John S wrote:

Here downunder we have lots of the cheap (& much less accurate)
121.5/243 epirbs. They're law on ALL boats regardless of the boat's
length etc if it's more than 2 miles offshore. There are exemptions for
larger bays & impoundments etc, but in general terms all boats that go
out of harbours have to carry an in test epirb. This has been the law in
most states for many years & seeing they only have a test life of 5 yrs
& new batteries/re-test are almost as expensive as a new epirb (about
A$210, US153) we all have a gaggle of unused & workable (I have one
which was out of test in 93 but the test light still flashes, probably
not for long:-)) but useless epirbs lying around:-)

Offshore yacht races, each crew member has to have a personal one in
their life jacket.

Seems a bit strict to you I guess & we all said that when they became
law but like seatbelts in cars etc they've saved many lives & in a big
mostly empty country with the biggest coast of any, have saved the
taxpayers a huge amount on searches which are invariably fruitless.

The latest here is mandatory life jacket wearing on boats up to 6.5
mtrs, lots of "discussion" but if it saves lives.........in 10 years
we'll all have gotten used to it. Only thing is comfortable non
restricting life jackets are a bit expensive.

K

On 7 Nov 2004 21:02:20 -0800, (Matt Lang) wrote:


Guys,

I am thinking about buying an EPIRB and hope its one of these things
that when you have it you will never have to use it ...

I want one of the more sophisticated ones that send GPS coordinates to
a satellite.

Now i wonder do the ones that send GPS coordinates also send the 406
MHz beacon signal so that in case the GPS fails or doesnt get a lock
you will still be found?

The other question is: Are these things legal to use on land for
backcountry 4wheeling and such?

Matt


I grabbed the following at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirb.htm

"A new type of 406 MHz EPIRB, having an integral GPS navigation receiver,
became available in 1998. This EPIRB will send accurate location as well as
identification information to rescue authorities immediately upon activation
through both geostationary (GEOSAR) and polar orbiting satellites. These
types of EPIRB are the best you can buy."



The 406MHz beacon even without the added GPS signal will still allow
rescuers to find your location within 2 to 5 km. The GPS obviously increases
the accuracy to perhaps a 100 meters or less (my guess assuming you have a
satellite lock on).

The EPIRB is intended for maritime use. While you would get a response if
you activated one while 4wheeling , there could be legal ramifications.
However, in a life or death situation, the legal consequences might be
damned. To be honest, I don't know what, if any legal implications there may
or may not be.

I know they can work on land from a story reported a few years ago. Seems
some thieves broke into a boat and stole a bunch of equipment. While toying
with their ill gotten gains, they set off the EPIRB. That brought emergency
rescue crews and the police straight to their apartment.

Australia has an interesting take on the use of personal locators for
"bushwalkers".
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~vicwalk/epirb/intro.html



For a possible alternate rescue device for 4wheeling and such, I would ask
what might be a available in another newsgroup such as alt.satellite.gps or
sci.geo.satellite-nav. There is a wealth of knowledge in those groups.



Regards
John S

I would rather be boating!