CWK
Contributor
I have quite a few signalling devices but certainly less than @Dan_T. I now don't really think about getting more signalling devices but do think along different lines:
1. I think of upgrading what I have. As an example, my existing SMB will be replaced with a SOLAS SMB or a radar reflecting SMB. And, instead of eventually replacing the battery in my existing PLB that is rated for 24+Hrs, I'd be looking for a PLB that is rated for 36Hrs.
2. I also think of ways to deploy my signalling devices more effectively. My two radio beacons have operational limits of 24+Hrs for continuous transmission. To me, there is no need for continuous transmission, so I'm thinking of how best to deploy them intermittantly in order to extend their deployment window beyond 24Hrs. For the MRG, I'm thinking of activating it immediately for 20mins than switching it off for 1Hr and repeating. Assuming that I am drifting at 5 nautical miles per hour, I will have sequential MRG circular broadcast footprints that are 5 nautical miles apart at the centre and should be just as effective as having it broadcast continuously. However, I'd be extending transmission from 24Hrs to 96Hrs. I'm thinking along similar lines (intermittant transmission) for the PLB. SAR should have been alerted by the boat or resort that I'd diving with as part of the lost diver protocol, so there should be no need to activate the PLB immediately in order to tell SAR that I am lost at sea. I'd probably activate the PLB after 6Hrs, which immediate extends its transmission window by 6Hrs from the start of the situation. SAR will probably not get to me within 6Hrs anyway if I am are diving remote 3rd world countries. Once the PLB is activated, SAR will have my present coordinates as well as my initial coordinates from the dive boat/resort and can plot a reasonably accurate intercept for my drift direction and speed. Activating the PLB for 20mins then deactivating it for the next hour extends its useful life to 96Hrs, which in addition to 6Hrs for the initial delay in transmission, gives a total of 102Hrs. By activating the PLB intermittantly (20mins on then 60mins off), SAR has a continual plot of my drift to help them narrow the search area. These radio beacons give GPS coordinates, which should be highly accurate so SAR should get to me once I have started activating them.
3. I think of how to survive longer should SAR be a little slow. By using my two radio beacons intermittantly, I can extend the useful transmission window to in excess of 96Hrs. The survival guideline is 3 days(72Hrs) without water. This is the limiting factor that I have to address. Given limited carrying capacity, I'd prioritise some water over more signalling devices.
1. I think of upgrading what I have. As an example, my existing SMB will be replaced with a SOLAS SMB or a radar reflecting SMB. And, instead of eventually replacing the battery in my existing PLB that is rated for 24+Hrs, I'd be looking for a PLB that is rated for 36Hrs.
2. I also think of ways to deploy my signalling devices more effectively. My two radio beacons have operational limits of 24+Hrs for continuous transmission. To me, there is no need for continuous transmission, so I'm thinking of how best to deploy them intermittantly in order to extend their deployment window beyond 24Hrs. For the MRG, I'm thinking of activating it immediately for 20mins than switching it off for 1Hr and repeating. Assuming that I am drifting at 5 nautical miles per hour, I will have sequential MRG circular broadcast footprints that are 5 nautical miles apart at the centre and should be just as effective as having it broadcast continuously. However, I'd be extending transmission from 24Hrs to 96Hrs. I'm thinking along similar lines (intermittant transmission) for the PLB. SAR should have been alerted by the boat or resort that I'd diving with as part of the lost diver protocol, so there should be no need to activate the PLB immediately in order to tell SAR that I am lost at sea. I'd probably activate the PLB after 6Hrs, which immediate extends its transmission window by 6Hrs from the start of the situation. SAR will probably not get to me within 6Hrs anyway if I am are diving remote 3rd world countries. Once the PLB is activated, SAR will have my present coordinates as well as my initial coordinates from the dive boat/resort and can plot a reasonably accurate intercept for my drift direction and speed. Activating the PLB for 20mins then deactivating it for the next hour extends its useful life to 96Hrs, which in addition to 6Hrs for the initial delay in transmission, gives a total of 102Hrs. By activating the PLB intermittantly (20mins on then 60mins off), SAR has a continual plot of my drift to help them narrow the search area. These radio beacons give GPS coordinates, which should be highly accurate so SAR should get to me once I have started activating them.
3. I think of how to survive longer should SAR be a little slow. By using my two radio beacons intermittantly, I can extend the useful transmission window to in excess of 96Hrs. The survival guideline is 3 days(72Hrs) without water. This is the limiting factor that I have to address. Given limited carrying capacity, I'd prioritise some water over more signalling devices.