EPIRB = Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.
It is a device that is used to send a radio signal to tell others that you need emergency help.
It is not a phone! Commercial aircraft and ships carry them.
They can save a lot of time and money when looking for someone who is lost or hurt.
They can save lives. They can also save suffering while you wait for the alarm to be raised
by being overdue at the next point of civilisation, you could be signalling by EPIRB.
Strictly speaking not all EPIRBs are EPIRBs, they can be called
ELT = Emergency Locator Transmitter or
PLB = Personal Locator Beacon. The different names come from the intended use;
Marine, Aviation or Land.
Most people just call them all EPIRBs.
One of the problems on a motorcycle is that it is a solo activity. With adventure riding in Australia, you can be on a road that might only have another vehicle once a month if that. Being able to summon help rather than waiting for the alarm to be raised when you don't arrive and the search party to find you means help arrives quicker and with less cost.
When activated the EPIRB system can locate you within a 20 km radius. The radio signal can be used to help the search party locate you using local direction finding equipment. With the motor cycle you should be on a road, so it should be easy to find you when compared to a bushwalker or skier.
There are two systems, the old analog system and the newer digital system. The old analogue system is going to be phased out, say 2006 the system will not be replaced as it fails. The new digital system is currently much more expensive but locates you with more precision using the GPS system and also identifies you. This enables the search people to check that the signal is a 'real emergency' (75% of all alarms are false, people painting the boat accidentally activate the alarm ... etc) by contacting a person you have nominated when you register your EPIRB, and you also register your trip plans with the same person.
The one I use weights less than 200g, and is about the size of a mobile phone. The batteries are supposed to last 10 years, but they only recommend them for 5 years... I think in 5 years time (2005) the situation may have changed enough that the digital option may be the way to go. I would now carry the EPIRB inside a high density foam inside my motorcycle jacket, I think it best to carry about the chest as this area looks to suffer least damage. You would not want to carry it no your belt, too much possibility of smashing it in a fall.
You can e-mail me at Yahoo. Dated 30 January 2001
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