PBL with a 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz and AIS

[Ian_Edwards]

Triggered by the thread on single handers and MOB recovery, I was wondering if anyone has manufactured a combined GPS PLB with 406 MHz satellite coms, 121.5 MHz homing signal and an AIS transmitter?

I've done a quick search on the Internet, and one didn't appear with any of the search terms I used.

Ir seems such an obvious idea, and it has been discussed on this forum before.

Has anyone seen one advertised?

 

[TSB240]

This one perhaps? Soon? https://seaangel.at/plb_ais_emergency_systems.2926.html.

 

[prv]

Nope - not aware of one so far. Agree it seems an obvious and useful thing.

Part of the delay is reputed to be regulations - PLBs in particular are quite tightly specified and the specification doesn't consider a combination with any other transmitter. I'm not sure exactly what the sticking points are.

On the other hand, a colleague of mine once worked for McMurdo, and as a fellow yachtsman he also came up with this seemingly obvious idea. He told me that his bosses couldn't really see the point of it and didn't seem to be interested.

Pete

 

[prv]

This one perhaps? Soon? https://seaangel.at/plb_ais_emergency_systems.2926.html.

It's been "coming soon" for at least three years now, which tends to support the idea that a combined unit struggles to get through certification.

Pete

 

[Yellow Ballad]

It's been "coming soon" for at least three years now, which tends to support the idea that a combined unit struggles to get through certification.

Pete

I waited for over a year for that to come out, no joys emailing then either, gave up and bought a PLB1 instead. That was 12 months ago.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

This one perhaps? Soon? https://seaangel.at/plb_ais_emergency_systems.2926.html.

I looked at the website and it looks like the sort of thing I'd buy, but no mention of price or availability.

I've email them and asked when will it be commercially available.

If I get a reply I'll post it.

 

[TSB240]

It's been "coming soon" for at least three years now, which tends to support the idea that a combined unit struggles to get through certification.

Pete

For the life of me I really can't understand why the testing and licensing of what is basically a combination of two current products into one can be so difficult.

Mind you I remember the hassle of getting British Gas to approve sale of a freestanding cooker with an electric fan oven and a gas hob... Consumers said that's what they really really wanted !