a US ebay seller. The SPOT system is about to be launched here in Australia so I figured that I had better get the hardware before licensing agreements come in to play and the US sellers are not able to sell here. No doubt when it goes to market here the cost will be double or triple what it is to get in the US.

I have researched the service and the full functionality is available here in Australia. Once I get the hardware from the US I will then purchase the service, I believe in the first instance I will get the full service and then decide after the first year what I need to carry on with.

I will do a proper write up once I get the hardware and have used the tracking service etc. Hopefully I will never need the 911 service but it is always nice to know it is there if needed.

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Good on you Mav.

I will be looking forward to your review and write-up.

Thanks for being the beacon .

Cheers,
LFaR.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

I note with interest that the October issue of Overlander 4wd magazine includes a feature article on why 4wders should strongly consider including an EPIRB as part of their emergency kit.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Hey Mav,

Spot has ben available in Oz for about 6 months now. Brian from GPSOz sells them and sets them up. He has a discussion forum for them on his web page. I think his price though of $249 is more than what you can get them for in the US, I have seen them as low as $135.
Realy keen to hear your feeback when you get yours.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Hey Mav,

Spot has ben available in Oz for about 6 months now. Brian from GPSOz sells them and sets them up. He has a discussion forum for them on his web page. I think his price though of $249 is more than what you can get them for in the US, I have seen them as low as $135.
Realy keen to hear your feeback when you get yours.

That is interesting to know as I spoke directly to the marketing folks at SPOT in USA and they advised that they would be going to market very soon.

Is he selling grey market SPOT systems?

Is that AUD$135 or US$135? I purchased mine for US$133 with US$25 priority Airmail shipping.