Air band transceiver

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Just been talking to a man down the pub . . . .

The plan is to carry an airband transceiver on a transoceanic voyage so you can talk to aircraft on the aviation emergency frequency in the event of a Mayday situation.

ICOMs are available for under £200 . . .

and yes, I do actually have a license to operate one. But frankly if my life was about to be saved I wouldn't really be worrying too much.

Flaws on a postcard please . . .

- Nick
 
License or not in an emergency situation why not. All transatlantic overflight aircraft tend to listen on 121.50mhz the aviation distress freq. Most use 123.45mhz as a general chat freq whilst enrute across the ocean ( i.e. clues to crossword puzzles etc etc ) as all Air Traffic comms with the ground on HF radio.

I spent a good few years working in the oceanic control centre "Shanwick" at Prestick.......I can remember a few instances when yachts in difficullty have operated their EPIRB on 121.5 and the signal picked up from a 747 35000ft above.

Paul.
 
Interesting idea, but I'd question what the range of the transceiver is, and how far from established airline routes you expect to sail. If doing a trade winds crossing of the Atlantic, I'd doubt that there were aircraft within range many times a day, and the most you'd be able to do is transmit your GPS position and circumstances to the aircraft.

The ability to have a two way conversation is quite comforting, but I don't think an air band transceiver would replace any of the more established marine communication equipment (certainly not an EPIRB). Personally, I think the £200 would be better spent getting a better quality water-proof handhelf VHF, upgrading a standard EPIRB to a GPS-EPIRB or contributing towards an SSB (or even buying a satelite phone so you can simply call Falmouth Coastguard). In an emergency, these will enable you to transmit for much longer using established marine protocols (and potentially talk to the vessel that is coming to your rescue).
 
The range of a handheld airband transceiver is the same as a hand-held marine VHF except that . . . aircraft remain above your horizon for a very long time, so the range is as good as conditions permit - potentially a long way.

We already have a good quality waterproof handheld vhf - but it can only communicate with ships over the horizon, so has a much more limited range. GPS EPIRB seems like an expensive luxury compared to a standard 406 EPIRB - a five mile radius in mid-atlantic is close enough, particularly if they only come looking for you once the EPIRB has stopped transmitting.

Satphones are stil ridiculously expensive, both to purchase and in terms of airtime. Recent posts on here from ARC participants indicate that mid-ocean communication is patchy at best, with the signal being dropped on a regular basis.

SSB is insanely expensive if you are on a low budget. It requires a difficult to fit ground plate, an expensive set and expensive training and licensing.

So maybe not such a waste of £200 . . . air to ground range of a handheld airband VHF can be fifty miles or more from personal experience, and of course you can use it in scanning mode to pick up chatter from passing aircraft.

- Nick
 
Nick,

I agree with you - I carry one which is an RAF surplus unit. It will either transmit a beacon on 121.5 MHz or give you communications. I bought mine a few years ago for £10 via a dealer advertising in a amateur radio magazine. Incidentally, one is legally permitted to transmit on any frequency in an emergency.
 
In 1969 a Frenchman called Waquet entered the OSTAR. He hadn't bothered to lear to navigate and had made an arrangement with Air France that their passing aircraft would give him his position. Just before the start the airline shut down because of a strike causing probably the most humiliating retirement ever.

Just a thought!

However, the recent problems of Richard Woods who got help by phoning home on the sat phone do highlight the shortcomings of the current GMDSS setup. If you don't have SSB with DSC and don't want to set off a full scale resue effort with your EPIRB you're pretty well stuffed. It's absolutely no use shouting for help on 2182 KHz and if there's no-one within VHF range, no one will hear you.
 
FYI 2182 khz (without DSC) does work, at least through Falmouth. I called for a radio check from about 100 NM south west of Falmouth last summer and they were staight back to me.
 
I can't tell you the type that I've got because it is on the boat in Greece. Well, I've actually got 2 of them - couldn't resist a bargain!
They are painted yellow and in 3 parts - the microphone, the transmitter unit and the battery. Its 12 volt so I've made up a power pack with 2000 mAh rechargeables.
They can be switched on in receive mode so you can test that half the circuit works!
I guess that they were made in 3 parts to fit into pockets on a flying suit.
 
Yes, I agree, Falmouth were certainly on the ball about nearly three years ago when we did the same. I suspect there are more people listening than is commonly thought.
 
Ah I didn't realise you had a h/h. I asked about power as a/c power supplies are pretty evil, 115v 400hz and 28v DC being two of them. Most a/c equipment is 3 phase which would require you to have a pretty hefty genny on board.

I have never seen a h/h set and I used to repair RAF comms. I am guessing it is probably quite heavy?
 
Actually, some years ago those airband handheld transceivers were made mandatory by german authorities for Tall Ships. When every ship had bought them (and none ever used it, as far as I know), this requirement was abolished by the authorities without an explanation....
 
"Just been talkin to a man down the pub"

Thats quite an achievement for you Webby - was it just as you were arriving because the power of speech is not one I've ever seen you with "down the pub"
 
Postcard to Nick

If its a Mayday situation, maybe you would want a guaranteed response - EPIRB 406

If it’s a chat you want, maybe that's not legal on air-band frequencies when you're sitting on the water - HF (for long range), VHF (short range) [licensing not a major problem for HF]

Personal chat at long distance has to be sat-phone (not toooo expensive) - also has the added benefit of being able to contact that 'nice wee lassie' in Clyde Coast-Guard for your Mayday chats

Another option would be to sail in short range company with a vessel with any of the above mentioned long-range capabilities

If you want to chat about it some more just tell me what pub and when..
 
ShipsWoofy,

The h/h - or PLB, is a small unit we used to wear in our LCJs (load carrying jerkin). Specially made pocket for it bottom left, with the antenna routed into the top of the lifejacket. Only problem was it wouldn't work without inflating the jacket!

I have since seen various versions - our SF cousins had them made up in green for E&E to call in a rescue. Definitely maintained by the RAF - usually saftey equipment section.

Hope that's of use!!

J
 
Re: Air band transceiver - got one

First ever real bargain for us on Ebay - £31 plus postage for a TronAir - check out the NEW PRICE

(And it's got a spare battery. Unfortunately both are out of date, but still sealed so probably good. What is the REAL shelf life of lithium high power batteries? The manufacturer gives a 4 year shelf life, but what happens after that?)

- Nick
 
Re: Air band transceiver - got one

What is the REAL shelf life of lithium high power batteries

Assuming you are not talking about Li-Ion, I don't know. But I have low capacity one doing a memory backup which is around 16 years old and another doing the same which is 10 years old. I would assume that the higher capacity ones are capable of the same.

John
 
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