Do you carry an EPIRB?

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

Re: Do you carry an EPIRB?

:!: :!: :!: Just a reminder that if you carry a 121.5 MHz EPIRB, you might want to consider updating now as 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite. :!: :!: :!:

The following information is drawn from Australian Maritime Safety Authority website:

Why switch to 406 MHz?
As of 1 February 2009 Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer detect 121.5 MHz distress beacons.

Major advantages of switching to a 406 MHz distress beacon are:

:arrow: their improved accuracy - especially those that are GPS capable;
:arrow: the capability for search and rescue authorities to determine whether the alert is legitimate - for those that are registered, a simple phone call can determine this; and
:arrow: a faster response - valuable information about those in distress and the distress location can be gained by rescue authorities contacting friends and family nominated as emergency contacts.

Distress beacon owners must make the switch to

What if 121.5 MHz distress beacons are used after 1 February 2009?
With the satellite system no longer receiving alerts from 121.5 MHz from 1 February 2009, over-flying aircraft are the only means of detecting activated analogue beacons. In some areas within the Australian search and rescue region this could amount to days rather than hours before a 121.5 MHz beacon could be heard. In some circumstances, the 121.5 MHz beacon may not be detected at all. Not all aircraft 'listen' to the 121.5 MHz frequency and those that do are generally very high flyers. As a consequence, the search area resulting from these detections could be very large and it would take rescue authorities considerable time and resources to localise the distress signal. This would also apply to distress beacons activated directly under a well used flight path.

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

Re: Do you carry an EPIRB?

I'm a pilot and Carry an emergency backup NAV/COM. It uses the US emergency frequency of 121.5 MHz. Would this work down there? Can verbal communications be sent over that frequency for an emergency.

The hand held communication device runs near the similar bandwidth (about 112.0-130.0 MHz) and Nav frequencies of about 220.0 - 270. MHz.

-Ben

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

Re: Do you carry an EPIRB?

Ben

I just saw this topic and am reading it for the first time.

121.5 is the emergency frequency for aviation in Australia and all the heavy metal flying around with 2 com units always monitor 121.5.

Its just good airmanship to monitor this frequency if you are running two nav units even if only a private pilot.

the best thing for remote areas in Australia is a 406 EPIRB with GPS. A fixed 406 ELT is mandatory in aircraft but these are often damaged on impact.

I recommend always having a pocket size or belt carried 406 EPIRB with GPS especially if walking anywhere in Australia.

I live only 100 km from Melbourne and you can drive a 4x4 into areas here that would then take a full day to walk out of if something went pear shaped.

I've been involved in looking for a person lost with a broken a leg and reported to me on sunset when their partner came out of the bush. The accident happened mid morning and they were out bush until located again at 1 am and winched out by helicopter.

Using a 406 unit they would have been identified in 15 minutes and had a helicopter overhead within the hour and been in hospital within 2.

I wouldn't rely soley on 121.5 if you intend flying in remote areas of Australia but we do monitor it.

Regards

Adrian

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Do you carry an EPIRB?

I had an old unit and upgraded to a GME 406MHz with GPS earlier this year.

I also looked at the Spot unit and it has some nice features but a couple of things put me off it
1. SPOT piggybacks on a commercial satellite phone network that has reportedly been having reliability problems. The EPIRB service is based on an international agreement between Government rescue services. It needs to be reliable because it is the primary emergency alert system for aircraft, boatingand shipping worldwide.
2. the SPOT control/call centre is also commercially run and based overseas. There could be a delay in getting local authorities to respond. The EPIRB alerts go directly to a federal government run coordination centre in Canberra. They have direct access to all the rescue organisations from there.
3. the SPOT requires an upfront cost plus ongoing annual subscriber fees. ( which I thought were a lot more than the $12.95 mentioned above ). Once you've paid and registered an EPIRB there's no ongoing costs.
4. you need to ensure the battery on the SPOT is charged at the start of your trip and then recharge it periodically. The EPIRB has a seven year battery life so it means you can forget it except to test it once a month or so ( the battery can be replaced after the 7 years ).
5. The buttons to set off an emegency alert on the SPOT seemed very easy to activate accidentally. Remberering you need to pay for unnecessary rescues/false alarms I though this was a little risky.With an EPIRB you need to positively unlock and raise the antenna and/or push a protected button.

I just felt that for it's intended purpose ( ie last resort rescue, guaranteed response ) the EPIRB service was better on paper. The SPOT has some nice toys you can play with ( like the mapping ) that probably make you feel like you have got something for your money, but quite frankly I'm happy just to give my EPIRB it's monthly test and get that reassuring "beep" back.

[BCH Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BCH]

Anyone bought an EPIRB lately? What brand did you get and where from? Was it a good price?
cheers

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

I recommend that everyone should carry a GPS equipped PLB or Spot unit every time they load up their vehicle to go travelling. I carry my GME 406 GPS PLB at all times. Remember, you don't have to be miles from anywhere to have an accident. A few years ago a gentleman in a 4by drove off Fox Valley Road ( Sydney NSW ), careered down an embankment into some bush land. The vehicle was not visible from the road. He did some major damage to the vehicle and himself and was not able to move. He summoned help by activating the PLB he had in his centre console. I'm sure his family was happy he kept it there.
Bazza

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

I recommend that everyone should carry a GPS equipped PLB or Spot unit every time they load up their vehicle to go travelling. I carry my GME 406 GPS PLB at all times. Remember, you don't have to be miles from anywhere to have an accident. A few years ago a gentleman in a 4by drove off Fox Valley Road ( Sydney NSW ), careered down an embankment into some bush land. The vehicle was not visible from the road. He did some major damage to the vehicle and himself and was not able to move. He summoned help by activating the PLB he had in his centre console. I'm sure his family was happy he kept it there.
Bazza

I keep my SPOT device in the car at all times for the same reason.

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

I've upgraded my Spot2 to a Delorme InReach.

Difference is that it uses the Irridium satellite network (should be more reliable) and has message confirmation as well as two way text messages over the satellite network via smartphone app (iPhone or Android)

Mine was an import from the US, but I hear that they are becoming available locally. I've only been able to test locally so far, but the performance has been reliable and the messages sent have been getting through 100%

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Anyone bought an EPIRB lately? What brand did you get and where from? Was it a good price?
cheers

I bought the Fast Find PLB back in May for well under $400. It's registered with AMSA. It came from a marine dealer over east, just google Fast Find GPS. The unit is very compact and light, much smaller than comparable GME 406PLB. I didn't really need the features of SPOT. Get a PLB with GPS, EPIRB are for marine use.

[Geoff58 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoff58]

Its seems appropriate that if you have one for a boat that you whould use it for a remote trip. All it takes is an email to the responsible authority (cant remember at the moment) that you are using it for the trip and piece of mind is achieved.

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

I borrow the Sat Phone/Epirb bag from my 4By club when doing outback trips, update the epirb contact details for the trip.

If there are multiple vehicles we split up the contents so we don't lose it all in case of the worse scenarion happening.

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

What happens if rescue is needed .... true life example. A lady from work is a member of a bush walking club and, on a recent walk, a member of their group fell and broke a leg. The group were in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and were able to call emergency services by mobile phone. They were able to give good map co-ordinates but, when they said they were carrying an EPIRB, the emergency operator asked them to activate it because the resue helicoptor could use the signal. Yes, emergency services called the nominated contact person when the EPIRB was activated. Yes, a broken leg was considered an appropriate purpose.

It seems that the "official clubs" are able to purchase one EPIRB for a lot of members, it may be a little tricky for members of our forum to share the cost of one of these units, but maybe worth a thought.

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

I have an ACR RESQLINK PERSONAL PLB EPIRB 406MHz GPS unit in the glovebox. I figure i'd be happy if inever use it and the $400+ it cost is cheap insurance that could save your life.

Regards Adam