Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone here has taken the new computer based SAR Fundamentals course. I'm working through it now in preperation of taking my test later this week so I can compete in the upcomming SWE (originally took the paper based test 5 days after it became obsolete, grrrr!!!). Anyway, working through this course it appears to me that it still needs some polishing done to it. One of the biggest complaints seem to be that the little quizzes at the end of the modules don't tell you what the correct answer is if you get the question wrong. One thing that I have noticed is that the quizes are graded inconsistantly, for example one question asks what the homing freq is on a 406MHz EPIRB, obviously I answered 406MHz and got the question correct, however when I went back and retook the quiz to correct the ones I had gotten wrong, it then marked the EBIRB incorrect even though I had selected 406MHz once again. (This instance has me worried that this trait might also be present on the EOCT, hense answer correctly but get it marked wrong, or vice versa).
Also, the course refers to a DMB as both a Data Marker Buoy and a Datam Marker Buoy. Very confusing. I've noticed a few other oddities also and just wondered if anyone else has observed the same.

OK, first thing, except for a couple of prototypes, we can not DF of 406MHZ. First thing, a 406 MHZ epirb doesn't broadcast a single thing on the 406 MHZ freg. I'll let you look it up, but here is a hint - 406 is an abreviation.
Second, the 406 EPIRBs broadcast a homing signal on 121.5mhz. The '406' mhz freq only broadcasts a short (~3/4 second) data burst every ~40 seconds.

Shoot me an email at work about the two meanings of DMB, I'll get that fixed

My apologies Master Chief, I am not am EPIRB expert by any stretch of the imagination, my main point was the grading discrepancy (which I am now questioning my memory of). I went through the EPIRB section again and did not see that the homing Freq was specifically stated, however.
I will e-mail you tommorow at work as you requested.

Well, now you are more of an expert!

As an FYI, I know I have included that question as an elephant bite and I wrote an entire section on the prototype 406.25mhz DF equipment on a couple of C-130.

I sent the email this morning to the folks ho will look at what you reported.

According to the 2008 SARSAT Confrence:
The EPIRB sends out three separate pieces of data:

406 MHz data burst (every 52 seconds @ 5 watts)
121.5 constant warbling tone (25 milliwatts)
GPS signal embedded in the 406 MHz pulse

Initially, it was believed that the 440 millisecond pulse was too short to be reliably “homed” on. Technological advances now allow us to DF on this signal from great distances.

Latest DF-403-F Instals as of 1-24-08
12 Installs throught the USCG.

Time Lines:
C-130 H: 2007-10/08
C-130 J: 2007-2008
HU-25: 2007-2008
CASA 235: 2007-2020 (36 TOTAL)
MH-60T: 2008-2012
MH-65C: 2007-2010
R21 Towers: Est. 2010
Cutters small boats: RP’s under review (interim solution?)

Comparisons:
Old days: 1-5 miles (maybe!)
Modern day: 100-150 miles away.
Recent case: picked up the 406 signal 620 NM away from 4000’ (an anomaly, I know)… perhaps atmospheric “skipping” similar to HF propagation / ROTHR (HF radar

MC, I have a Powerpoint describing the entire system if you would like.

God Bless the 406,

Just for fun on this thread, I just had a case where District told us they had a 406 pinging in my AOR and it was over 90miles off shore. I requested a falcon and helo and sent them out. Falcon arrives on scene and there's a older couple clinging to some rocks that their sail boat smashed to pieces on, but the Male was holding onto something with all his might. When he was lifted into the helo, he was holding his Epirb. Was a good day.

Ship;
Good info there. Pretty much what I had in a recent lead article in a force notes.
MC