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>EPIRBs are a reasonable means of summoning assistance, for a diver >in a real emergency. The SAR folks do not take misuse and frivolous >use kindly. They fine you lots of money if you "check the system." > What exactly are the capabilities of the 121.5 MHz EPIRBs that justify your previous statement? Is a 12.5 sq nm initial search grid really helpful in your opinion? What is the nominal signal range of the 121.5MHz signal when the transmitting antenna is located at sea level with respect to surface DF capable receivers mounted 3m above sea level? What type of dive profile/situation would justify a diver carrying an EPIRB. How many SAR actions have you personally been involved in with 121.5 MHz EPIRBs? Does the average SAR response time with this type of EPIRB system really make sense to carry this piece of equipment on a dive? I'm thinking of SAR repsonse time vs exposure time. Bill, what qualifications do you hold from either the FAA or USCG? Any engineering degrees? Any qualifications that would convince a mildly skeptical individual that know what you are talking about here? > >About the West Marine Company's ad / web page - they sell a good >variety of marine safety gear. They sell the higher frequency, >registered and licensed EPIRB, and they sell the much less expensive, >often called 'near coastal,' ( I don't have catalogs in front of me ) >EPIRBs. > Which one/type are YOU recommending for a diver to carry? That is the point of the post after all. > >I have a strobe on my BCD and carry at least one in a pocket for anchor >marking. And a DiveAlert, and whistle, and rockets. I have lots of >strobes and a small EPIRB on my boat. > Why do you NOT carry an EPIRB on your dives? I thought you recommended them? Are you just recommending others to carry one? >If I haven't convinced you that small EPIRBs work, consider the frequent >SAR log reports wherein FAD activations have been tracked down, usually >in marinas, and the jerks really hammered financially. > No. I remain unconvinced that 121.5 MHz EPIRBs are any more useful than a brick for a diver to carry on their person during a dive. The concept sounds good, the real life performance issues are what I am after and what I question. EPIRBs for boats and liferafts are a different matter and NOT the subject of this or any previous post in this thread other than the fact that SAR log reports you refer to would probably reference boating EPIRB initiated emergencies and not diver initiated EPIRB SAR activities. Could you help me track down some facts here? The USCG web site makes no reference to EPIRBs nor can I find a good online reference for SAR log reports. My time is limited and your arguments have not conviced me to justify a trip to the library to continue the search. Specifcally: 1) What is the average response time in locating the source of a 121.5 MHz signal? 2) What is the average response time in completing a SAR based on a 121.5 MHz EPIRB? 3) How many SAR responses with respect to 121.5 MHz EPIRB signals have not been resolved (i.e. signal stopped before source was located). Regards, John -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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