406 epirbs Accuracy V cost

[rustymarlin]

Been doing a bit of research on the new 406 epirbs the standard type without gps has an accuracy to within 5km of your exact location pretty much the same as the old 121 epirbs and these are in the 400 to 500 dollar range the GPS equiped 406 will give an accuracy to 100meters away and cost from $700 dollars up. I was just wondering if people had considered this when buying the new style epirb . I like the idea that if I was in the water that the rescuers knew exactly where i was and not saying we know he is within this 5 km search area. for the extra few hundred dollars I know which epirb Im going to get.

[Jabba_]

Taken from the ACR Web site

121.5 MHz EPIRB (Class A, B and S)

12 nm radius / 452sq. nm search area /
non-406 beacons Illegal to operate as of January 1, 2007



406 MHz PLB / EPIRB

2.3 nm radius / 12.5 sq. nm search area /

non-GPS beacons




406 MHz w/GPS PLB / EPIRB
.05 nm (110 yds) radius /.008 sq. nm search area /

GlobalFix™ 406 ResQFix™ 406 PLB,AquaFix™ 406 PLB




The only time you would need the GPS equipped epirb is if your out in the middle off the ocean, hours in flight time from land..... If you like myself and just head out to the 50's, the searh time wont be any quicker with a normal 406.

[FNQCairns]

I came to the conclusion a fair while ago the standard 406 is really no better than the discontinued model/frequency for the bloke on the water, the advantage seems to be to the authorities in an administrative role and that means all that is done before telling the H'copter to fly. There certainly is no extra confidence level with the standard 406.

cheers fnq

[SatNav]

1. 406 digital technology is far ahead of 121.5 anologue

2. To say there is no advantages with 406 is quite misleading with what 406 is all about

[Jabba_]

What! you don't think a 12.5sq nm (406) search area is better and will result in being found quicker compared to a search area off 452sq nm (121.5)

And if you heading right out (200nm + off shore) the GPS integrated epirbs will narrow the search area down to .8sq nm.....

[FNQCairns]

Still ONLY talking about the STANDARD 406....They both (121 and 406) emit a homing signal or what can be used as a homing signal, even the 121 if flying from a point on land toward a 15-25nm square of ocean the homing signal will take over and constantly refine location in real flying time, this inital area upon take of area will soon be narrowed down in the air.

I know from radio tracking n the past 'once on the chase' the homing is quite definite and thats using relatively low grade/tech equipment.

People seem to think the rescue just stumbles over the lost and the initial search area is all that allows the % chance of this, not true, at least not so cut and dry as the figures you posted.

cheers fnq

[Angla]

Question. How does the better equipped 406 get it's GPS coordinates? Does it have to talk to your GPS which is sinking to the bottom of the ocean as you drift away in the current with you special $700.00 406 epirb in your grasp.?

Chris

[Jabba_]

Question. How does the better equipped 406 get it's GPS coordinates? Does it have to talk to your GPS which is sinking to the bottom of the ocean as you drift away in the current with you special $700.00 406 epirb in your grasp.?

Chris
A GPS is integrated (Built in) into the epirb

[oldboot]

The other advantage with the gps integrated units is location time.

Immediately the unit is triggered and the mesage is recieved they know where you are and at what time you were there.

with the dumb unit it may take a significant time to actulay perform the locating.

if you are caught in some sort of current or being driven by wind and waves the smart version is reporting your position regularly with accuracy.

the dumb version takes time for each revised fix.


cheers