EPIRB'S - Are the Australian Authorities slow?

[seatime]

Chine

with or without GPS interface, you've got a much better chance of being located quickly with 406 over a 121.5.

as the price of the 406 has dropped to accommodate rec boaters, hopefully GPIRBs will become more reasonably priced in the near future.

yes, in the colder waters price shouldn't be an issue for some offshore operators. though there are plenty who still view an EPIRB only as a legal requirement and not as a safety requirement, to their peril.

regards
Steve.

[Chine]

Chine

with or without GPS interface, you've got a much better chance of being located quickly with 406 over a 121.5.

as the price of the 406 has dropped to accommodate rec boaters, hopefully GPIRBs will become more reasonably priced in the near future.

yes, in the colder waters price shouldn't be an issue for some offshore operators. though there are plenty who still view an EPIRB only as a legal requirement and not as a safety requirement, to their peril.

regards
Steve.

Steve,

Sorry Kerry.....I have gone a little OT.

Yes....sadly cost is the issue. Whether it be hypothermia or shark attack the most important thing is to reduce the rescue timeframe. Reducing a search grid from square kilometres down to square metres for surface craft can be invaluable. Some of us know how bad and cold it can get out wide.

Regards

Chine

[Kerry]

I see there are 2 main issues with changing to 406

2. Quicker more accurate and reliable detection based on knowing that someone is actually in distress.

2. Reduction of flase alerts and wasted rescue rescourses

(Both being 2 is not a mistake)

I also don't see that much of a difference between an GPIRB and a standard 406 as the most important thing with 406 EPIRB's is the fact that activation can immediately be determined as a false alarm or not and the lead time in knowing that someone is actually in distress. Rescue rescourses can be mobilized to the general area way before the actual position is available.

A helicopter crew will almost fly down straight the homing signal from any EPIRB but it is the time delay from activation based on travelling distance that is the deciding factor.

Regards, Kerry.

[Kerry]

The US appear to have things well in hand

http://www.uscgboating.org/articles/...ew.aspx?id=102