[Paddlewise] More on EPIRB

	An addendum for those of you interested in the EPIRB  stuff; 
I won't mention the brand again! , but I can give you some of the specs. 
It measures 155mm by 66mm by 25mm with antenna down.  Weight about 175
grams. Cost, about A$350.  Compliance,  Australia and NZ.

	It does NOT give you 406 MHz technology. Transmits simultaneously on 121.5
[ civilian aviation distress]  and 243 MHz [ military distress] .  Almost
certainly 406 MHz technology also exists in a similar portable personal
package, but as far as I know is not available on the civilian market, [yet].

	Designed to transmit with lithium iron disulphide battery, claimed to hold
90 per cent of original amphere hour capacity after ten years. As
previously mentioned the battery etc can be tested without bringing down
the wrath of the world's rescue authorities on your head.

	Will transmit continuously at full power for minimum of 48 hours at
temperature ranges of between minus 10 C and 55 plus C.

	Will be received by COMPAS/SARSAT satellites, operated jointly by US,
Canada, France and Russia,  which is nice to know if you get caught out
paddling somewhere up there in the Arctic Circle.

	BTW, a memo to our US and Canadian PaddleWisers: Do any of you have any
knowledge of a small, ie, laptop computer-sized 10watt crystal operated HF
transceiver apparently made at one time by Spilsbury Communications out of
Vancouver BC for remote use?  Apparently well known in the north of Canada.
I think the set is called a SBX11? Are they readily available?

	Cheers, 
	Peter Rattenbury
	Wollongong
	Australia

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