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Something you might have missed in the T500 SI's

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(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 
[#24741]

Apparently every SAILOR now needs an EPIRB this year as opposed to the past two years where only one was required. This was a recommendation of the Coast Guard/Homeland Security.

Just wanted to make sure everyone knew before too long.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 2:56 pm
Jake Kohl
(@jake)
Posts: 11744
Three Star Admiral Registered
 
Originally Posted by Undecided
Apparently every SAILOR now needs an EPIRB this year as opposed to the past two years where only one was required. This was a recommendation of the Coast Guard/Homeland Security.

Just wanted to make sure everyone knew before too long.

I did not miss that and I agree with it completely. Each sailor should have an EPIRB because it's possible that both could get separated from the boat leaving nobody to turn the thing on.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 3:05 pm
(@stank)
Posts: 5061
One Star Admiral Registered
 

you're talking the little ones, right? Not the gigantic ones I see in offshore boats.... What is it, 406 MHz now? Or is that the old frequency?


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 4:14 pm
(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 

406 is the new one. 121.5's are the old worthless ones now.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 4:16 pm
(@_removed-account)
Posts: 15030
Four Star Admiral Registered
 

406 are the new ones, start shopping now as there is a shortage world wide because the highly intelegent manufactures hadn't considered the fact that every Epirb they'd made for the last 10 years would need to be replaced overnight and that everyone would leave it untill the last minute.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 4:19 pm
(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 

Here's another lower-priced alternative to the ACR Microfix. Seems that it has the same operating statistics. I believe McMurdo is the manufacturer.

http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant... 10&Category_Code=E&Store_Code=MS


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 4:23 pm
Jake Kohl
(@jake)
Posts: 11744
Three Star Admiral Registered
 
Originally Posted by Undecided
Here's another lower-priced alternative to the ACR Microfix. Seems that it has the same operating statistics. I believe McMurdo is the manufacturer.

http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant... 10&Category_Code=E&Store_Code=MS

Now we're talking...$299 is more like it. However, I did read some reviews of McMurdo's past EPIRBs and they weren't very flattering...it downright didn't work sometimes....and that

anticipated april 2009

delivery is cutting it awfully close for the Tybee.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 5:31 pm
(@_removed-account)
Posts: 15030
Four Star Admiral Registered
 
Originally Posted by Jake
and that

anticipated april 2009

delivery is cutting it awfully close for the Tybee.

From what I'm hearing in the industry don't trust anyones delivery dates on Epirbs at present. Buy from someone who has stock now not someone who'll get it in soon. Pay the premium and don't be disappointed.


 
Posted : March 26, 2009 6:34 pm
(@Anonymous 39709)
Posts: 913
 

Update: Spoke with Steve Murray today and they just got the E-PIRBS in. They have a couple dozen and are expecting them to go fast if you want one or two for the Tybee.


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 1:49 pm
(@david.ingram)
Posts: 3879
Captain Registered
 

Wow, this is right around the corner. I'm looking forward to following you guys through the media.


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 2:54 pm
(@_removed-account)
Posts: 15030
Four Star Admiral Registered
 

We always had two since the Worrell days. I don't see much of a difference.


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 4:02 pm
(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 

When I mentioned it to Sean, he said that last year was the first year that they stopped allowing 121.5 EPIRBS and that the cost of the 406's were so great that they wanted to make it easier on the racers to adopt the new equipment and maintain compliance with the race and the CG.


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 4:08 pm
(@Anonymous 13274)
Posts: 3111
 
Originally Posted by DUH
We always had two since the Worrell days. I don't see much of a difference.

Check your freq, Freak.


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 5:19 pm
(@_removed-account)
Posts: 15030
Four Star Admiral Registered
 

Lee:

Good luck and stay safe. Pulling for you.

Doug


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 5:27 pm
(@_removed-account)
Posts: 15030
Four Star Admiral Registered
 
Originally Posted by John Williams
Originally Posted by DUH
We always had two since the Worrell days. I don't see much of a difference.

Check your freq, Freak.

sorry, ik begrijp niet computertaal


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 7:05 pm
Todd A. Hart
(@team_cat_fever)
Posts: 3061
Captain Registered
 

406khz


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 8:08 pm
(@mikekrantz)
Posts: 819
Chief Registered
 

Dave and I picked up the McMurdo Fast Find units - $400 and about the size of a cell phone...


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 9:57 pm
(@cyberspeed)
Posts: 1140
Master Chief Registered
 

Do Spot Satelite Messengers count as EPIRBS? I just got one and they basically work the same as my EPIRB with enhanced features.

I am doing a separate thread on this but I am working with a online software developer using spot units to webcast events. He has agreed to cover the Endurance Series and we are testing it over the next four days to use it for the Keys 100. The developer webcast mountan bike races in the desert and is looking forward to doing boat races. I think I can get him to do the Tybee 500 if there is interest.

West Palm Beach to Key West Run


 
Posted : April 15, 2009 11:25 pm
(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 
Quote
Do Spot Satelite Messengers count as EPIRBS? I just got one and they basically work the same as my EPIRB with enhanced features.

NO!!!!

They do NOT work the same as your EPIRB by any means!


 
Posted : April 16, 2009 7:06 am
Jake Kohl
(@jake)
Posts: 11744
Three Star Admiral Registered
 
Originally Posted by cyberspeed
Do Spot Satelite Messengers count as EPIRBS? I just got one and they basically work the same as my EPIRB with enhanced features.

I am doing a separate thread on this but I am working with a online software developer using spot units to webcast events. He has agreed to cover the Endurance Series and we are testing it over the next four days to use it for the Keys 100. The developer webcast mountan bike races in the desert and is looking forward to doing boat races. I think I can get him to do the Tybee 500 if there is interest.

West Palm Beach to Key West Run

I'm quite sure they do not count as EPIRBs.

There is definitely some interest in the Tybee 500 for the technology. However, there were some limitations with the data that was published last year. I was ground crew last year and tried to use the three or four teams that had them as a tracking tool.

1) the data intervals were irregular (see item 3)
2) displaying multiple teams on one screen was not possible unless they were all registered under the same account (sounds like you're working on that)
3) no interpolation of the data points...you could look at the boat positions but one team's position may have been from 30 seconds ago and the other from 20 minutes ago making it extremely difficult to determine who was actually in what position. I know it's a complicated solution, but you could interpolate the last speed and heading point on the map and get a better idea of boat position. This would make the map much more meaningful to the observer.


 
Posted : April 16, 2009 7:36 am
(@wildtsail308)
Posts: 754
Member
 

If you want to rent a Spot for this year's race these guys will rent it to you for $25 for the week with service and all.
http://www.skycallcommunications.com/
Really nice guy.
I have nothing to gain from this but I think its too good of a deal not to rent for the week.
Plus, I think since they are coming from the same place we will be able to see them all on the same page?


 
Posted : April 16, 2009 10:32 pm
(@Anonymous 39832)
Posts: 3281
Topic starter
 

And if you need to rent a EPIRB, head over to www.plbrentals.com


 
Posted : April 17, 2009 7:05 am
(@cyberspeed)
Posts: 1140
Master Chief Registered
 

Jake, the TopoFusion guys have the multiple users figured out. All they need is a link to a shared page from each unit. They have both an event page and a team page. The event page shows the course highlighted in red with baloons marking the start, finish and any other marks needed and the last position of each team. The team page shows which shows the course and the individual tracking for the individual team.

event page: http://www.topofusion.com/tracker-sail.php
team page: http://www.topofusion.com/tracker-saili.php?name=Craig%20Van%20Eaton

You get the team page by clicking on the name on the leaderboard. I screwed up my tracking at the beginning and when I picke up Bruce in Delray. I tried to send an

ok

and somehow turned off the tracking. Noticed it after a little while but you can see the holes in the route on my team page. Other than that I think it only missed one point. I had the unit on the mast.

I heard that the tracking is consistent at 10 minute intervals. If it misses one it sends the next 10 minutes. Also heard if you start the tracking at the same time (sync up) they will display pretty close to the same time. Will try to find that out this weekend.

If anyone is doing the MKL send me your shared page link and I can add you to the current event page.


 
Posted : April 17, 2009 10:24 am
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