Old EPIRBS

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 20:46
ThreadID: 64866 Views:3372 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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Well my old 121.5 MHz EPIRB is soon to become redundant. What do you do with it?
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Reply By: ben_gv3 - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 20:50

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 20:50
I have one too.

I suppose since they won't be monitoring the frequency anymore, the EPRIB unit makes a good paperweight or doorstop?
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Reply By: age - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:03

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:03
jdwynn

Battery World stores are taking them for correct disposal. Don't hang on to your old one as any accidental triggering etc will bring fines from the authorities.

Be careful when buying a new one as in some states the personal beacons (PLB's)(ie small ones) do not qualify as an "EPIRB" for marine situations.

Cheers


A
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 23:06

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 23:06
Agree with Age

Go to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority website and they suggest Battery World
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Reply By: Member - Rotord - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 22:01

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 22:01
The new 406 beacons transmit on 406 kcs which is monitored and 121.5 kcs which is used for rescue craft to home on to the beacon . The old 121.5 EPIRBS could be used in a planned ' watch ' situation where you advise someone that if you don't arrive at a destination by a nominated date/time that you will transmit on 121.5 at a certain time . A search craft could then home in to your beacon . Not nearly as good a system as a new beacon , but it is a use for the old one .
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Follow Up By: Member - Longtooth (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 22:12

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 22:12
My understanding is that aviation will still be monitoring 121.5 as this is and will remain the international distress frequency. It will operate as it currently does. The 406 beacon will be transmitted to a satellite for a precise location with the owners details resulting in a quicker rescue. I will be keeping my old one and taking the risk - haven't needed a rescue in 60 years so using risk management principles hoping to not need one in my remaining time.
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Follow Up By: mike w (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 23:39

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 23:39
One of the issues with the monitoring of this frequency by aircraft described to me by by some AMSA personnel in a previous job of mine is that many aircraft have the volume of this frequency turned down as it gets quote- "a bit annoying listening to static with time".

Another issue is that it does rely on aircraft being over head to intercept the frequency. Now if you are like me, I tend to avoid flight paths when camping and travelling ;)

I would not put faith in this frequency alone. Go the 406- many more beneifits
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 14:14

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 14:14
QANTAS policy is to always have COM2 set on 121.5 when not being used for another frequency.

Modern radios have no static when monitoring 121.5, as no-one will be transmitting on it.

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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 14:17

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 14:17
Some people who have the older 121.5 Beacons will not be able to afford or to justify the $480 for a 406MHz beacon, even though they are so much better at notifying an emergency.

Those people should still keep their 121.5 beacon in their vehicle, rather than dispose of it.

When a aircraft is sent to search for the lost party, it will home in on the 121.5 transmission, whether it comes from the newer 406+121.5 beacon or the older 121.5-only beacon. Under thick vegetation it may be impossible to see the lost party from the air, but any aircraft can use techniques specified in ERSA to locate the beacon.

A 121.5 beacon can still be used to raise an alert, if you are anywhere near jet aircraft routes, as they will have their second receiver monitoring 121.5. An aircraft flying at 20,000 ft can pick up a beacon many kilometres off their track and alert the authorities to an emergency in a general area.
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Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 20:04

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 20:04
Just upgraded to the GME MT410G yesterday and registered it today.
Will dispose of the old MTi 121.5MHz PLB at Battery World.
AnswerID: 343126

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