Boathook
Well-known member
My ocean signal replacement battery and test cost under £100 late last year. A new unit was £230.
Battery replaced by sartech.com .
Battery replaced by sartech.com .
Mcmurdo battery
- Thread starter PabloPicasso
- Start date
Martin_J
Well-known member
The testing that is done when returned for battery replacement and test is in a different league to what the end user can do with a simple 'self test'.
Their test equipment will measure frequency of the transmitted signal, and that the transmitted ID is correct and readable (as below)..
A self test will not discover those faults.
Whilst talking about testing... how many do actually self test... and how many test that their AIS/DSC devices transmit correctly.. That's for another thread.
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salar
Active member
I had mine replaced, tested and shipped back with a two day turnaround by EPIRBs & PLBs I can't understand why people spend tens of thousands on a boat, then quibble able a couple of hundred every few years that could potentially save their lives.
jamie N
Well-known member
Is it being suggested here that when a device self tests, and it passes, that actually it's quite possible that it isn't functioning within spec?
Sandy
Well-known member
I bought a PLB3 from OceanSignal this year, cost a lot of beer tokens, but the technology has moved on.
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rogerthebodger
Well-known member
Yes
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
For me its not the cost it the excessive cost that i query
The is a fear factor used to justify excessive pricing and the monopoly by the th manufacturers to increase income.
Technology has moved on quite a lot mainly in battery tech. W now have rechargeable batteries that could be included in the EPIRB and cradle to maintain the capacity of the EPIRB.
The battries in HH VHF, SSB radios mobile phones and AIS are all now are a safety device that can call for help and alo have some response unlike EPIRB's comms which is now old tech and have better safety call foe help radios
Refueler
Well-known member
Spot welders designed to create battery packs are widely available now for 20 quid and up .....
B27
Well-known member
It's actually quie hard to find a rechargeable battery with a useful 10 year warranty.
THen you'd need power to your epirb holder. Including when the boat was laid up.
I do agree that EPIRB technology is not ideal for the normal leisure sailor, but OTOH, a local fisherman used a PLB to get rescued a year or so back.
Ironically, if he'd been a bit further out, he could have just phoned the coastguard.
Our coast is full of phone, VHF, AIS etc black spots where only satellite tech is going to help you.
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
EPIRB batteries have a defined shelf life which is not always the same as warranty as the self life depends on storage conditions read the specification
A simple solar panel will replace the self discharge of a rechargeable battery as the EPIRB battery in not being discharges while the EPIRB in in the cradle
I have a HH VHF radio that has a a Li ion and sits in a cradle on top up charge and ready for use.
It can be arranged for a permanent connection to an EPIRB when a boat i not in use of laid up imine has solar panels keeping my donestin and my engine start batteries fully changed.
I am a sailor who finds solutions to problems not some one who finds reasons a solution will not work
I am suppressed the UK does not have full coverage around the coast we in the country I live do and along all major roads around the coast.
I know as I have sailed around most of the coast using my mobile to allow my wife to track me
B27
Well-known member
If you think there is a market for a solar/rechargeable EPIRB, rock on and see if you can get it type approved, then see how many people will buy it.
It's good for safety kit to be totally stand-alone. Maybe you'd be better looking at user-insertable AAs that could be checked/changed every trip?
The South West UK has many cliffs and bays, mobile phone coverage can be a wind-up.
There is quite a lot of coverage, but quite often the places that are sheltered from the prevailing wind are also sheltered from phone coverage.
Around the less populated coasts I believe it's worse.
In the Uk we have four mobile networks, none of them is 100% in rural areas, there is always the odd valley or shadow where the signal is poor to non existant or maybe interfered with by other transmitters.
But it's generally not bad enough to make people buy sat phones. Or long wave morse sets.
It's good for safety kit to be totally stand-alone. Maybe you'd be better looking at user-insertable AAs that could be checked/changed every trip?
The South West UK has many cliffs and bays, mobile phone coverage can be a wind-up.
There is quite a lot of coverage, but quite often the places that are sheltered from the prevailing wind are also sheltered from phone coverage.
Around the less populated coasts I believe it's worse.
In the Uk we have four mobile networks, none of them is 100% in rural areas, there is always the odd valley or shadow where the signal is poor to non existant or maybe interfered with by other transmitters.
But it's generally not bad enough to make people buy sat phones. Or long wave morse sets.
salar
Active member
Most of the cost is labour. When you calculate the time involved in stripping, installing, testing, reassemble, packing and shipping at £50-£70+ per hour workshop rates it soon adds up.
