Post on 24-Jul-2020
406 MHz Beacons
SAR Controllers Training 2015 3 – 5 March 2015 LTJG Jason Wilson
NOAA SARSAT Operations Officer
• COSPAS-SARSAT 406 MHz Beacons
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
PLB Personal Locator Beacon
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
SSAS Ship Security Alert System
C/S 406 MHz Beacons
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EPIRB
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• Two basic types
– CAT I – automatic release and activation
– CAT II – manual release
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPIRB – Brackets
CAT I CAT II
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Types of Brackets
• Category 1 (Float Free)
– Hydrostatic Release between 1.5 – 4.0 meters (4.9-13.1 ft.)
– EPIRB is transmitting when it gets to the surface
Hydrostatic release needs replacement every two years from installation date or 4 years from
manufacture.
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CAT 2 BRACKET
• Must be manually removed from bracket. • Once removed from bracket can be manually activated or
automatically by throwing in the water.
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CAT 2
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CAT 2 Bracket
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Testing Bracket Magnet
A Compass provides simple detection on
bracket magnet.
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Activation
• Typical activation includes
• Auto – put in “Armed” or “Ready” position
• Manual - switch to “Manual” or “On” Has a barrier to keep from accidental manual activation.
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EPIRB Switches
ON OFF TEST
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EPIRB Switches
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EPIRB Switches
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Lanyard
Lanyard: • 5 to 8 meters
• Orange/yellow color
Not rot/deteriorate
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406 MHz S-VDR
• Is a CAT 1 EPIRB
Simplified Voyage Data Recorder
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PLB
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Personal Locator Beacon
PLB Manual activation
Carried on persons
May or may not float
Held out of water to transmit
NO Strobe light required
Min 24 hour transmit
Some GPS Enabled
Red 406
Button
Underneath
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PLB
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Military Personal Recovery Devices
• AN-URT 44 PLB
• AN-PRC 112
• C-SEL
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AN-URT 44 PLB
• USAF 121.5, 243,
406 PLB
• DEPLOYED WITH
CHUTE
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AN/PRC 112 G – Hook Radio
• Frequencies: – 118.5-124.5 / 225-320
(25KHz steps)
– 406 MHz (Optional)
• Interface to legacy CSAR systems
• GPS Readout for NAV
• Two way dedicated SATCOM
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Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL)
• Over the Horizon and Line of
Sight
• Secure texting /messages
UHF SATCOM
• XMIT Acknowledged return
messages
• Multiple VHF channels
• SARSAT Beacon
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ELT
Emergency Locator Transmitter
Operational Applications
• Automatic Fixed - AF
• Automatic Portable - AP
• Survival Equipment – S – Class A (buoyant)
– Class B (non-buoyant)
• Automatic Deployable - AD
406/121.5 MHz
24 hr Transmitter
“ON-OFF-ARMED-RESET” controls
ELT activated by pilot, crash forces or water activated.
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Automatic Activation
• G-Switch - fixed
• Some are water activated like EPIRB but coded for aircraft using portable ditch bag
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Designed for Rotary Wing
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ELT – Manual Activation
RESET
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SSAS
• 406 MHz Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)
• All SOLAS vsls on international voyages.
• Two stealth switches for remote activation.
• Alert goes to national authority.
Ship Security Alert System
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Manual Activation
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SEND Devices
Satellite Emergency Notification Device
• In Reach
• SPOT
• Cell phones and Apps
• Spidertracks
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inReach
• Two way text paired with
smart phone
• Emergency SOS function
• Confirmed on delivery
• Uses Iridium Satellite
System
• GEOS Emergency
Response Center
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SPOT
• “SPOT ASSIST”
Roadside/Boat assistance
for non-emergency
• Emergency SOS function
• Uses Globalstar Satellite
System
• GEOS Emergency
Response Center
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Specialized Cell Phones and APPs
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• Marketed for industrial professionals
• Intrinsically safe
• Has accelerator detection to detect falls
and will auto-alert
• Domestic telecoms (ATT, Sprint, etc)
• GEOS Emergency Response Center
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Spidertracks
•“Spiderwatch” SOS function
alerts when no longer
broadcasting
•Uses Iridium Satellite
System
•Uses aircraft power supply
no battery backup
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Questions
?
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