“The agency is switching to digital frequencies and says the new equipment cannot process signals transmitting on 121.5 or 243.0 MHz.”
Sounds like poor planning to me. Is the entire world supposed to upgrade to satisfy the new equpiment? I thought the Coast Guard was supposed to help people.
More information here:
http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/firstpage/121.5phaseout.htm
Beginning in 2009, only 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. This affects all maritime beacons (EPIRBs), all aviation beacons (ELTs) and all personal beacons (PLBs). However, other devices (such as man overboard systems and homing transmitters) that operate at 121.5 MHz and do not rely on satellite detection will not be affected by the phase-out of satellite processing at 121.5 MHz.
That ended with the War on Drugs. We USED to help people. Now we can locate a good salvage guy or a private tow company.
If, however, you are stupid enough to go out in some hairy storm, we’ll come get you.