 COSPAS-SARSAT
is the international organisation that operates a series
of satellites in low altitude and geostationary orbits for
search and rescue. The Council of COSPAS-SARSAT announced
in 2000 that it would be phasing out satellite processing
of emergency beacons operating in the 121.5/243 MHz range
and encouraging users to adopt 406 MHz beacons.
Users
of the 121.5 MHz beacons will have until February 2009 to
complete the switch over.
Why
the change?
Older
121.5 MHz system required that a satellite be in view of
both the beacon AND the land based LUT (Local User Terminal)
before activation could be reported (the satellite acted
as a relay for the beacon's signal). This limited the useful
detection range to areas immediately surrounding countries
which supported LUT's, leaving more isolated areas (such
as the antarctic) unprotected.
 406
MHz beacons transmit a digital message which can be stored
on the satellite, then re-transmitted to the next LUT that
comes into view. This provides true global coverage. In
addition, the digital message is able to provide encoded
information about the vessel and its owner. The use of 406
MHz distress beacons will therefore minimise the problems
with false alerts being received by rescue coordination
centres around the world.
Whats
different about the GME MT400
406
MHz beacons need to transmit a very stable signal to ensure
the satellites are able to locate the beacon's position
accurately. The present range of 406 MHz beacons use a small
temperature controlled chamber to stabilise the beacon's
signal. This technology is thirsty on battery power, requires
a 'warm-up' period of up to 15 minutes and is expensive
to manufacture.
GME
recognised that the price of the present 406 MHz beacon
technology was going to make the transition from a 121.5
MHz beacon to a 406 MHz model an expensive proposition for
the average boat owner. The answer was to develop new EPIRB
technology that would make the transition to the much improved
and superior 406 MHz beacons far more affordable for the
average Australian.
The
result is the MT400, GME's innovative new design which incorporates
a highly stable digitally generated beacon signal using
much less power and requiring no warm-up period. The unit
is smaller, lighter, and significantly less expensive than
previous 406 MHz models yet provides the same performance. |
MT300
MT310
MT 401FF
03-9786-9422
03-9786-9610
