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rpaxevanos
Joined: 01 Sep 2001
Posts: 129
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 Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:43 pm Post subject: FISH’N’TIP 0645 Safety Message |
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If you, a friend, or loved one plans to head out fishing, an emergency beacon is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you need to consider taking.
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Rob Paxevanos
http://www.fishingaustralia.tv |
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Kerry
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Posts: 1872
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Definately the phasing out of 121.5's and full introduction of 406's was well and truely overdue by about 10 years.
Here was a chance to get things right from day 1 but this did not happen as every 406 Epirb ever sold should have been registered at point of sale. This would have helped considerably with false alerts which still continue to this day but at least at a much lesser rate.
Not registering a 406 should come with a mandatory jail term  which should solve that issue 
Unfortuneately 121.5's can still be detected by aircraft as this freq also just happens to be the same homing signal used in the 406's. The sooner 406 technology can be tracked directly the better without the need for outdated technology.
The other thing that never ceases to amaze some of us with regard all the marketing blurb is .... and in this case the 50 channel GPS receiver slapped all over the case  .... well there are only 32 GPS satellites and 2 of these are reserved for "other" things so that makes 30 at most on any given day at present.
Sure this might be claimed as future proofing but these models will be well and truely superseded by the time some of the other GPS civil signals get to fly. Anyway one has always gota luv marketing hype
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Ali-G
Joined: 24 Jul 2011
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: |
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| Kerry wrote: |
Unfortuneately 121.5's can still be detected by aircraft as this freq also just happens to be the same homing signal used in the 406's. The sooner 406 technology can be tracked directly the better without the need for outdated technology. |
I don't think the occupants of about 4 or 5 boats that I have detected whilst hooning around the skies would think that it is unfortunate that we can still pick up the signal.
Those boats had, at the time I detected the signal, not been known as in distress. My discovery of the beacon was the first known receipt.
ALL aircraft equipped with a (airband) radio can pick up 121.5, which is why it is still used. Line of sight means that an aircraft at 30,000ft can pick up a signal over a VERY wide area, quite often before a satellite passes. 121.5 is the frequency monitored by a lot of aircraft when they don't need to be on another frequency.
As for tracking, (some, it SHOULD be all) 406 ones now have the ability to broadcast their gps lat/long position back to the satellite which the RCC can then pass on to those searching.
Basically, don't be a tightarse and get the cheap EPIRBs without GPS. The added accuracy makes searching so much easier and can mean the difference between life and death. |
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Kerry
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Posts: 1872
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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But yes it is definately unfortunate that people are still using 121.5's, unfortunate that they don't know they are no longer detected by satellite apart from the fact that 121.5 is still being used for tracking. Lets face it since Feb 1, 2010 121.5's are no longer licenced to use and if people are still using them then someone needs to read them the riot act.
One needs to draw the line here between what is used as a homing signal and primary detection signal. Today these should not be confused.
Yes one of the main reasons why 121.5 was originally adopted was because of what the signal was mainly used for, this might have been good back then however in hindsight it is one reason for the move to 406 digital and all.
406's can be "tracked" directly (without 121.5) but the equipment is still not readily available but given time it will.
Also keep in mind that Cospas/Sarsat look at GNSS capability as something extra and something that is not directly under the control of Coapas/Sarsat hence third party positioning is not totally relied upon over and above Leosar positioning.
Maybe once some of the additional safety-of-life systems get into orbit will things be taken on merit?
_________________
** Tomorrow is another day .... oh joy .... what great responses will that bring **
----------------------------------------------------
Today's Forecast: Fine this morning extending well into the afternoon with flakey clouds arriving by early evening but quickly dissipating.
----------------------------------------------------
Hey check the mail fleegle
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Ali-G
Joined: 24 Jul 2011
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, I interpreted what you said as "121.5 as a frequency for distress is no good" ---- not what it appears you meant: "unfortunately people haven't got rid of their 121.5 only beacons and moved to 406s"...... |
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