NEW TRICKS FOR AN OLD DOG
P Wren · 1989
The old dog referred to in the title is the 121.5 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Beacon (EPIRB), which has become known for sometimes generating false alarms, not operating when required and not giving emergency situation survivors any indication that the unit is operating. The tricks are improvements to the 121.5 MHz system. A 6 db increase in signal power is possible, a new handheld phase-locked loop receiver is in development, and a transmitted signal with good spectral qualities can be processed by a satellite signal processor with excellent locational accuracy. Although the 121.5 MHz EPIRB system may eventually be phased out, these improvements could meanwhile result in the saving of additional lives.