[Paddlewise] NOAA announcement HIKERS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURERS SAME SATELLITE PROTECTION AS PILOTS AND MARINERS

Regarding U.S.A. NOAA announcement at www.noaa.gov of 

HIKERS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURERS TO HAVE SAME SATELLITE PROTECTION AS PILOTS
AND MARINERS;
NOAA AND ITS PARTNERS CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL SEARCH AND
RESCUE SATELLITE AIDED TRACKING PROGRAM

and the full article http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s1055.htm

may I assume this is the equipment as EPIRBs that some of the sailing crowd
carries and uses infrequently?   A local newspaper stated these devices
would be starting at $300 and up.  

Where can one purchase a EPRIB for $300 that is reliable.  I had been
looking at boating stores as a curiosity last year  Their prices start
around $800 and up. 

And in the announcement   
            The action follows a highly successful experimental program that

           permitted the use of the 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons carried
by hikers in Alaska

		What brands and models did the Alaskans use in this
experimental program?

There is a yet another gadget for next year (2003) at least for me. 

I will first need to decode the specification, type I, type II, class B.  I
assume any unit needs to transmit on the 406 MHz frequency.  There are units
on eBay that list other frequencies, but not 406 MHz. Since EPRIBs are
relatively expensive and I need to work on my kayak skills, I have not yet
traveled in the more remote areas.




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