Essential Distress Beacon Information

[sorenityblue]

After 1 Feb 2010, it will be illegal to use a 121.5 MHz Distress beacon for ANY purpose.

From 1 February 2009, 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite – you must switch to a 406 MHz distress beacon as soon as possible. Do not risk your life by using a 121.5 MHz distress beacon.

Further information can be found at http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/essential_info.html#howdoes

Cheers.

[Perente]

HAs anyone had a good look at the SPOT epirb/satellite message system? (yes its 406Mhz)
it looks pretty good to me, uses the satellite system to locate you and you can send any one of about ten pre-recorded SMS messages which you write yourself, ie all is well, on program, through to (say) we have a problem, no-one is hurt or at risk, please come help us.
These all go to nominated email addresses and give a location on google maps.

For a real full on emergency you have what is effectively a 911 call routed via the satellite phone system to the US back to the Australian emergency authorities, it's this last bit that gives me pause for thought, I guess in a true emergency I would prefer direct communication with the local authorities, although I suppose international Yachties etc must rely on an international system.

Seems like a nice mid point between a standard EPIRB and a satellite phone.

Anyway these things are about $250 I think and then about $140 per annum subscription.
Accurate to about ten meters like other GPS apparently.
I think I will get one, but wondered if anyone else has reviewed them and formed a view?

[was80]

Hi all,

I seem to recall that Mike did get one of the units, though not absolute in this. If so, it would be worth trying it out on the next trip to see whay happens. Maybe it is a purchase that the club makes and the spot is carried by the trip leader/s along with the first aid kit and paper maps of the area being travelled.



Wayne

[sorenityblue]

They are a great idea, provides much comfort in knowing help is not too far away even in the middle of nowhere.
They have a built in GPS that accurately reports your position with any of the below modes.

The one I have is the older model, it has 3 buttons:
911: This goes direct to an overseas emergency response desk that first validates the message by contacting some user nominated contacts to see if the call may be real, they then call the local authorities and hand the distress of to them.
I believe the Emergency Services in Australia reserve the right to charge an incredibly high hourly rate for any malicious false alarms. (Quite rightly too)

Help: This is completely user configurable through the web page, you nominate one or more recipients that can be contacted by SMS or email and you write a message you want this button to reflect.
For example: I am OK but I am stuck, please can you send help.
The coordinates from the GPS are automatically embedded in the message.
This does not go through the emergency response desk like the 911 button does.
In my case, I asked the recipients to simply contact the police and ask the police to see what they can do or provide advice for the area I am stuck in.

OK: Configurable the same as the Help button, you would normal attach a message like:
Check-in message, all is well.
It does not need to be the same recipients as the help button but can be.

Note that with the help and the OK buttons, this can only predefined on the web page, you cannot change the message while out in the bush unless you have internet access. The Lat/Long updates automatically of course.

They also have an additional facility (you pay extra for the service though) where it will track you every move and others can log into a website and see you progress.
Handy if you climbing mount Everest or swimming the Amazon or something ..

They have excellent standby battery life and are shock/water proof, but I have read that their alkalis heel is the GPS and the Transmitter effectiveness is severely reduced under heavy foliage.
In the case of the relatively sparse Australian bush (East, North and Congelin style bush), I have yet to see the unit fail but that said, I have not tried it under the heavy foliage of further down south yet.

The new model that just came out had a factory recall due to battery life issues, but they replaced these free of charge and the ones you buy now work fine from what I have heard.

Some more info about the Spot at
http://www.youtube.com/spotarchive


Sample Message

Date: A long long time ago
From: noreply@findmespot.com
To: A place far far away
Reply-To: As above
Subject: Check-in/OK message from Robert O’Hara Burke SPOT Messenger

Robert O’Hara Burke
Latitude:-31.72148
Longitude:116.88872
GPS location Date/Time: 01/01/2010 12:34:22 WST

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=-31.72148,116.88872&ll=-31.72148,116.88872&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message: Check-in message to say that all is good. Robert.

[Perente]

thanks Mike
I thought they sounded good but didn't necessarily understand the technical stuff.
Could be a good thing for the club to get and maybe could be made avaible to club members for a fee for weekends or extended trips

[was80]

I found this information the other day..... while searching for something else... as normally happens....
Optus have a dual-mode GSM/Satellite phone which works through the Thuraya Satellite Service.
http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/mobile/mobilesatellite&site=personal
I thought this was a good idea as you have a phone that you can use day to day without the expense of having to buy two phones or other equipment to use out in the bush. It is a bit expensive but you don't have equipment sitting around that isn't being used.

I would be interested in your thoughts on this

Sally (on Wayne's log in)