RE: [Paddlewise] EPIRBs

From: Ira Adams <iadams_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 07:34:50 -0600
>121.5 MHz is the aircraft band emergency frequency. Most aircraft monitor
>121.5 and your range would be LOS.
>
>cya

Since this frequency is monitored by satellites passing overhead, the 
line-of-sight range is quite effective. Line of sight overhead reaches 
well out past the fringes of the solar system and beyond. Actually, the 
weak point of the system is not range but time. An orbit takes roughly 90 
minutes, so depending upon where the satellite is, it can be up to 90 
minutes before your beacon is detected. After that, it takes another pass 
to confirm it (there are LOTS of false signals) and get Search & Rescue 
activated.

So you will be in trouble for at least a couple of hours before you can 
hope for help to respond, and it can easily be much longer.

Ira  Adams


************************************************************
I don't do .INI, .BAT, .CFG, or .SYS files. I don't assign
apps to files. I don't configure peripherals or networks 
before using them. I don't manage IRQs and DMA channels, 
either. My computer works for me, not the other way around.
I have a Macintosh.



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Received on Thu Dec 03 1998 - 09:42:03 PST

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