Replacement for time expired Coastal flare pack

[Juan Twothree]

In my experience, yes they do. Firstly their radios have more power by a long way (just like the French). Secondly, it’s like talking to NCI so feels less professional in the moment while UK is like talking to parliament and they’ll finish their script even if it kills you.

They are competent and get the job done but it’s certainly a different experience. Day to day I prefer it. In an emergency I think I prefer UK just for the comfort of thinking they have a plan.

Interesting. Thank you.

 

[ylop]

Can you please explain: All mobile phones relay to land mobile radio networks. In my understanding they have NO electronics to transmit to satelite systems.
This means: With no normal carrier signal / mobile network (more of about 8 km away from shore) there is NO SOS transmission. No iPhone, no other mobile phone, no Android. Signal processing to satelite systems is not possible with the transmitters of normal mobile phones?

No the latest smart phones (iPhone 14+ and others too end models of similar age) CAN send satellite messages via Elon’s Starlink network. Because they are small and low power it is very limited amounts of transmission - no voice calls etc. but you can send a text to the emergency services, and some special arrangements with the likes of Greenflag mean you can contact them as your breakdown provider even if out of phone coverage.

The super expensive smart watches can now do this too - even if you don’t have your phone with you. Their battery life isn’t great but it’s a huge benefit for fellow runners who don’t want to carry a phone, and I imagine for sailors, kayakers etc.

Correction - emergency calls may be via a different satellite network. Some devices may also work with starlink if you have a suitable contract and may even support texting friends and family.

 

[Skipper Felice]

No the latest smart phones (iPhone 14+ and others too end models of similar age) CAN send satellite messages via Elon’s Starlink network. Because they are small and low power it is very limited amounts of transmission - no voice calls etc. but you can send a text to the emergency services, and some special arrangements with the likes of Greenflag mean you can contact them as your breakdown provider even if out of phone coverage.

The super expensive smart watches can now do this too - even if you don’t have your phone with you. Their battery life isn’t great but it’s a huge benefit for fellow runners who don’t want to carry a phone, and I imagine for sailors, kayakers etc.

OK - this is new to me ... I was not aware that they have transmission over Starlink.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I think mobile phone SOS satellites, at least from Apple, use the Globalstar satellite network and not Starlink.

https://www.globalstar.com/en-gb/about/who#:~:text=It's ideal for mission-critical,that communication lines remain open.

Globalstar's satellite network is primarily used by various organizations and individuals for emergency communication in areas without cellular coverage, most notably through two key services:
Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite: This consumer feature, available on iPhone 14 models and newer, connects users directly to the Globalstar satellite network to text emergency services dispatchers when traditional cellular and Wi-Fi networks are unavailable. Apple invested significantly in Globalstar's infrastructure to make this service possible and routes the alerts to trained emergency specialists in third-party facilities or directly to official emergency services entities.
SPOT Devices: Globalstar's subsidiary, SPOT LLC, offers personal satellite devices (like the SPOT Gen4 and SPOT X) that allow users to send an SOS alert with their GPS coordinates to an international emergency response coordination center (FocusPoint International, Inc.). These devices are used by lone workers, remote expedition teams, and recreational users.
First Responders and Defense Organizations: The network also provides reliable, off-grid connectivity for professional first responders, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for tracking personnel during training, and other organizations in situations where terrestrial infrastructure is disrupted (e.g., during natural disasters). A hybrid system called Extended Mobile Network (EMN) has also been developed with Manx Telecom to combine cellular and satellite services for emergency personnel.

Digging a bit deeper, a company like Skylo, operates as an intermediary between the phone, satellite, base station and service provider. The satellite is just a medium to accept and bounce the signal back, and Skylo decodes the signal at it's earth cellular base stations, then sends it onwards to whomever.

How Skylo is quietly succeeding in the phone-to-satellite race

 

[lustyd]

I think mobile phone SOS satellites, at least from Apple, use the Globalstar satellite network and not Starlink

The starlink component is actually Starlink adding GSM to the satelite. Direct line of sight makes it work despite the distance. As with all wireless it’s limited by bandwidth, hence the beamforming array on the dishy. Collision detection is a bitch on wide area wireless so it’s unlikely to ever replace terrestrial mobile.

 

[William_H]

Interesting that just this month our local RAC advise that they can receive distress calls for breakdown call out from anywhere in the state via latest mobile phones.
"anywhere " means out back way beyond normal phone coverage. The message to this post is that technology is changing rapidly and for the better when it come to search and rescue. ol'will

 

[boomerangben]

As for disposal of flares, I discovered earlier this year that my local “chandlery” takes out of date flares, so no issue other than cost. I say “chandlery” because it is the local fisherman’s co-op so perhaps many are looking in the wrong place to dispose of flares, try the place where your local fishermen buy their stuff.

LED flares fine if you do lots of night sailing, but pretty ineffective by day, which is why they are sold with a signalling flag.

It seems that MOB is a significant threat to sailing, particularly if single handing. PLB and day/night on your LJ belt would be the gold solution, especially if your LJ has a light.

If day sailing, a couple floating smokes would be a no brainer for me and maybe a couple of hand held reds. Not sure I’d bother with a parachute flare, but would be concerned about dismasting or running aground where the masthead antenna is not effective and handheld vhf coms limited by range.

Most of us do most of our sailing by day. Whatever you choose, it has to work when you are most likely to need it

 

[Refueler]

Google is silent on it but I'm sure it used to be Falmouth, or somewhere in that part of the world and moved to Fareham when it opened just before Covid.

Its named Fareham .. but is actually nearer Locks Heath on the old road to Southampton.

Its funny actually - that small area also houses the national Air Traffic Control Centre.

 

[lustyd]

the national Air Traffic Control Centre.

The southern one is Swanwick. The north one is Prestwick. NATS HQ is at Whitely.

 

[Refueler]

The southern one is Swanwick. The north one is Prestwick. NATS HQ is at Whitely.

As I said .... same area.

 

[Boathook]

Interesting reading all the comments. I'm going to reconsider where I mount the EPIRB on the boat but I don't want to keep moving it every time I lock the boat up to keep it 'secure'

I'm still unsure about flares and when I got rid of my last ones they all had different firing mechanisms, or so it seemed and how do you read the instructions in the dark ! I did have some training years ago on them but that was only smoke ones as on the day we couldn't fire the flares.

Like others, I try and so my sailing during daylight hours now so possibly a few smoke signals to go with a PLB, VHF and EPIRB.

 

[lustyd]

As I said .... same area.

Not a national ATC though, we have two, three if you count Gatwick.