AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
I think that the problem is that there isn't a definitive answer. The only system-imposed constraint is the maximum of 15 minutes before a satellite overpass; a GPS enabled EPIRB or PLB gives enough information in a single pass for rescue services to be deployed, and the system passes information to the coordinating centre as soon as there's an alert with enough positioning information. The 2 hours to deployment figure plainly refers to a non-GPS enabled device, where 3 or 4 satellite passes are required to obtain a position. The imponderable is how much additional information is required to eliminate the possibility of a false alarm. Clearly, that is up to procedures within the national response body (Falmouth in our case, I think). But reading up on it has made me very aware that when registering a device it is quite important to ensure that the shore contact is a) reachable and b) knows what I'm doing!
