EPIRB wanted

**Simon TW** · 25th January 2008, 14:22

I know know nothing about these. I don't even know if I spelt it right.

I need one quick though, I don't know if they are zoned but it's for the South Atlantic, Falkland Islands to be specific.

Any help and info gratefully received.

**Dave Sutton** · 25th January 2008, 14:42

Purchase in person or by mail at any specialty sailing or boating store.

For a boat: it's an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). These are typically with a strobe and are mounted on a bulkhead in a bracket.

For a smaller one to be carried by an individual, it's a PLB (Personal Lifesaving Beacon). Generally lower powered and often with a 121.5 MHZ beacon as well as the 406 MHZ satellite frequency beacon so that on-ship direction finding devices can affect a local rescue search. Many offshore yachts and workboats carry a hand-held 121.5 locator radio with a directional antena for man-overboard work. PLB's are essential kit for the offshore world, and everyone on an offshore boat ought to have one *on their person* whenever above deck. Mine is in the pocket of my float-coat... along with a whistle and a knife sewn to the front of the coat where it can be grabbed without fumbling.

They are not zoned, but are worldwide capable.

Get one with GPS included... if you need it, you NEED it.

They are registered to individual owners by electronic serial number, so that the Rescue Coordination Centres can use a telephone to contact your point of contact given to ascertain your mission, and any other pertinent information. Talk to the specialty shop where you purchase about registration. In the USA, it's done online thru NOAA. Registration is OWNER location specific, not WATERS SEEN specific. The scheme for registration allows online updates of the owners information. I go online before each trip and update the 'notes' area with the plan for the next week. In event of mishap, the RCC can access the database, see immediately what we planned, where we planned to go, and see updated phone contact data for our point of contacts. Think of it like a flight plan... update as often as desired. I pre-can typical 'float plans' for upload. Here's one from my file:

"Planned departure Point Judith 1600 Hours local June xx, transit at 8 knots to Lat/Long xx.xxx.xxx, xx.xxx.xx, with a direct route and transit time of 11 hours. Commence anchored diving operations at that location until 11:00 hours local on Jun xx, followed by direct transit to Point Judith Harbor of Refuge at 8 knots with an expected ETA of 21:00 hours local on June xx. Total souls on board 9. Contact (USA) landline xxx.xxx.xxxx for updated information. Vessel monitors 2182 MHZ SSB/HF for 15 minutes at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours local. as well as VHF 16 at all times. Vessel stands by to receive IRIDIUM satellite phone calls during HF radio watch periods at USA xxx.xxx.xxxx".

The Falklands are a wonderful place. If you get further south to the Sub Antarctic islands like South Georgia and Deception, it's a magic wonderland.

Dave

.

**Freef** · 25th January 2008, 16:46

I was told last summer that the frequency is no longer regularly monitored, don't know if that's true though.

Mine is from Underwater Reclaimation.

**Dave Sutton** · 25th January 2008, 16:54

Quote: (Originally Posted by Freef)

I was told last summer that the frequency is no longer regularly monitored, don't know if that's true though.

Mine is from Underwater Reclaimation.

Incomplete information:

121.5 and 243.0, the old VHF frequencies are slated to be discontinued for SARSAT use, but remain in effect for local direction finding. These are just "beepers" and transmit no other data. They are, generally, obsolete and are not to be relied upon. The only real use of 121.5 and 243.0 is in conjunction with a 406 Mhz epirb for local direction finding. They also happen to be the worldwide aviation distress frequencies for civil (121.5) and military (243.0) use. Note that 243.0 is 121.5 x 2, so that a single crystal can run both frequencies (one is a harmonic of the other). This is all 'old crap' as far as EPIRB's are concerned, and the comment above applies to them only.

The new 406 Mhz beacons are designed to replace the earlier ones, and are purely SARSAT oriented. A non-GPS equipped 406 beacon can be triangulated with good accuracy (IE: One nautical mile or so) after two satellite passes, and also broadcasts the unique ESN associated with it so that the user may be oidentified in the database. The GPS equipped ones broadcast the position of the beacon as well as the ESN and first-pass location can be done down to the 10 meter level by the satellite system. This is what you want. PLB's with GPS are well under US$1000.

Read this:

Development of a new generation of beacons transmitting at 406 MHz commenced at the beginning of the Cospas-Sarsat project. The 406 MHz units were designed specifically for satellite detection and Doppler location, and provide the following:

improved location accuracy and ambiguity resolution;
increased system capacity (i.e. capability to process a greater number of beacons transmitting simultaneously in field of view of satellite);
global coverage; and
unique identification of each beacon.

System performance is greatly enhanced both by the improved frequency stability of the 406 MHz units and by operation at a dedicated frequency.
These beacons transmit a 5 Watt RF burst of approximately 0.5 seconds duration every 50 seconds. The carrier frequency is very stable and is phase-modulated with a digital message. Frequency stability ensures accurate location, while the high peak power increases the probability of detection. The low duty cycle provides a multiple-access capability for a large number of beacons simultaneously operating in view of a polar orbiting satellite, and low mean power consumption.

An important feature of 406 MHz emergency beacons is the digitally encoded message, which can provide information such as the country of beacon registration and the identification of the vessel or aircraft in distress, and optionally, position data from onboard navigation equipment.

An auxiliary transmitter (homing transmitter) is usually included in the 406 MHz beacon to enable suitably-equipped SAR forces to home on the distress beacon.

The above cited homing transmitter is the 121.5 and 243.0 "piggyback" transmitter on better EPIRBS, used because search aircraft already have the receivers installed and can localize a survivor from their onboard system. Ditto Coast Guards and other surface SAR platforms, as well as many offshore yachts. Bottom line: The current system is FAR better than before, but the old hardware is obsolete. Time to spend a few $ and replace it.

Dave

.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 25th January 2008, 17:17

I carry the McMurdo FastFind Plus in a McMurdo waterproof canister. It fits right behind my canister light on my waist band. I always take it with me for ocean diving.

**Simon TW** · 25th January 2008, 17:44

Dave can you recommend any manufacturer.

I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth.

mverick · 25th January 2008, 18:00

Quote: (Originally Posted by Simon TW)

Dave can you recommend any manufacturer.

I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth.

The one posted right above that Scubadadmiami said.

Trukdiver · 25th January 2008, 18:12

After researching this extensively and comparing the McMurdo FastFind and the ACR ResQFix, I bought the ReqQFix and store it in the McMurdo canister that's meant for the FastFind. The McMurdo canister seemed to be the only readily available game in town for depths beyond 30-40ft. Prices on the canister vary greatly $180US - $280US, so be sure to shop around. The product is below.

Home > Safety Equipment > Man Overboard > PLB > ACR ResQFix PLB 406 EPIRB

ACR ResQFix 406 GPS
Personal Locator Beacon
Category 1 PLB

ACR Product No.: 2897
Model No.: PLB-300
aka: Resque / Rescue Fix / Resfix

Accidents happen every day on the water, whether your boat goes down, crew lost, man overboard, or a storm has left your boat incapacitated. On the water, a minor problem instantly can become a life threatening situation if you’re not prepared.

Put the power in the palm of your hand with ACR ResQFix 406 Personal Locator Beacon. Now you can turn that life threatening situation into a successful rescue story.
ACR ResQFix PLB 406 EPIRB (.pdf)

Warning:

If you want to buy and ACR and use the McMurdo canister, then do not buy the product listed below. Although it "looks" like it will fit in the canister based on the dimensions, it simply will not go in without damaging the PLB.

ACR AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB
PLB-200 ACR Part# 2797.4NH (2797.4)
The AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB features an internal GPS, ACR’s exclusive FastACQ GPS technology and an external GPS optical interface, the AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB gives the user unparalled versatility. This PLB can include GPS coordinates in the emergency satellite transmission via a handheld GPS, using the optical interface OR using the onboard, internal GPS built right into the PLB. ACR’s FastACQ technology relays accurate GPS information to the satellites faster than all other internal GPS PLBs.

matt crane · 25th January 2008, 18:16

Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami)

I carry the McMurdo FastFind Plus in a McMurdo waterproof canister. It fits right behind my canister light on my waist band. I always take it with me for ocean diving.

Yeah this is the one I am looking at buying quite a few people in the same club as me have them and two of them have had to use them for real and said they were found very very quickly.

**Dave Sutton** · 25th January 2008, 20:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by Simon TW)

Dave can you recommend any manufacturer.

I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth.

McMurdo Pains-Wessex. You need to buy the pressureproof can for it. None are designed for diving depths. I have half a mind to require them for offshore dives on EXPLORER. Might do so next year. In order for this to be truly 'self sufficient', it will also need me to spring for another $4K to install:

McMurdo/Pains Wessex Direction Finder at Wholesale Prices

This is the system that receives the 121.5 low power beacon from the EPIRB for local direction finding. And people wonder why it costs money to safely dive offshore...

Dave

25th January 2008, 14:22	#1 (permalink)
Simon TW Martini Diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hurghada (Egypt) and Lancaster (England) Posts: 152	EPIRB wanted I know know nothing about these. I don't even know if I spelt it right. I need one quick though, I don't know if they are zoned but it's for the South Atlantic, Falkland Islands to be specific. Any help and info gratefully received. __________________ http://www.sirenian.org Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 14:42	#2 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Diveshop of Horrors Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,440	Re: EPIRB wanted Purchase in person or by mail at any specialty sailing or boating store. For a boat: it's an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). These are typically with a strobe and are mounted on a bulkhead in a bracket. For a smaller one to be carried by an individual, it's a PLB (Personal Lifesaving Beacon). Generally lower powered and often with a 121.5 MHZ beacon as well as the 406 MHZ satellite frequency beacon so that on-ship direction finding devices can affect a local rescue search. Many offshore yachts and workboats carry a hand-held 121.5 locator radio with a directional antena for man-overboard work. PLB's are essential kit for the offshore world, and everyone on an offshore boat ought to have one on their person whenever above deck. Mine is in the pocket of my float-coat... along with a whistle and a knife sewn to the front of the coat where it can be grabbed without fumbling. They are not zoned, but are worldwide capable. Get one with GPS included... if you need it, you NEED it. They are registered to individual owners by electronic serial number, so that the Rescue Coordination Centres can use a telephone to contact your point of contact given to ascertain your mission, and any other pertinent information. Talk to the specialty shop where you purchase about registration. In the USA, it's done online thru NOAA. Registration is OWNER location specific, not WATERS SEEN specific. The scheme for registration allows online updates of the owners information. I go online before each trip and update the 'notes' area with the plan for the next week. In event of mishap, the RCC can access the database, see immediately what we planned, where we planned to go, and see updated phone contact data for our point of contacts. Think of it like a flight plan... update as often as desired. I pre-can typical 'float plans' for upload. Here's one from my file: "Planned departure Point Judith 1600 Hours local June xx, transit at 8 knots to Lat/Long xx.xxx.xxx, xx.xxx.xx, with a direct route and transit time of 11 hours. Commence anchored diving operations at that location until 11:00 hours local on Jun xx, followed by direct transit to Point Judith Harbor of Refuge at 8 knots with an expected ETA of 21:00 hours local on June xx. Total souls on board 9. Contact (USA) landline xxx.xxx.xxxx for updated information. Vessel monitors 2182 MHZ SSB/HF for 15 minutes at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours local. as well as VHF 16 at all times. Vessel stands by to receive IRIDIUM satellite phone calls during HF radio watch periods at USA xxx.xxx.xxxx". The Falklands are a wonderful place. If you get further south to the Sub Antarctic islands like South Georgia and Deception, it's a magic wonderland. Dave . __________________ . "The ideal is in thyself, the impediment too is in thyself" Professional Small Boy: Never Successfully Cubicled. Last edited by Dave Sutton : 25th January 2008 at 14:56.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 16:46	#3 (permalink)
Freef Custom Title Disallowed! Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Land of the Freef, UK. Posts: 1,356	Re: EPIRB wanted I was told last summer that the frequency is no longer regularly monitored, don't know if that's true though. Mine is from Underwater Reclaimation. __________________ David. Currently owner of two differently sized ankles.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 16:54	#4 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Diveshop of Horrors Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,440	Re: EPIRB wanted Quote: (Originally Posted by Freef) I was told last summer that the frequency is no longer regularly monitored, don't know if that's true though. Mine is from Underwater Reclaimation. Incomplete information: 121.5 and 243.0, the old VHF frequencies are slated to be discontinued for SARSAT use, but remain in effect for local direction finding. These are just "beepers" and transmit no other data. They are, generally, obsolete and are not to be relied upon. The only real use of 121.5 and 243.0 is in conjunction with a 406 Mhz epirb for local direction finding. They also happen to be the worldwide aviation distress frequencies for civil (121.5) and military (243.0) use. Note that 243.0 is 121.5 x 2, so that a single crystal can run both frequencies (one is a harmonic of the other). This is all 'old crap' as far as EPIRB's are concerned, and the comment above applies to them only. The new 406 Mhz beacons are designed to replace the earlier ones, and are purely SARSAT oriented. A non-GPS equipped 406 beacon can be triangulated with good accuracy (IE: One nautical mile or so) after two satellite passes, and also broadcasts the unique ESN associated with it so that the user may be oidentified in the database. The GPS equipped ones broadcast the position of the beacon as well as the ESN and first-pass location can be done down to the 10 meter level by the satellite system. This is what you want. PLB's with GPS are well under US$1000. Read this: Development of a new generation of beacons transmitting at 406 MHz commenced at the beginning of the Cospas-Sarsat project. The 406 MHz units were designed specifically for satellite detection and Doppler location, and provide the following: improved location accuracy and ambiguity resolution; increased system capacity (i.e. capability to process a greater number of beacons transmitting simultaneously in field of view of satellite); global coverage; and unique identification of each beacon. System performance is greatly enhanced both by the improved frequency stability of the 406 MHz units and by operation at a dedicated frequency. These beacons transmit a 5 Watt RF burst of approximately 0.5 seconds duration every 50 seconds. The carrier frequency is very stable and is phase-modulated with a digital message. Frequency stability ensures accurate location, while the high peak power increases the probability of detection. The low duty cycle provides a multiple-access capability for a large number of beacons simultaneously operating in view of a polar orbiting satellite, and low mean power consumption. An important feature of 406 MHz emergency beacons is the digitally encoded message, which can provide information such as the country of beacon registration and the identification of the vessel or aircraft in distress, and optionally, position data from onboard navigation equipment. An auxiliary transmitter (homing transmitter) is usually included in the 406 MHz beacon to enable suitably-equipped SAR forces to home on the distress beacon. The above cited homing transmitter is the 121.5 and 243.0 "piggyback" transmitter on better EPIRBS, used because search aircraft already have the receivers installed and can localize a survivor from their onboard system. Ditto Coast Guards and other surface SAR platforms, as well as many offshore yachts. Bottom line: The current system is FAR better than before, but the old hardware is obsolete. Time to spend a few $ and replace it. Dave . __________________ . "The ideal is in thyself, the impediment too is in thyself" Professional Small Boy: Never Successfully Cubicled. Last edited by Dave Sutton : 25th January 2008 at 17:01.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 17:17	#5 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,887	Re: EPIRB wanted I carry the McMurdo FastFind Plus in a McMurdo waterproof canister. It fits right behind my canister light on my waist band. I always take it with me for ocean diving. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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25th January 2008, 17:44	#6 (permalink)
Simon TW Martini Diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hurghada (Egypt) and Lancaster (England) Posts: 152	Re: EPIRB wanted Dave can you recommend any manufacturer. I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth. __________________ http://www.sirenian.org Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 18:00	#7 (permalink)
mverick ScubaPimp Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 492	Re: EPIRB wanted Quote: (Originally Posted by Simon TW) Dave can you recommend any manufacturer. I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth. The one posted right above that Scubadadmiami said.
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 18:12	#8 (permalink)
Trukdiver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 37	Re: EPIRB wanted After researching this extensively and comparing the McMurdo FastFind and the ACR ResQFix, I bought the ReqQFix and store it in the McMurdo canister that's meant for the FastFind. The McMurdo canister seemed to be the only readily available game in town for depths beyond 30-40ft. Prices on the canister vary greatly $180US - $280US, so be sure to shop around. The product is below. Home > Safety Equipment > Man Overboard > PLB > ACR ResQFix PLB 406 EPIRB ACR ResQFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon Category 1 PLB ACR Product No.: 2897 Model No.: PLB-300 aka: Resque / Rescue Fix / Resfix Accidents happen every day on the water, whether your boat goes down, crew lost, man overboard, or a storm has left your boat incapacitated. On the water, a minor problem instantly can become a life threatening situation if you’re not prepared. Put the power in the palm of your hand with ACR ResQFix 406 Personal Locator Beacon. Now you can turn that life threatening situation into a successful rescue story. ACR ResQFix PLB 406 EPIRB (.pdf) Warning: If you want to buy and ACR and use the McMurdo canister, then do not buy the product listed below. Although it "looks" like it will fit in the canister based on the dimensions, it simply will not go in without damaging the PLB. ACR AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB PLB-200 ACR Part# 2797.4NH (2797.4) The AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB features an internal GPS, ACR’s exclusive FastACQ GPS technology and an external GPS optical interface, the AquaFix Digital 406 GPS I/O PLB gives the user unparalled versatility. This PLB can include GPS coordinates in the emergency satellite transmission via a handheld GPS, using the optical interface OR using the onboard, internal GPS built right into the PLB. ACR’s FastACQ technology relays accurate GPS information to the satellites faster than all other internal GPS PLBs. __________________ Trukdiver CK#245
(Offline)

25th January 2008, 18:16	#9 (permalink)
matt crane New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 56	Re: EPIRB wanted Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami) I carry the McMurdo FastFind Plus in a McMurdo waterproof canister. It fits right behind my canister light on my waist band. I always take it with me for ocean diving. Yeah this is the one I am looking at buying quite a few people in the same club as me have them and two of them have had to use them for real and said they were found very very quickly.
(Online)

25th January 2008, 20:34	#10 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Diveshop of Horrors Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,440	Re: EPIRB wanted Quote: (Originally Posted by Simon TW) Dave can you recommend any manufacturer. I've found one but it's only good for a metre depth. McMurdo Pains-Wessex. You need to buy the pressureproof can for it. None are designed for diving depths. I have half a mind to require them for offshore dives on EXPLORER. Might do so next year. In order for this to be truly 'self sufficient', it will also need me to spring for another $4K to install: McMurdo/Pains Wessex Direction Finder at Wholesale Prices This is the system that receives the 121.5 low power beacon from the EPIRB for local direction finding. And people wonder why it costs money to safely dive offshore... Dave __________________ . "The ideal is in thyself, the impediment too is in thyself" Professional Small Boy: Never Successfully Cubicled. Last edited by Dave Sutton : 25th January 2008 at 20:42.
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