Testing an EPIRB
 

After reading a number of accident reports I decided to buy an EPIRB last year. I have also more recently read of an incident where someone in the sea activated theirs, the light came on, but unknown to them, the beacon did not work.

So I would like to test mine. It is a 121.5 one and I know in the US and France you can do a brief (< 5 second test) during the first 5 minutes of any hour. I am not sure if this is possible in the UK - can anyone tell me & point me to the Radiocommunications Agency/ CAA (or other) guidance on this?

My McMurdo Fastfind Plus comes with testing instructions broadly along the lines you mention. I'd suggest contacting the EPIRB registry in Falmouth for more guidance:

http://www.radio.gov.uk/publication/ra_info/ra258.htm

You won't have any problems testing it after 2009 (Cospas-Sarsat) . This little advertised fact means 121.5 (and 243) are becoming obsolete and since Oct 2000 you're recommended to get 406MHz ELT's. Beware cheap 121.5 ELT's offered for sale!

Ved

Yeh I know about the satellite being turned off, but its not really much of a satellite - it can take up to 90mins to pick you up. 121.5 really comes in for homing by SAR, which I understand they are keeping. In most cases I would exepect to be able to get a Maday call out b4 (or after on the handheld) and I assume airliners & others will contiinue listen out on 121.5 as we're not changing our other radios.

So given 406 units can be 4-5 times price of 121.5 and if money is an object, and like mine its for personal use and not a specific a/c, then I'd still recommend getting one at the moment. And if you can get one cheap then even better! - I think it will have a life well beyond 5 years.

QDM

I guess I'll have to call up the EPIRB guys - thanks for the input