Another first for SBARC.

Recently our technical team installed a 406 beacon monitor receiver at Santa Ynez Peak. The 406 channel is the new digital uplink for all ELT-EPIRB-PLB distress beacons utilized worldwide. All beacons operate in the same 406 band, ELT for aircraft, EPIRB for vessels, and PLB's for personal use. After installation K6LUD noted several beacons in test mode which does not alarm out through the NOAA system. Very precise lat/lon is one feature which allows rescue services to focus very quickly on subjects in distress. At 10:30 PM last night a PLB was received by Ludovico Cavedon, K6LUD, which was not in test mode but a live alert. The beacon was located mid-channel between the South Coast and Santa Cruz Island. The Coast Guard at Long Beach was called by W1UUQ and the lat/lon and other specifics correlated precisely. A cutter was dispatched. As the vessel approached Santa Barbara our 121.5 MHz ELT receiver at La Cumbre Peak alarmed out then subsequently shut down at 0515 after the crew was safely on land. Specifics of why the beacon was activated is not known at this time. Programming the alert functions are under the direction of K6LUD. After a period of test and evaluation the 406 system operations and response will be turned over to Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue which is the lead agency for distress beacons in SB County. The beacon monitor was privately funded by W1UUQ.

For more information about the 406 program go to:

https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/faq%202.html

Bill Talanian

w1uuq