Better Beacons
MEOSAR technology is improving search and rescue missions.
A
s I look around the airport terminal while writing this
column, I see people with their faces buried in their
phones or tablets, blocking the view of the world around
them. We are all tied to technology, whether we’re engulfed
in work or getting our social media fix. Some may argue
that technology has taken over our lives. While there may
be some truth to this, technology, in various forms, has
also improved the day-to-day life of many — and has even
saved lives. One technology in particular, the beacon, has
proven itself as a lifesaver. And recent developments are
making beacons even better at doing their jobs.What are beacons?
EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons)
and PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) are electronic
devices that transmit an encoded emergency signal via
a Cospas-Sarsat satellite system when activated. The
signal is then sent to land-based receivers and relayed to a
processing center, which will then dispatch the appropriate
search and rescue teams.
EPIRBS are registered to vessels and are mounted on-board
in either a Category 1 bracket, which automatically deploys when
submerged, or in a Category 2 quick release manual bracket.
PLBs are smaller, registered to an individual, must be
manually deployed and can be taken from boat to boat,
on trips, vacations or even an afternoon hike. Both use the
same system of LEOSAR (Low Earth Orbit Search and
Rescue) and GEOSAR (Geostationary Orbit Search and
Rescue) satellites that are monitored and backed by a group
of four governments: France, Canada, Russia and the U.S.Obstacles and advancements
Coverage for the two satellite systems is global but may
not be instantaneous. The accuracy of pinpointing your
position can depend on how many satellites receive your
signal. There may be a point where the transmitted signal
from the beacon is not received by satellites until they pass
overhead or close by, and/or your view of the sky changes.
Those days are numbered, however, as a third and new
system is being deployed.
The next-generation MEOSAR (Medium-Earth
Orbit Search and Rescue) system is well on its way
to making the already-proven emergency
beacon system even better. ACR Electronics
and Ocean Signal recently highlighted that
their lines of emergency beacons can take
advantage of this new technology. When
complete, the 72 MEOSAR satellites will
cover more than six times the area of the
current satellite system. With this system,
emergency transmissions will be received
and responded to faster and with greater
accuracy than ever before.
The new MEOSAR system can locate a
triggered beacon within 328 feet 95 percent of
the time and within five minutes. Prior to the
initial deployment of these new MEOSARs,
response could be as long as one to two hours
depending on satellite coverage and location at
the time of activation. Now, once the signal is
received by the satellite, it can be transmitted to
terrestrial stations much faster than previously
possible. This is because the improved technology gets the
signal to those who can dispatch search and rescue teams
much faster. In the future, these new satellites will also be
able to receive a confirmation return message, letting the
activator know help is on the way.Saving lives
Additional good news is that if you currently own a satellite
beacon that works with the Cospas-Sarsat system, it too
will work with the new MEOSAR technology, so you
don’t need to rush out and by a newer model.
According to ACR, since the inception of the Cospas-
Sarsat system in 1982, more than 40,000 lives have been
saved. With ongoing improvements, that number is going
to grow — with those being saved getting help faster and
more accurately than ever before. This is an example of
technology that saves lives rather than wasting them. That’s
more than I can say about my Instagram feed! ★PHOTO BY GLENN HAYESELECTRONICS
BY GLENN HAYESGLENN HAYES is a marine
writer and photographer
whose background in the
marine industry and in
marine electronics spans
almost three decades and
many thousands of miles at
sea trave ling the world. He
can be reached at
HAYESSTUDIOS.COM. MAY 2018 | LAKELANDBOATING.COMElectronics_MAY18.indd 34 3/28/18 9:57 AM