• What is an EPIRB?
• Should I carry an EPIRB on my boat?
• How about 121.5 MHz EPIRBs?
• How do I choose which EPIRB to buy?
• Is it worth paying extra for a GPS EPIRB?
• Should I buy a SART instead of / as well as an EPIRB?
• Why should I buy from Sartech?
• Can I test my EPIRB to see if it works?
What is an EPIRB?
EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. This is a battery powered radio transmitter designed to release and float free from a sinking ship and to send an automatic distress signal. Over 250,000 EPIRBs have been installed world-wide, operating in the 406MHz frequency band. These EPIRBs relay their messages to ground stations via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network. The distress messages are then passed on the nearest Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to come to the aid of the survivors. Most EPIRBs also include a flashing strobe light and a second low-power radio transmitter to assist in final location of the survivors by the Search And Rescue (SAR) forces. The COSPAS-SARSAT system also processes signals from aircraft beacons, known as ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters) and from Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs).
For more information on how the system works, take a look at the COSPAS-SARSAT website www.cospas-sarsat.org
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Should I carry an EPIRB on my boat?
Yes, if you are likely to take your vessel beyond the reliable coverage area of coastal VHF stations. This coverage may extend to 60 nautical miles, depending on the height of the shorebased antennas, but remember that if your vessel does not have a high antenna, or if you rely on a hand-held VHF, the range may be less than 10 nautical miles. Marine band VHF does not work 'over the horizon', so however much power you transmit, the range will be limited by the curvature of the earth.
A yacht which is dismasted, and any vessel which loses its main power source due to an electrical fault, fire, or flooding, will probably have to resort to hand-held VHF (if the battery is charged!), or have no means for communication with shore stations.
Do not rely on mobile phones to save you if caught in trouble offshore. GSM range is less than10 nm.
Do not rely on other vessels hearing you on VHF Channel 16. Big ships now use a system (GMDSS) based on ship-to-shore alerting via DSC or satellite, so in future there will be no requirement for ships to listen on channel 16. Radio officers are already a thing of the past, and even the UK Coast Guard will cease dedicated watching on channel 16 from 2005.
406 MHz EPIRBs allow all mariners to take advantage of the system that has already saved more than 12,000 lives. An EPIRB has its own power supply and antenna, and does not rely on any other system on your boat. Just switch it on, and within minutes the rescue authorities will know that you are in trouble. Typically within an hour, (or just a few minutes if you have a GPS EPIRB) your position will be known, and the SAR forces will be on their way. When they get close they will home in to the built-in 121.5 MHz homing transmitter, and start looking out for the flashing strobe light. Once you have bought your EPIRB, there is nothing more to pay until the battery needs changing after about 5 years. The satellite system and rescue organisation are supplied free of charge!
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How about 121.5 MHz EPIRBs?
Do not waste your money on these EPIRBs. Although you may be able to buy one for less than a quater of the price of a 406 MHz EPIRB, these EPIRBs are a left-over from an earlier system that relied on alerting via overflying aircraft. It was only with the advent of satellite detection that they started to become effective. However, in most parts of the world, SAR forces will not respond immediately to 121.5 MHz 'hits', as the vast majority are false alerts. These are caused by noise sources such as banking machines, pizza ovens etc., or by accidentally activated aircraft beacons. As the 121.5 MHz signal contains no identification, the source can only be traced by launching a helicopter or other SAR resource to track it down. In the USA, these false alerts sometimes run to over 500 a day, so you can see why they do not immediately leap into action when another one arrives! The situation has become so bad that from 2009, satellite processing of 121 MHz alerts will be switched off.
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How do I choose which EPIRB to buy?
The following points should be borne in mind before getting down to price and delivery:
Approvals
All 406MHz beacons must be type approved by COSPAS-SARSAT in order to ensure compatibility with the satellite system. This sets a minimum standard which means that the signal from any of these beacons should be processed by the system and produce the necessary alert.
Environmental and operational requirements - for instance how the switches should work, drop test resistance, waterproofing - are set by national standards. For EPIRBs, these are overwhelmingly based on the performance requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Specifications to look for include:
IEC 61097-2 (International Standard)
RTCM Recommended Standards (USA standard used as the basis for FCC approval)
ETS 300 066 (European Harmonised Standard - replaced earlier national standards, including UK standard MPT1259)
There are only minor differences between these standards, and the top EPIRBs are approved to all of them. There are also Canadian, Japanese and Australian/NZ variants. However, especially when buying mail order or via the internet, make sure that your chosen EPIRB is approved by the authorities where your vessel is registered.
In Europe you will be OK if you buy an EPIRB with the new "wheelmark" approval, showing that it is approved in accordance with the Marine Equipment Directive.
| Look for this mark: |
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In the USA, EPIRBs must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Look for the "FCC ID" to check this.
Temperature range
COSPAS-SARSAT standards require a minimum of 24 hours operating time at the minimum temperature (the toughest condition). Most national standards follow the IMO performance requirements that require 48 hours. There are two temperature classes:
Class 1 beacons are approved for operation between -40degC and +55degC
Class 2 beacons are approved for operation between -20degC and +55degC
Unless you go into arctic areas, there's no point in paying any extra for Class 1 performance.
Release and activation
There are two basic types, approved as different categories:
Category I EPIRBs are designed to be released and activated automatically should the vessel sink. All current models use a hydrostatic release unit (HRU) triggered by water pressure at a depth of 2-4 metres. The HRU is a disposable device with a service life of 2 years. A Category I EPIRB is supplied with some kind of bracket or container which must be bolted to the outside of the vessel on a rail, deck or bulkhead. It can also be released and activated manually.
Category II EPIRBs are designed for manual activation only. They may be supplied in a mounting bracket, or kept in a grab bag or liferaft.
Note that most current Category I EPIRBs and some Category II EPIRBs incorporate seawater switches to ensure that if thrown into the water they will start transmitting, irrespective of the setting of the switches. This type of EPIRB must be kept in the bracket supplied, otherwise it will set off an alert if it gets wet.
Owners of smaller vessels, especially yachts, may consider a Category II EPIRB more appropriate for their use. These vessels tend to have a large reserve of buoyancy, so that they take a long time to sink, even if holed. In fact many people have died after abandoning yachts that subsequently have been shown to stay afloat longer than the liferaft. On small craft, it is also possible to mount the EPIRB in a position where it can be easily reached in an emergency.
Cost of ownership
Bear in mind that, in addition to HRU replacement for Category I EPIRBs, all EPIRBs have a limited battery life. After 4 or 5 years, depending on model, the EPIRB will need to be sent to a service depot to have a new battery fitted and be fully tested. Checking out the cost and availability of service facilities in your area might be a good idea before making your decision. Some manufacturers offer a service exchange facility for a quick turn-round. Normal warranty period is 12 months - however Sartech offers a l0 year warranty on all EPIRBs bought direct.
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Why should I buy from Sartech?
We are the specialists, so we can advise you on the right equipment for your needs and provide you with continued support for all the time you own it. We are so confident in the equipment we supply that we now offer a 10 year warranty, so if your EPIRB ever fails its self-test, you can just send it to us for repair or replacement. You won't get this offer anywhere else. If you take your EPIRB back to any other supplier once the manufacturer's 12 month warranty has expired, then you could be faced with a big repair bill.
We carry out ISO9000 manufacturer approved servicing in-house and manufacture our own battery packs, so most servicing and repairs can be turned round in days, not weeks.
Sartech aims to offer the best prices by selling direct, but you may find cut-price deals elsewhere. Call us first before being tempted by such special offers. You could end up with a lower specification or obsolete product - you certainly won't be getting our level of after sales support! We can match or even beat anyone else's prices - if you don't want our 10 year warranty.
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Is it worth paying extra for a GPS EPIRB?
To answer this, we first need to take a closer look at the satellite systems that receive and process the EPIRB signals. The original COSPAS-SARSAT system was built around polar orbiting satellites, about 600km above the earth, giving global coverage with automatic position fixing, using the Doppler effect. At higher latitudes, where the satellites tracks are close together, the "wait time" for a satellite pass is quite short - typically less than an hour in Northern Europe. However, closer to the equator, the wait time could be a couple of hours or more.
In recent years, the system has been augmented by putting 406 MHz receivers on geostationary satellites. These are the kind of satellites used for TV transmissions - they are placed at high orbit (32,000 km) above the equator and they orbit at the same speed that the earth turns, so they appear to be stationary above the ground, and can "see" about one third of the earth's surface.
This system provides a perfect complement for the polar orbiting satellites, giving best performance closer to the equator, but with little coverage in the polar regions (above 75 deg N or below 75 deg S).
Within their coverage area, these satellites are capable of relaying an alert to the SAR forces in a matter of minutes. However, as the satellites are not moving relative to the EPIRB, there is no Doppler effect - and therefore no means for the satellite system to determine an accurate position. The time saving is still useful, as the identity of the EPIRB will be known (assuming it is registered) and some quick phine calls can be made to check if the vessel really is at sea, to rule out false alerts, and to make preparations for the rescue. In some cases, a rough position may be known - for instance if a passage plan has been logged with the Coast Guard.
However, if the EPIRB has the capability to send a GPS position as part of its message, then there is no guesswork. Within minutes of activation, an alert can be passed to the SAR forces with both identity and precise position (better than 50 metres). The GPS position is updated via satellite every 20 minutes. This is an additional facility to the standard COSPAS-SARSAT service. Signals from GPS EPIRBs continue to be received and decoded by the polar orbiting satellites, with their positions calculated using the Doppler effect. When you are in trouble, it is nice to know that there are back-up systems working for you!
So, is it worth paying the extra? If you are likely to be in area poorly served by Coastguard and other SAR services, or in the middle of the ocean, your quickest rescue is likely to come from a nearby fishing or merchant vessel, diverted to your position by a call from the shorebased rescue services. These vessels will not be able to home on your 121.5MHz transmitter, but if they have your GPS position, they will be able to steer right up to you. If you stay closer to home, then carrying a GPS EPIRB will probably not make such a big difference in your rescue time. However, if you are clinging to wreckage in the North Sea, it might make the difference that means you get rescued alive! Like paying for better insurance - you hope it will never happen to you, but if it does you'll wish you'd gone for the best!
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Should I buy a SART instead of / as well as an EPIRB?
A SART is not an alternative to an EPIRB. It is not designed to raise an alert, but allows any vessel carrying a normal marine radar (X-band) to come to your aid even in very poor visibility. Once activated, the SART causes a series of dots to appear on the radar screen of any vessel within a range of about 5 nautical miles. These dots are quite distinctive, and stand out from the normal radar responses - giving the search vessel both the bearing and range to the SART.
The SART is an ideal complement to the ship-to-shore alerting devices such as EPIRBs, INMARSAT-C, and DSC radio. These devices tell the SAR forces who you are and give your approximate position - but this is of no help to you if you are in an area where there are no dedicated SAR resources. For instance, if you are off the coast of East Africa, or in the middle of the ocean, your best hope for a rapid rescue may be a merchant vessel, cruise liner, or even a fishing boat. Nearby vessels can be informed of your problem and your whereabouts, but they will not have the means to home in your EPIRB. In poor weather conditions, it can be very difficult to locate a liferaft with a visual search, even if you can come to within a couple of hundred metres by using an accurate GPS fix. The SART gives any radar equipped vessel the means to detect and locate survivors.
If you never stray beyond 'home' waters, well served by Coast Guard, Lifeboats etc., then you don't really need a SART. Those going further afield should certainly consider carrying one.
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Can I test my EPIRB to see if it works?
All 406MHz EPIRBs are provided with a SELF-TEST facility (usually a separate button or spring-return switch position marked "TEST"). Check your operator's manual for the recommended procedure. Generally testing once a month will have no adverse effect on battery capacity. Do not repeatedly press the button, even if the test fails, as this uses up satellite capacity needed for genuine alerts.
EPIRBs must never be activated in "live" mode. Deliberately causing false alerts can result in financial penalties and confiscation of equipment. Take great care when handling the EPIRB - especially if taken out of its mounting bracket. Even handling with wet hands in this condition could activate the EPIRB. If you suspect that you might have accidentally switched on the EPIRB, even for one minute, you should immediately contact your local coast guard and let them know. This will make sure you don't get into trouble. Let the coast guard have the 15-digit HEX ID that should be marked on the EPIRB label.
For full confidence in your EPIRB, take it to a service centre to have it properly tested. A properly equipped service centre will have a test receiver capable of providing a printout of the EPIRB message. This is a far better test than the EPIRB can perform internally. Vital equipment such as EPIRBs should be properly serviced at the battery change interval by an approved service centre.
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