• Essential Distress Beacon Information
• Distress Beacon
• What is a distress beacon?
• How does a distress beacon works
• Why switching to 406MHz?
• GPS vs Non-GPS
• What type of distress beacon are there
• Distress beacon available for sale in PNG & Australia
• What is the HexID or UNI?
• How do I decode a programmed HexID
• Batteries & Disposal
• 406 MHz Beacon Registration
• Contact us

ESSENTIAL DISTRESS BEACON INFORMATION
121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite.
You MUST switch to a 406 MHz distress beacon as soon as possible.
Do not risk your life by relying on a 121.5 MHz distress beacon.
After 1 Feb 2010, old analogue EPIRBs and PLBs operating on 121.5 MHz are no longer used.

Distress Beacons
What is a distress beacon?
Why switching to 406 MHz?
GPS verses Non-GPS
What type of distress Beacons are there
How does a distress beacon works
What is the Hex ID or UNI
How do I decode a programmed HexID

What is a distress beacon?
A distress beacon is a small portable battery powered radio transmitter that is both watertight and buoyant, operate on digital frequency of 406 MHz, When activated in a life-threatening situation, will assists rescue authorities in their search to locate those in distress.

How does a distress beacon works.
When a distress beacon is activated, it transmits a signal that is detectable by satellites and overflying aircraft. As the satellites orbit the Earth they 'listen' for any active beacons and report their position to rescue authorities.
Beacons developed for the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system operate on 406 MHz and use digital technology that allows the beacon to transmit a unique code (HexID or UIN) that identifies the beacon. Satellite processing of 121.5 MHz signals ceased on 1 February 2009.

Why switching to 406 MHz?

As of 1 February 2009 Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer detect 121.5 MHz distress beacons.
Major advantages of switching to a 406 MHz distress beacon are:

• their improved accuracy - especially those that are GPS capable;
• the capability for search and rescue authorities to determine whether the alert is legitimate - for those that are registered, a simple phone call can determine this;
• and a faster response - valuable information about those in distress and the distress location can be gained by rescue authorities contacting friends and family nominated as emergency contacts.

Distress beacon owners must make the switch to 406 now as 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite.

GPS versus Non-GPS

A comparison of GPS vs non-GPS 406 MHz distress beacons

What type of distress Beacon are there
There are 3 types:

• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) used in ships and boats;
• Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) used in aircraft; and
• Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) for personal use by bushwalkers, four-wheel drivers, other adventurers on land, employees working in remote areas, crew in boats and aircrew.

EPIRBs are designed to float in the water to optimise the signal to the satellite. An EPIRB is required to operate for a minimum of 48 hours continuously once activated. An EPIRB has a lanyard that is used to secure it to something that is not going to sink so that it can float free. There have been a number of incidents where vessels have sunk quickly and crew have not been able to deploy an EPIRB. In such incidents, float-free EPIRBs may have reduced response times and saved lives. Float-free EPIRBs are held in a bracket and fitted with a hydrostatic release that is water activated deploying the beacon automatically if the vessel sinks. If the vessel continues to float then the EPIRB can be manually deployed where a distress situation exists.
NOTE: Although Yachting Australia requires all crew in Category 1 and 2 ocean yacht races to carry a PLB when on deck, an EPIRB must also be carried in the yacht. Likewise, PLBs are not considered a substitute for EPIRBs when adhering to State and Territory marine regulations on the carriage of EPIRBs.
ELTs are usually fixed in the aircraft and are designed to activate on impact. ELTs are required to operate continuously for 24 hours once activated. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations require most aircraft to carry an ELT. CASA regulations allow for PLBs or EPIRBs to be carried in General Aviation aircraft as an alternative to an ELT.

PLBs are designed for personal use in both the land and marine environment. This type of beacon is becoming a multi-environment beacon. PLBs are required to operate for a minimum of 24 hours once activated.
406 MHz beacons come in two basic types: those that provide an encoded (GPS) location and those that do not. The satellite system can calculate a beacon's location, but locating a distress site is usually much faster if the beacon signal provides a GPS location.

Distress Beacons available for sale in Papua New Guinea and Australia*
*According to AS/NZS 4280.1 and AS/NZS 4280.2
Beacon models
The following lists the 406 MHz EPIRBs and PLBs that are commonly found in PNG.
406 MHz EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons)
The below list is subject to change. Please refer to the manufacturers websites for more information.
NMSA does not endorse any particular brand of distress beacon.

406 MHz PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons)
NOTE: PLBs are not considered a substitute for EPIRBs when adhering to State and Territory marine regulations on the carriage of EPIRBs.

What is the HexID or UIN?
The HexID or Unique Identity Number (UIN) is the unique code programmed into each 406 MHz distress beacon and transmitted when the beacon is activated. When registering a distress beacon, this code must be included on the registration form as it is the only code that links the individual distress beacon to the registration database. Without the HexID the beacon cannot be registered.
The HexID is 15 characters long and is made up of hexadecimal numbers (0-9) and letters (A-F). The code can be found on the label of all 406 MHz distress beacons.

How do I decode a programmed HexID?
406 MHz distress beacons are coded to reflect the beacon type and use. The coding carried out by the supplier results in a unique identifier for your beacon called the HexID. When the HexID is decoded it reveals the country code (553 is Papua New Guinea) and, depending on the protocol used, a vessel or aircraft radio callsign, MMSI or registration, or a serial number linked to the registration database and, in the case of beacons with input, a GPS position.
If a beacon is coded with an MMSI, radio callsign or aircraft registration, it is tied to that vessel or aircraft and if it is transferred to another vehicle it would have to be recoded. Beacons coded using either the manufacturers' serial numbers or national serial numbers available from NMSA can be transferred more easily.

Batteries & Disposal
When should distress beacon batteries be replaced
Distress beacon batteries need to be replaced before the expiry date noted on the label of the beacon. This will ensure that the beacon will transmit for the minimum time required once activated. Battery life varies from model to model. Batteries should be replaced by the manufacturer or their radio dealer.