[MilCom] ELT Alert Beacons Can Hobbyists Help In Reporting Quicker?

[Ken]

Thanks for the input!!

You are correct on the Satellite aspect of not monitoring the 121.5 mhz 
signals by 2009; HOWEVER, all of the devices will still transmit a homing 
signal on 121.5 mhz.  The newer beacons will actually transmit a data burst 
in the 406.025 mhz area, that will ID the beacon.  The newer beacon 
freqs/equipment will allow a more specific area to be identified rather than 
the present equipment & method.

During a recent CAP Northeast Region SAR competition at Westover JARB, MA. 
I was able to pickup the ELT practice transmitter (121.775) (weak signal 
squelch off) using a RS ground plane antenna mounted on a rake handle inside 
my garage about  1 mile away.  I was looking for this signal. IF I had my 
squelch on, I wouldn't have picked up the signal.  So unless you are right 
on top of the signal, it's going to be difficult during normal scanning 
operations (e.g. squelch on & scanning) to readily pickup the signals.

I do agree that if you are close to an airport with a manned control tower 
they are already going to know about the ELT signal.  HOWEVER, if you live 
next to an uncontrolled airport (e.g. UNICOM only) or no airport and you 
pickup the signal, consider notifying the appropriate FAA officials in your 
area.

An unknown at this point is who is going to chase down the Personal Locator 
Beacons IF they go off, especially if they are unregistered with NOAA.  It 
is my understanding that Civil Air Patrol does not have that mission at this 
point.

Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brooke Clarke" <brooke at pacific.net>
To: <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 2:14 AM
Subject: [MilCom] ELT Alert Beacons Can Hobbyists Help In Reporting Quicker?


> Hi Ken:
>
> It's my understanding that in a couple of years the SARSAT system will 
> quit responding to 121.5 and 243 MHz beacons and only work with the new 
> registered digital 406 MHz units.
>
> The problem with using scanners to pickup either of these frequencies is 
> that they are purely line of sight and are low power.  If you live near an 
> airport and hear a beacon it's probably coming from the airport.