Re: [Cal_Boats] EPIRB

Is this a 406Mhz EPIRB? If not, then your options consist of only one choice......replace the EPIRB as the older 121Mhz EPIRBS are no longer monitored, and thus are obsolete. I'd check with a local Marine Electronics repair/service company for advice, if they are a good shop they will do what they can to fix it or sell you what is needed to fix it. If it is beyond fixing, then they will have something newer (and most likely better) in stock. On Mon, 6 Apr 2009 18:01:15 -0400 "john raxter" <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> writes: I have a Alden Electronics Satfind model S1015 EPIRB. The battery was replace several years ago, and according to the sticker was suppose to last until 5/09. The �test� switch fails to activate the light, so I assume the battery is too weak to operate properly. I have not been able to find any information about Alden on the web, except they are out of the EPIRB business. When the battery was last replaced, they also were able to perform a frequency test. I am fairly mechanical and could probably get the unit apart to replace the batteries. Performing the test is beyond my current capabilities. New to Digital Photography? Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmRwb0PotdyHHGU4eoDiG5YY2shmmnxbaAs6ENqNcBuPyl1XymM/

Thanks Rodney, Yes, it is a 406 Mhz EPIRB. I thought about adding that information in the original post, about a ½ sec after I hit the send button J The problem is Local is 250 miles inshore, and while we keep the boat coastal, I am not aware of any electronic repair shops. So, I am looking for an on-line solution. I have found the batteries, shipping cost as much as the batteries. I assume the replacement would be by the end user, Me. Thanks, john From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rodney G Johnson Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:02 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] EPIRB Is this a 406Mhz EPIRB? If not, then your options consist of only one choice......replace the EPIRB as the older 121Mhz EPIRBS are no longer monitored, and thus are obsolete. I'd check with a local Marine Electronics repair/service company for advice, if they are a good shop they will do what they can to fix it or sell you what is needed to fix it. If it is beyond fixing, then they will have something newer (and most likely better) in stock. On Mon, 6 Apr 2009 18:01:15 -0400 "john raxter" <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> writes: I have a Alden Electronics Satfind model S1015 EPIRB. The battery was replace several years ago, and according to the sticker was suppose to last until 5/09. The “test” switch fails to activate the light, so I assume the battery is too weak to operate properly. I have not been able to find any information about Alden on the web, except they are out of the EPIRB business. When the battery was last replaced, they also were able to perform a frequency test. I am fairly mechanical and could probably get the unit apart to replace the batteries. Performing the test is beyond my current capabilities. New to Digital Photography? Click Here. <http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2142/fc/BLSrjpTDvmRwb0PotdyHHGU4eoDiG5Y Y2shmmnxbaAs6ENqNcBuPyl1XymM/>

John, Check the CG website, the old EPIRBs are no longer in use. They have a newer model that uses a different frequency Regards, David Dobbs --- On Mon, 4/6/09, john raxter <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> wrote: From: john raxter <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] EPIRB To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 5:01 PM Hello, I have a Alden Electronics Satfind model S1015 EPIRB. The battery was replace several years ago, and according to the sticker was suppose to last until 5/09. The “test” switch fails to activate the light, so I assume the battery is too weak to operate properly. I have not been able to find any information about Alden on the web, except they are out of the EPIRB business. When the battery was last replaced, they also were able to perform a frequency test. I am fairly mechanical and could probably get the unit apart to replace the batteries. Performing the test is beyond my current capabilities. Does anyone know of a facility or repair shop that can “economically” replace the batteries and test the unit? TIA John

David, Thanks, the S1015 is a 406 mhz epirb, so it is not one of the frequencies that is being discontinued. I have encountered two problems so far: 1. The original mfg is out of business, so the batteries are no longer being supplied to testing facilities. Even if the batteries could be found, they now are considered Hazardous materials and shipping fees exceed the cost of the batteries. 2. When the batteries are replaced. The unit should be tested for proper frequency broadcast. The coast guard also has constraints on that as well. The EPIRB came with the boat when we bought her. We rarely sail off shore so it would make more sense to buy one at a time when the need existed, maybe one of the new “personal” EPIRB would be a better purchase. Does anyone have recommendations on these type of EPIRB? Thanks John From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of david dobbs Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 11:11 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] EPIRB John, Check the CG website, the old EPIRBs are no longer in use. They have a newer model that uses a different frequency Regards, David Dobbs --- On Mon, 4/6/09, john raxter <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> wrote: From: john raxter <jr… [at] triad.rr.com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] EPIRB To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 5:01 PM Hello, I have a Alden Electronics Satfind model S1015 EPIRB. The battery was replace several years ago, and according to the sticker was suppose to last until 5/09. The “test” switch fails to activate the light, so I assume the battery is too weak to operate properly. I have not been able to find any information about Alden on the web, except they are out of the EPIRB business. When the battery was last replaced, they also were able to perform a frequency test. I am fairly mechanical and could probably get the unit apart to replace the batteries. Performing the test is beyond my current capabilities. Does anyone know of a facility or repair shop that can “economically” replace the batteries and test the unit? TIA John

We've been testing the new SPOT which while not being an EPIRB it does have a lot of the same features of an EPIRB and a couple that EPIRBs do not have. It is a very cool little unit and for $125 plus the yearly subscription of about the same you have a unit that is cheaper than renting and more than adequate for most peoples cruising. The fact that it allows us to send daily "We are fine" messages to people who tend to worry makes it on that feature alone a permanent addition to our cruising gear. I'll be talking about it more in the near future on the blog as testing continues but for the moment it seems like a real winner. McMurdo also has a new EPIRB/PLB that both West and Defender are selling for less than $300... Bob So It Goes (CAL34) http://boatbits.blogspot.com/ http://fishingundersail.blogspot.com/

That thing has cool features, but Practical Sailor's tests show it is not as durable as EPIRBs, in that it failed both the drop test and the circuit board and battery terminals [the battery compartment is not sealed] significantly corroded. They still gave it a thumbs up, as a device for use in addition to an EPIRB due to the coolness of it's features. From: loosemoosefilmworks <lo… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 6:29:05 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: EPIRB We've been testing the new SPOT which while not being an EPIRB it does have a lot of the same features of an EPIRB and a couple that EPIRBs do not have. It is a very cool little unit and for $125 plus the yearly subscription of about the same you have a unit that is cheaper than renting and more than adequate for most peoples cruising. The fact that it allows us to send daily "We are fine" messages to people who tend to worry makes it on that feature alone a permanent addition to our cruising gear. I'll be talking about it more in the near future on the blog as testing continues but for the moment it seems like a real winner. McMurdo also has a new EPIRB/PLB that both West and Defender are selling for less than $300... Bob So It Goes (CAL34) http://boatbits. blogspot. com/ http://fishingunder sail.blogspot. com/

They still gave it a thumbs up, as a device for use in addition to an EPIRB due to the coolness of it's features. ======================= That's our take as well...It is not a replacement for an EPIRB but a really cool add on to the whole keeping safe and being able to let the folks at home know you are OK ting! The unit we have...The battery compartment is waterproof as long as care is taken when replacing the batteries. everything else is factory sealed and looks good. The unit is very light but still has a fairly robust and well put together feel. That said next time we are at Budget marine we plan to find a waterproof envelope to put it in...The buttons should work though your normal phone or ipod type of envelope. We have been doing three tests a day and every time we have had a successful transmission in under ten minutes. (For the record we are currently in the Caribbean in the St Martin area so how it behaves in other areas remains to be seen) More as we continue to test it... Bob So It Goes (CAL 34) http://boatbits. blogspot. com/ http://fishingunder sail.blogspot. com/

On Wednesday 15 April 2009 19:45:28 loosemoosefilmworks wrote: > We have been doing three tests a day and every time we have had a > successful transmission in under ten minutes. (For the record we are > currently in the Caribbean in the St Martin area so how it behaves in other > areas remains to be seen) A friend left St. Catherines On CA in July of 2008 and picked up a unit on his first port of call in the States. He has broadcast his position daily on route down the Eastern Seaboard on his way to Cuba. Its really great for getting position reports when there is no net connectivity. It seems to work as advertised. Cannot comment on anything else as its not my unit. As far a sending a signal it has worked flawlessly on a daily basis since July. Funny thing is he was supposed to stay in Cuba after checking in. in Havana...not exactly sure what he's doing way out here...:...) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=21.6153,-85.8461&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 (example of link send via Spot) -- /ch