Relay-Version: B 2.11 6/12/87; site scolex Path: uunet!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!pacbell.com!ucsd!mvb.saic.com!ncr-sd!crash!bang!bam From: bam@bang.UUCP (Bret A. Marquis) Newsgroups: rec.aviation Subject: Looking for an ELT Keywords: ELT EPIRB Emergency Locator Transmitter 121.5 243 406 Avionics Catnip Message-ID: <56325@bang.UUCP> Date: Sun, 07 Jul 91 23:33:34 PDT Organization: Marquis Property Development Co., San Diego Lines: 118 Whilst rounding out the avionics for N3VD, I've started searching for an ELT for it. I posted the following note to Gary Picou (of Avionics Review) publicly on Compuserve.. I thought the replies were informative enough to share.. Bret Marquis __________________ 07-Jul-91 11:31:17 Sb: #new ELT's? Fm: Bret Marquis [MYF] 75320,126 To: Gary Picou OJC-IXD 71071,34 (X) I'm looking for a good ELT.. I understand that there is some new units (requirements/technology) that work better than the older models. I don't mean the talking ones, just work better with SARSAT. Any suggestions? Thanks, Bret Marquis There are 2 Replies. #: 162865 S5/Maint/Avionics 07-Jul-91 12:41:55 Sb: #162852-new ELT's? Fm: Gary Picou [OJC-IXD] 71071,34 To: Bret Marquis [MYF] 75320,126 (X) ACK has a nice ELT, uses "D" cell batteries, well built and "only" $279 (list). ELTs built ot TSO C91a are better at toggling satellites, but if you can hold on for a bit, ELTs that operate at 406 Mhz will be more prevelent, end they work MUCH better with SARSAT. Also will be the Canadian Standard. Pointer makse a good ELT too, but it is not TSO to new standard, yet. --Gary #: 162973 S5/Maint/Avionics 07-Jul-91 19:00:29 Sb: #162852-#new ELT's? Fm: Barry & Diana Calhoun 71240,1262 To: Bret Marquis [MYF] 75320,126 (X) Bret, I would echo Gary's advice to hold on till you can get yourself a 406-type ELT. As a SAR pilot (U.S. Coast Guard) I can attest to the great benefits this type of ELT provides. As everyone is starting to say, "they take the Search out of Search-and-Rescue. Just a brief explanation of why: Current ELTs (and EPIRBs on boats) broadcoast a distress on either 121.5 or 243.0 (or both). An overhead satelite can pick up this signal and relay the position to a ground NOAA station. However, there are two big limitations. The satelite has to be in contact with both the ELT and the ground station _at the same time_. It has no "memory." The other limitation is that if it is in a position where it is within line-of-site of both the ground station and the ELT, it actually sends two opposite positions to the ground station, either one of which you could be at. The ground station must weight for another satelite pass (at which time they will again receive two positions, one of which will be the same as the previous two) to determine where you're at. Sometimes this takes hours. The 406 ELT/EPIRBs do not have to have the satelite in contact with both the ELT/EPIRB and the ground station at the same time. The position is relayed to the satelite and when the satelite can contact a ground station, it will relay the position to it. The 406s also broadcast signals on 121.5 and and 243.0 so that rescue aircraft can home to the distress scene. Another big advantage to the 406 type ELT is that it not only sends a signal up to the satelite, it sends a little data package containing such information as your tail number, address & phone number, type plane, etc. This is very helpful, especially considering the thousands of false ELTs that trigger off SARSAT every year. When the signal and data are received, we call your home. If you're sitting in front of the TV, we'll tell you that your ELT is on and please turn it off. If we can't find you immediately, we start the SAR. I can relay a particularly vivid example of how well this system works: Right after the 406-type EPIRB/ELTs came on line, the Coast Guard made them manditory on commercial fishing vessels, and we did a lot of publicity (like now) on how well they work. About a week later, we got a 406 SARSAT hit from a 60ft commercial vessel about 150 miles off the west coast of Florida. The data gave the name, size, owner, phone number, and address for the vessel. We called up the owner who said that his boat was about 3 days into a two-week fishing trip. We immediately lauched a helo to the SARSAT position and found three fishermen, two of them clinging to debris and one clinging the the EPIRB. Their boat had been swamped by a wave and had sunk before they had a chance to even don their life preservers. The EPIRB released itself and activiated (as advertised) and within 2 hours and fifteen minutes from the time they hit the water, these guys were sitting in our helo. They had no ship-to-shore radio on board the vessel and were not making progress reports to anyone. Had they not had the EPIRB, nobody would have even started looking for them for about two weeks! The 406 types are a bit more expensive, but I can tell you that they are worth it! Whew! Barry ______________ (Now all I have to do is find one - Bret) -- Bret Marquis bam@monet.berkeley.edu Beyond this place, there be Dragons...