New satellite improves distress beacon coverage over Australia

With the siting of another Geostationary satellite over the Equator at 155 degrees East, the coverage for 406 MHz distress beacons on the Australian continent and its surrounding seas has been improved.

The introduction of the third geostationary satellite in the region allows for more reliable near instantaneous alerting from 406MHz distress beacons within the Australian Search and Rescue Region.

Geostationary satellites carry receivers that can detect 406MHz alerts but are unable to provide a position for the beacon unless the beacon is fitted with a GPS. The GPS positional information is then retransmitted by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system to the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra from where a search and rescue operation would be coordinated.

Even without a GPS position, RCC staff can obtain valuable information from the 406MHz beacon registration database allowing earlier intervention.

So make sure you have a 406MHz distress beacon and make sure it is correctly registered. Once registered, make sure your nominated contacts have details of your activities so that they can assist RCC staff should they be called.

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