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Detection of your signal takes an average of 90 minutes in New Zealand, but it can be up to five hours. It will then take longer still for search and rescue authorities to search for you, and find you.
When these distress beacons are detected by satellite, you will at best be located to within an area of about 20 kilometres of your location, but it could be a greater distance.
These 121.5 MHz beacons will be obsolete in February 2009. If you own one of these beacons, you need to switch to a 406 MHz beacon before this deadline.
More about 406 MHz beacons
By using a 406 MHz beacon you’ll in most cases be found faster. Why? Because a 406 MHz beacon decreases the size of the search area by a dramatic 97% (compared with a 121.5 MHz beacon). This search area can be reduced even more if the beacon includes a Global Positioning System.
A 406 MHz distress beacon works by emitting a digital 406 MHz signal and may have an analogue 121.5 MHz signal. The digital signal carries a code, which identifies the beacon, while the analogue signal enables aircraft to home on your location. That digital code can be cross-referenced with a database of registered 406 MHz beacon owners, held at RCCNZ.
The database of 406 MHz beacon owners includes phone numbers and other vital information that enables the appropriate response to the emergency. In the case of a false alarm, this information enables RCCNZ to make a call to the registered beacon owner to see if they are in genuine distress or has a beacon transmitting by accident. (Many false alarms occur because the switch on the distress beacon has been bumped.)
If you own a 406 MHz beacon please ensure RCCNZ has your correct registration information. Registration is FREE.
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