From: Richard B. Emerson <pavilion_at_pinefields.com>
Date: Fri Mar 09 2007 - 16:41:42 PST

From the USCG Fifth District Local Notice to Mariners 10/07:

121.5/243 MHZ EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACON (EPIRB) USE PROHIBITED
remove all distress alerting beacons operating on these frequencies prior to February 1, 2009 when satellite detection of these frequencies will
terminate. Owners of Class A, B, or S 121.5 MHz EPIRBS are encouraged to replace these beacons with Category I or Category II 406 MHz
beacons as soon as possible. When taking obsolete beacons out of service, owners must remove and properly dispose of batteries to prevent
future false alerts from occurring.
Beacon owners in the U.S. are required by law to register their 406 MHz beacons in the national database operated by NOAA at:
www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov or by calling 1-888-212-SAVE. All beacon owners are reminded to carefully follow their specific beacon
manufacturer's instructions when conducting tests of emergency beacons to prevent false alerts.


- - -

Note that some so-called "personal" EPIRB's  are offered with 121.5 MHz beacons.  Shop accordingly. 

Cheers,
Rick Emerson
----------------------------------------------------------- Baba Panda and Tashiba Owners Mailing List -- For more info, please check out the FAQ... http://www.ballreich.net/hypermail/baba-l/faq.html Received on Fri Mar 9 16:42:11 2007