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FAQ

Termination of 121,5 MHz

The International Cospas-Sarsat System has ceased satellite processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons on 1 February 2009. All beacon owners and users should replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible.

Only 406 MHz beacons are now detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. This affects all maritime beacons (EPIRBs), all aviation beacons (ELTs) and all personal beacons (PLBs). However, other devices (such as man overboard systems and homing transmitters) that operate at 121.5 MHz and do not rely on satellite detection are not affected by the phase-out of satellite processing at 121.5 MHz.

Ende der Ortung von 121,5/243 MHz Notsendern

Zum 1 Februar 2009 wurde die Ortung aller 121,5 und 243 MHz Notsender durch das COSPAS-SARSAT Satelliten System beendet. Die Besitzer von 121,5 / 243 MHz Notsendern sollten ihre Geräte schnellstmöglich durch 406 MHz Notsender ersetzen.

Durch die COSPAS-SARSAT Satelliten werden nur noch Signale von 406 MHz Notsendern geortet und weiterverarbeitet. Dies betrifft alle Notsenderarten, in der Schifffahrt die Seenotsender (EPIRBs), in der Luftfahrt die ELTs, im Landbereich und für die persönliche Nutzung die PLBs.

Geräte zur Ortung im Nahberich von wenigen Hundert Metern, die auf 121,5 und/oder 243 MHz arbeiten und nicht auf die Satellitenpeilung angewiesen sind, sind von der Abschaltung nicht betroffen.

EPIRB Type Comparison COSPAS-SARSAT Satellite System Rescues by COSPAS-SARSAT The C/S-System LEOSAR GEOSAR 406 MHz Manufacturers / Hersteller ACR Electronics Inc McMurdo GME Australia navtec GmbH FAQ - German FAQ - English Abbreviations / Abkürzungen 406 MHz Beacon Decode Program Sitemap Impressum

What is an EPIRB?

EPIRB is an abbreviation and stands for: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

An EPIRB transmits signals on the main frequency (406 MHz) to satellites, that are either geo-stationary or polar-orbiting. For homing purposes, most EPIRBs also transmit signals on the international aviation emergency frequency 121,5 MHz.

Are there different EPIRB systems?

There is only one system at present: 406 MHz (which is operated by COSPAS SARSAT and presently the most used system world wide including merchant marine and aviation).

Different types of beacons in the 406 MHz system

Category I: transmits on406 MHz + 121,5 MHz
EPIRB is in a special float free bracket, mainly for merchant marine,
EPIRB activates automatically, if the bracket (with the ship) sinks below 4 meter water depth.

Category II: transmits on406 MHz + 121,5 MHz
EPIRB has to be activated by hand.

Class I can be operated up to -40°C

Class II can be operated up to -20°C

Which EPIRB to choose?

There are different types of 406 MHz EPRIBs:

EPIRB with built in GPS
EPIRB with infrared-connection to an external GPS
EPIRB without any possibilty of transmitting its own position

There are now several PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) available that can be registered in the name of a person and thus are not restricted to one vihicle (ship, etc)

All EPIRBs / PLBs with built-in or external GPS are by far exeeding the conventional EPIRBs (without the ability to transmit their location) in alert time. This can be as fast as three minutes due to the geo-stationary satellites of COSPAS SARSAT.

Can a German register an EPIRB in the USA?

NO.

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosperic Authority) is the authority that registers EPIRBs and PLBs in the U.S.A. Due to the increasing number of EPIRBs the authority has restricted the registraion to U.S. nationals and the people with an address in the U.S. only.

If you purchase an EPIRB od PLB in the U.S.A., you have to register it with the authorities of your home country. This is also important the you, the owner, because without a registration there are no contact details and a search may be unduly delayed.

What is an MMSI No.?

EACH EPIRB is progframmed with a UIN, a unique identification number. In case of ships this is in most countries the MMSI No. (marine mobile service identity).

For Germany and Austria and Switzerland only MMSI Numbers are allowed for ships.

For details in some European countries see the followilng link:

www.kk2.de/registrieren/index.htm

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Termination of 121,5 MHz The International Cospas-Sarsat System has ceased satellite processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons on 1 February 2009. All beacon owners and users should replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible. Only 406 MHz beacons are now detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. This affects all maritime beacons (EPIRBs), all aviation beacons (ELTs) and all personal beacons (PLBs). However, other devices (such as man overboard systems and homing transmitters) that operate at 121.5 MHz and do not rely on satellite detection are not affected by the phase-out of satellite processing at 121.5 MHz. Ende der Ortung von 121,5/243 MHz Notsendern Zum 1 Februar 2009 wurde die Ortung aller 121,5 und 243 MHz Notsender durch das COSPAS-SARSAT Satelliten System beendet. Die Besitzer von 121,5 / 243 MHz Notsendern sollten ihre Geräte schnellstmöglich durch 406 MHz Notsender ersetzen. Durch die COSPAS-SARSAT Satelliten werden nur noch Signale von 406 MHz Notsendern geortet und weiterverarbeitet. Dies betrifft alle Notsenderarten, in der Schifffahrt die Seenotsender (EPIRBs), in der Luftfahrt die ELTs, im Landbereich und für die persönliche Nutzung die PLBs. Geräte zur Ortung im Nahberich von wenigen Hundert Metern, die auf 121,5 und/oder 243 MHz arbeiten und nicht auf die Satellitenpeilung angewiesen sind, sind von der Abschaltung nicht betroffen.	EPIRB Type Comparison COSPAS-SARSAT Satellite System Rescues by COSPAS-SARSAT The C/S-System LEOSAR GEOSAR 406 MHz Manufacturers / Hersteller ACR Electronics Inc McMurdo GME Australia navtec GmbH FAQ - German FAQ - English Abbreviations / Abkürzungen 406 MHz Beacon Decode Program Sitemap Impressum	What is an EPIRB? Are there different EPIRB systems? Different types of beacons in the 406 MHz system Which EPIRB to choose? Can a German register an EPIRB in the USA? What is an MMSI No.? What is an EPIRB? EPIRB is an abbreviation and stands for: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. An EPIRB transmits signals on the main frequency (406 MHz) to satellites, that are either geo-stationary or polar-orbiting. For homing purposes, most EPIRBs also transmit signals on the international aviation emergency frequency 121,5 MHz. Are there different EPIRB systems? There is only one system at present: 406 MHz (which is operated by COSPAS SARSAT and presently the most used system world wide including merchant marine and aviation). Different types of beacons in the 406 MHz system Category I: transmits on406 MHz + 121,5 MHz EPIRB is in a special float free bracket, mainly for merchant marine, EPIRB activates automatically, if the bracket (with the ship) sinks below 4 meter water depth. Category II: transmits on406 MHz + 121,5 MHz EPIRB has to be activated by hand. Class I can be operated up to -40°C Class II can be operated up to -20°C Which EPIRB to choose? There are different types of 406 MHz EPRIBs: EPIRB with built in GPS EPIRB with infrared-connection to an external GPS EPIRB without any possibilty of transmitting its own position There are now several PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) available that can be registered in the name of a person and thus are not restricted to one vihicle (ship, etc) All EPIRBs / PLBs with built-in or external GPS are by far exeeding the conventional EPIRBs (without the ability to transmit their location) in alert time. This can be as fast as three minutes due to the geo-stationary satellites of COSPAS SARSAT. Can a German register an EPIRB in the USA? NO. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosperic Authority) is the authority that registers EPIRBs and PLBs in the U.S.A. Due to the increasing number of EPIRBs the authority has restricted the registraion to U.S. nationals and the people with an address in the U.S. only. If you purchase an EPIRB od PLB in the U.S.A., you have to register it with the authorities of your home country. This is also important the you, the owner, because without a registration there are no contact details and a search may be unduly delayed. What is an MMSI No.? EACH EPIRB is progframmed with a UIN, a unique identification number. In case of ships this is in most countries the MMSI No. (marine mobile service identity). For Germany and Austria and Switzerland only MMSI Numbers are allowed for ships. For details in some European countries see the followilng link: www.kk2.de/registrieren/index.htm Printable version