On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 16:15:19 -0500, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 04:54:11 GMT, "suds" wrote:

Would the babysitter due? ;^)

Possibly. If the babysitter knows who to call. HPD probably isn't a good
choice for an ocean rescue, although that's where a 911 call might wind
up. Better would be a call to the Coast Guard, the Marine base there, or
the
Navy. sorry about that.

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
We are the CroMagnon of the future

"Peter" wrote in message
news:Nvx3c.94061$PR3.1664348@attbi_s03...

A PLB or redundant VHF radios seem to me more likely to be effective than
the visual distress signals.


While the EPIRB is probably responsible for these people being alive, one
can't help wondering why it took over two hours to locate them just 2 miles
of Lanai (~10 miles off Maui.)

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/ln05a.html


suds

suds wrote:

"Peter" wrote in message
news:Nvx3c.94061$PR3.1664348@attbi_s03...


A PLB or redundant VHF radios seem to me more likely to be effective than
the visual distress signals.



While the EPIRB is probably responsible for these people being alive, one
can't help wondering why it took over two hours to locate them just 2 miles
of Lanai (~10 miles off Maui.)

Not too surprising. The article didn't make it clear what type of EPIRB
was used, but even the 406 MHz units take almost an hour to get a
position fix and then the search is over an area with a one mile radius.
The ones with GPS capability are much better in this regard with an
accurate position fix within a few minutes of activation.
Still, either is much better than the two days it took after a cell phone
call to the Coast Guard in the rescue I mentioned earlier.

"Michael Daly" wrote in message
...

The EPIRB signals to satellites, which relay to a rescue centre. The
rescue centre only has a rough position from the EPIRB - it isn't a GPS.
They contact the nearest SAR folks who then start searching the area
with a position error of about one mile (after three satellite passes).
How long does it take to search a one mile diameter circle of ocean,
with drift due to wind and currents thrown in for good measure?



My point is that you can't depend on just one form of distress signaling.
While the EPIRBs are a fantastic step forward, they do have their
limitations. The most modern forms do have gps and constantly transmit
there location via satellite when activated but they must be on the surface
to work. If they are trapped down in the cubby or tangled up in the rigging
of an overturned boat, they aren't going to do a d@mn thing for you.


suds