EPIRB

[AndCur]

Hi Folks

Its time to replace the battery in my Tron 1E MkII EPIRB 121.5 MHz but something sticks in my head that 121.5 MHz was not being used from 2008. Can anyone confirm if this is the case.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Sans Bateau]

Its Jan 2009 the service stops, but to change a battery in a Tron will be a similar price to a new one.

 

[rusailing]

Just ordered a new McMurdo E5 from marinestore.co.uk to replace a 121.5

They were the cheapest, delivered at £314.49 including a 'free' grab bag worth £30. That's with 15% off while the boat show goes on....

 

[Billjratt]

Confused old person: I thought the 121 frequency was used by the aircraft once it got close to you having been sent to a position derived by the satellite on 400. Are we saying they don't "home" any more? ( I believe the aircraft beacon receivers use this freq in everyday flight)

 

[rusailing]

The International Cospas-Sarsat Program is to phaseout 121.5 MHz satellite alerting on February 1st, 2009. Thus, if you have a 121.5 MHz EPIRB it will no longer work with the Cospas-Sarsat Satellites after that date and you will need to make the switch to a 406 MHz EPIRB!

It is true to say though that a 406 MHz unit will still transmit a homing signal at 121.5 MHz for 'local homing' it's just that this will not be picked up by any sat's.

 

[ParaHandy]

many thanks for that ... you get the discount without having to go to the boat show

 

[AndCur]

Folks

I many do coastal sailing and a few trips away each year were, I will not be anymore than 25/30 miles from shore am. I right in thinking that once the emergency services had been alerted that you are in distress that even after 2009 they will still use the 121.5 signal to locate you. The new battery will be £58.75 do you think this would be worth spending or would money be better used going towards a DSC radio?

What do you think?

Andrew

 

[rusailing]

121.5 MHz will still be used as a homing signal. If you're distress isn't picked up in the first case (because all the sat's have been switched off on 1st feb 2009 and a land base hasn't picked you up and you haven't/can't radio), then you're in trouble.

My impartial advice to what you have just asked is to go for a DSC radio asap, especially given your 'local' passages - it will transmit your position if connected to a GPS reciever and therefore the need for a homing device will be diluted somewhat. It doesn't remove the need for an Epirb or a SART as what happens if your radio is not functioning through a dis-masting etc. The SAR team will work out for drift etc. given your GPS position and a time of alert.

All about money and priorities i'm afraid. DSC first for me though and an emergency VHF arial perhaps.