GME MT400 EPRIB

[LadyInBed]

Does anyone know any more about the GME MT400 EPRIB than what it says or <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.lifetec360.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product&content_id=855> here

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[Talbot]

More data on it <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gme.net.au/epirb/mt400_specifications.php>here</A> Good price for a 48hr EPIRB - be interesting what price the GPS variant sells for

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[Ships_Cat]

Hi Nigel

I cannot comment on the specific beacon but you should be made aware that the harmonised NZ/Australian standard for 406 MHz EPIRBs has been changed last year to encourage the manufacture of cheaper 406 MHz EPIRBs. I think this was done as both countries regard EPIRB's as the primary alerting device for recreational boats and at the federal government level will not proceed with VHF DSC.

As far as I know the only matter is the deletion of the requirement for automatic activation when the EPIRB is placed in the water and making the strobe optional but you may be able to find out more at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/Buying_and_registering/Revised_Standard_for_406_Beacons.asp>http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/Buying_and_registering/Revised_Standard_for_406_Beacons.asp</A>. Note that there is also a menu option on the right hand side of the page which leads to further information on low cost beacons and where they stand with COSPAS/SARSAT.

I could not comment where the beacon you mention fits in to all that except that it is an Australian manufactured one and cheap (they are advertising them here in NZ with a big rebate over the low price as well, I believe) but should be easily determined from your local supplier. As I deal mainly with commercial and high end vessels I always go with the auto-activation in water and strobe myself.

{Edit: I see from Mark's link that it appears to have a strobe but has to be manually activated ie does not turn on automatically if placed in the water}

Hope that is of some help.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Ships_Cat on 14/11/2004 20:53 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[LadyInBed]

Useful link, thanks John, I am now starting to see where this ‘new breed’ are coming from.
If the change in spec can half the cost and encourage more boat users to carry them then the balance has got to be to the good.
It will be interesting to see how it affects the UK market. I think I can live with a manually activated device. Also interesting about the strobe, I carry a couple of strobes onboard that anyone on watch after dark carries on them, it seems like a good idea.


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[ParaHandy]

interesting that the thing must be coded with a country (of registration) identifier ... why is that? it surely doesn't imply that a Aus registered epirb won't be recognised elsewhere in the world?

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[Talbot]

people on watch at night carrying strobes - great idea. My strobe also has a torch so multi use capable.

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[Ships_Cat]

They are programmed with the country code for the country the EPIRB is registered in, not the country it is manufactured in. The coding is normally performed by the supplier of the EPIRB not the manufacturer as it cannot be programmed until the owner or the vessel it is going to is known. The country the EPIRB is registered in is responsible for maintaining the EPIRB register for its registered beacons.

The country code in the coding is the same MID that forms the country identifier in an MMSI (the first 3 digits of the MMSI is the country identifier or MID - so NZ is 512, UK 232, 233, etc, Australia 503). Among the rest of the code is embedded either a serial number which identifies the owner on the register of that EPIRB (in which case the EPIRB is usually said to be serialised) or the else vessel's MMSI (but just the 6 digits following the MID, not the full 9 digits) depending on the system used by the nation the EPIRB is registered in - normally the MMSI is used for commercial vessels under most flags. The coding can therefore only take place once the vessel or owner to which it is to go is known and the country it will be registered in.

We may get EPIRB's programmed in the country a boat is built in for delivery to owners in another - we either get the MMSI from the flag the vessel will sail under or from the other relevant authority in the vessel's home country and the EPIRB is programmed before the boat is delivered with the EPIRB already on board.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.