Topper, a voice transmission on 121.5/243MHz will not trigger an alert on the Cospas/Sarsat satellite system, certainly not on the Aus/NZ Local User Terminals (LUTs). However, electrical interferer(s) sometimes do trigger an alert. One malfunctioning VCR in Victoria did just that in 1995, and yes ACA and AsA did find the culprit!
99% of all alerts are false alarms but AusSAR still has to treat each alert as a Distress situation and will move heaven and earth to find the source. In some cases the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) plays a significant part in tracking down inadvertent and malicious activations which occur all too frequently. Particularly in school holidays! Incidentaly, Perth WA has the worst record in Australia for malicious activations!
