EPIRB use off the boat?

[Mouldy]

Any reason why a GPS EPIRB wouldn't work for an onshore emergency, e.g. skiing, climbing, hill walking etc miles from handheld VHF range or mobile signal?

[codprawn]

It will work fine but you need a PLB rather than a normal EPIRB because that is registered to a person whereas an EPIRB is registered to the craft. Chances are an EPIRB registered to a vessel will not get as fast a response if said vessel is dicovered in distress in the middle of Birmingham!!!

[PeteSmith]

I think the emergency service would be bound to react to any 406mhz Epirb going off, as these are all registered.

I would expect that they would firstly contact the registered owner / contacts of the device.

Ive got a McMurdo 406mhz Findfast Plus PLB and it states that the unit is only for Marine / aviation use (in the UK) although it seems that you can use them for land use in the USA.

However theres nothing stopping you using one on land I suppose. They may prosecute you for using one, however in a life or death situation Id think id rather them prosecute me and for me to be around to tell the tale to my prison buddies!

[codprawn]

I still reckon a Sat Phone is the way to go. Same price as an Epirb but very useful if you need medical advice or similar when stucK in Timbuctu!!!

[PeteSmith]

Sat Phone useful, however very difficult to make a call from a waterlogged sat phone if you fall overboard...

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

Sat Phone useful, however very difficult to make a call from a waterlogged sat phone if you fall overboard...

Thats what an aquapac type case is for.

[Biggles]

Except all the Aqua pac cases I have used have lasted less than one year.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Biggles

Except all the Aqua pac cases I have used have lasted less than one year.

Ahh in that case I will stick with my Tesco ziplock freezer bags - they are great!!!

[Mouldy]

Had a look on the OFCOM site -

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archi...385gn.htm#10.0

very clear that EPIRBs & PLBs must not be used on land - I'm with petesmith on this one, it could have helped those 2 climbers in Scotland last week who froze to death a mile from the car park.

OK - maybe the question is EPIRB for the boat or a PLB for each crew member?

[Jon Brooks]

There are moves to allow PLB for land use.
This has cmoe a few times in various meetings I have attended.
Not sure how long it will take.
Mainly for walkers and skiing.

Sat Phones have there uses but not much good for tracking like an EPIRB.
If the were then the Yanks would be able to find that Bin Laden bloke!!

Best regards

[mike]

Hi Jon,
tke it with you, use it if need be (obviously in an emergency) and worry abou ed tape later! you can always say "hey look what we found at the bottom of this bag!)

I take mine when on water but if i WAS GOING UP A MOUNTAIN, it would be coming too!


mike

[seacomm]

Might not be a good idea.

I think that if the rescue authority do not get confirmation from the registered contact for the EPIRB that it is actually in the area of the alert they may regard it as a false or malicious alarm and they may report it to Ofcom for their field staff to trace. That is unlikely to be an immediate response

A PLB system would be best but I can see cries of who is going to pay for the admin.

Perhaps the mountain rescue associations could do it I am sure no one would mind a small admin fee with a bit of profit built in for them for all the good work they do.

[Mouldy]

I would expect an EPIRB or PLB signal to start a scramble for a lifeboat or helicopter - Wouldn't the registered contact be the one in trouble?

Does anyone know the sequence of events after the signal has been set off?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Ahh in that case I will stick with my Tesco ziplock freezer bags - they are great!!!

I use one of these-A bit more bulky but a lot tougher. They've got an O-ring seal in the lid.