SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

2 points of information for boaters and pilots

1. The use of *CG as an emergency access to the Coast Guard is being
discontinued. Cell phone users needing CG assistance should dial 911.

2. After January 1, 2007, the use of 121.5 MHz ELT's will be ILLEGAL.
ELT's should be replaced with the 406 MHz EPIRB's

Source: "On Scene", the Journal of USCG Search and Rescue, Fall, 2006

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

wf3h wrote:
2 points of information for boaters and pilots

1. The use of *CG as an emergency access to the Coast Guard is being
discontinued. Cell phone users needing CG assistance should dial 911.


While it's always best to have a number of ways to communicate with an
emergency service, discontinuing *CG from cell phones may actually make
a lot of people safer on the water. We'll never know how many people
who really should have purchased a VHF for their boat didn't do so
because *CG seems to imply that the Coast Guard recommends cell phones
as a primary means for emergency communication.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 22 Nov 2006 13:34:15 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wf3h wrote:
2 points of information for boaters and pilots

1. The use of *CG as an emergency access to the Coast Guard is being
discontinued. Cell phone users needing CG assistance should dial 911.

While it's always best to have a number of ways to communicate with an
emergency service, discontinuing *CG from cell phones may actually make
a lot of people safer on the water. We'll never know how many people
who really should have purchased a VHF for their boat didn't do so
because *CG seems to imply that the Coast Guard recommends cell phones
as a primary means for emergency communication.

That's an interesting point.

yes, the same issue of the magazine has a sidebar in the article
discussing the merits of VHF radio vs cellphones...

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 22 Nov 2006 12:14:46 -0800, "wf3h" wrote:

2 points of information for boaters and pilots

1. The use of *CG as an emergency access to the Coast Guard is being
discontinued. Cell phone users needing CG assistance should dial 911.

Hmmmm - I never knew you could access *CG via cell phone. I'll be
danged.


yeah we used to get calls at station sandy hook (NYC) all the
time...turns out *CG is close to the cingular quick number for
accessing billing info...folks couldn't understand why i couldn't help
'em with their bill...

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Thanks for posting this. I was talking with several, especially Tom,
about a VHF in the boat I recently aquired. the old radio is junk, and
with cell phones, I was wondering if I should replace it or not. I've
just decided.


Thanks!






wf3h wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 22 Nov 2006 13:34:15 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:


wf3h wrote:
2 points of information for boaters and pilots

1. The use of *CG as an emergency access to the Coast Guard is being
discontinued. Cell phone users needing CG assistance should dial 911.

While it's always best to have a number of ways to communicate with an
emergency service, discontinuing *CG from cell phones may actually make
a lot of people safer on the water. We'll never know how many people
who really should have purchased a VHF for their boat didn't do so
because *CG seems to imply that the Coast Guard recommends cell phones
as a primary means for emergency communication.

That's an interesting point.

yes, the same issue of the magazine has a sidebar in the article
discussing the merits of VHF radio vs cellphones...

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

wf3h wrote:
2. After January 1, 2007, the use of 121.5 MHz ELT's will be ILLEGAL.
ELT's should be replaced with the 406 MHz EPIRB's


Illegal, as in how? if you used the 121.5 MHz ELT would there somehow
be a fine imposed?

how does that work?

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Tim wrote:
wf3h wrote:
2. After January 1, 2007, the use of 121.5 MHz ELT's will be ILLEGAL.
ELT's should be replaced with the 406 MHz EPIRB's


Illegal, as in how? if you used the 121.5 MHz ELT would there somehow
be a fine imposed?

how does that work?

actually no one's gonna complain if an actual emergency is indicated by
an ELT...BUT only 1/8 of all ELT signals turn out to be
emergencies....after 1/1/07 if one of those is triggered and the source
is identified, there could be a fine.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Tim wrote:
Thanks for posting this. I was talking with several, especially Tom,
about a VHF in the boat I recently aquired. the old radio is junk, and
with cell phones, I was wondering if I should replace it or not. I've
just decided.


Thanks!

glad to help. at the coast guard we always take the cell phone numbers
of boaters who call on VHF radio, but the radio is much more reliable
and effective than cell phones. all mariners listen to radio but a cell
phone call doesn't enable other boaters to assist.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Thank you so much.
Your info is greatly appreciated!

Tim


wf3h wrote:
Tim wrote:
Thanks for posting this. I was talking with several, especially Tom,
about a VHF in the boat I recently aquired. the old radio is junk, and
with cell phones, I was wondering if I should replace it or not. I've
just decided.


Thanks!

glad to help. at the coast guard we always take the cell phone numbers
of boaters who call on VHF radio, but the radio is much more reliable
and effective than cell phones. all mariners listen to radio but a cell
phone call doesn't enable other boaters to assist.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

I am curious :

- how an ELT could be used on a boat ? (ELT for planes and EPIRB for boats)

- The use of 121.5 Mhz is still legal for general aviation, however it
won't be monitored after february 2007.

406 digital signal are hundred's time more efficient than 121.5Mhz, in
terms of identification, and localization.

A good alternative to ELT & EPIRB could be Personal Locator Beacons linked
to the person, not the ship/boat.

Cheers,

Rémy

F5LRR


Le Thu, 23 Nov 2006 05:48:07 +0100, wf3h a écrit:


Tim wrote:
wf3h wrote:
2. After January 1, 2007, the use of 121.5 MHz ELT's will be ILLEGAL.
ELT's should be replaced with the 406 MHz EPIRB's


Illegal, as in how? if you used the 121.5 MHz ELT would there somehow
be a fine imposed?

how does that work?

actually no one's gonna complain if an actual emergency is indicated by
an ELT...BUT only 1/8 of all ELT signals turn out to be
emergencies....after 1/1/07 if one of those is triggered and the source
is identified, there could be a fine.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

Remy wrote:
I am curious :

- how an ELT could be used on a boat ? (ELT for planes and EPIRB for boats)

- The use of 121.5 Mhz is still legal for general aviation, however it
won't be monitored after february 2007.

406 digital signal are hundred's time more efficient than 121.5Mhz, in
terms of identification, and localization.

A good alternative to ELT & EPIRB could be Personal Locator Beacons linked
to the person, not the ship/boat.

Cheers,

Rémy


Personal Locator Beacons would be a good idea. Is there (affordable)
technology available so that signals from such beacons could be
received in the pilothouse or cockpit? It might make be an additional
tool that could make it a lot easier to recover a MOB in dark or stormy
conditions. If a MOB has to wait very long for government rescue in
cold water, it's sad fact that a personal beacon would simply make it
easier to find the body.

SAR info for boaters and pilots
 

The first affordable technology is a receiver on 121.5Mhz, cause the PLB
transmits on both alert frequencies : 406 Mhz with digital signal with
informations on the bearer, and 121.5 Mhz for homming.

So a receiver and/or a direction finder (gonio) kit which includes the
receiver and a directional antenna for better pointing.

If the MOB has a Flashing stobe light is facilitating the spotting.

Regards,

Rémy

Le Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:26:48 +0100, Chuck Gould
a écrit:


Remy wrote:
I am curious :

- how an ELT could be used on a boat ? (ELT for planes and EPIRB for
boats)

- The use of 121.5 Mhz is still legal for general aviation, however it
won't be monitored after february 2007.

406 digital signal are hundred's time more efficient than 121.5Mhz, in
terms of identification, and localization.

A good alternative to ELT & EPIRB could be Personal Locator Beacons
linked
to the person, not the ship/boat.

Cheers,

Rémy


Personal Locator Beacons would be a good idea. Is there (affordable)
technology available so that signals from such beacons could be
received in the pilothouse or cockpit? It might make be an additional
tool that could make it a lot easier to recover a MOB in dark or stormy
conditions. If a MOB has to wait very long for government rescue in
cold water, it's sad fact that a personal beacon would simply make it
easier to find the body.