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406 MHz EPIRB False Alerts Study

406 MHz EPIRB False Alerts Study. EPIRB False Alerts Study. Study was research project by: Larry Yarbrough, USCG District 7 (dpi) Newton Anderson, USCG Auxiliary. Why does US Coast Guard care about EPIRB False Alerts?. 96% 406 MHz EPIRB Alerts are false

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406 MHz EPIRB False Alerts Study

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  1. 406 MHz EPIRB False Alerts Study

  2. EPIRB False Alerts Study Study was research project by: Larry Yarbrough, USCG District 7 (dpi) Newton Anderson, USCG Auxiliary

  3. Why does US Coast Guard care about EPIRB False Alerts? • 96% 406 MHz EPIRB Alerts are false • 85% Resolved by RCCs with registration and good detective work • Projected increase in EPIRB population will bring increase in number of false alerts

  4. Why does US Coast Guard care about EPIRB False Alerts? • $3.6 million in A/C time and fuel on 406 MHz EPIRB false alerts in 2007 • SAR crews put at risk • SAR assets less available for actual distress • Fatigues and dulls the SAR system

  5. EPIRB False Alerts Study • Study data limited to: • US Registered 406 MHz EPIRBs • transmitting a 406 MHz False Alert • where secondary data collection was accomplished, through RCC telephone interview of vessels owner or operator at the time of the alert • Study Population came from all USMCC alerts passed to US Coast Guard RCCs

  6. EPIRB False Alerts • 1 May - 31 Dec 2007 • USMCC received 1577 406 MHz EPIRB alerts • 5% (83) were Distress Alerts • 1494 False Alerts (non-distress and ceased/undetermined alerts)

  7. EPIRB False Alerts • 1494 False Alerts (non-distress and ceased/undetermined alerts) • 15% - (232) Were False Alerts with enough data collected to develop evidence of circumstances causing alert transmission

  8. How Long does a False Alerts Last?

  9. EPIRB False Alerts • 232 - False Alerts with enough data collected to develop evidence of circumstances causing alert transmission

  10. Operator Induced False Alerts • 10% (24) were attributed to Testing without following manufactures instructions, or other deliberate non-emergency activations • 6% (13) were EPIRBs deliberately taken out of bracket and naked of any control of the wet sensor

  11. Bracket Water Testing L. Yarbrough/D7CFVS

  12. False Alert and EPIRB in Bracket

  13. EPIRB False Alerts 69% (161) Caused by Failure of “The bracket decoupling function” to control the EPIRB • Observed with Category I and II • Manufactures, makes and models in the US registration data base were proportionally represented by False Alerts

  14. EPIRB False Alerts 69% (161) Activated when bracket should have prevented activation Failure of “The bracket decoupling function” to control the EPIRB

  15. Bracket problems observed in field by Coast Guard personnel • Loose straps or mechanical holding device • Missing pads or guides to hold beacons in place • Missing or corroded magnets

  16. Bracket problems observed in field by Coast Guard personal (continued) • Beacons being placed improperly in brackets by users • Brackets not mounted in accordance with manufactures recommendations

  17. EPIRB Operational Requirements Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment 69% Of False Alerts Bracket Interface Failure

  18. False Alerts False Alerts are a drain on the health of the EPIRB Distress Alerting System There is no one cause of EPIRB False Alerts, and there is no one fix for the problem However … Several small corrective steps will make a positive difference in this problem

  19. Scrambled HexID Codes • USMCC alerts with invalid HexID code starting with 21, 22, or 23. • Older models of ACR EPIRBs will repeat 406 MHz transmissions if switch is left in Test Position.

  20. Scrambled example • UNREG HEX CODE RECEIVED: 23DE1 42C01 8DC01 ADD : ADCD0 23DE1 42C01 XXXXX Look up new code in RGDB, if there happens to be a vessel with this beacon, and it’s an ACR beacon, there is a possibility it’s a test signal that could be an EPIRB held in the test mode, and a real SAR case. This could save you a lot of time.

  21. Scrambled HexID Codes • Code received by USMCC = 23DE1 42C01 89645 • Add ADCD0 as first 5 digits of HexID. • Drop last five (89645). • Check new code (ADCD0 23DE1 42C01) against NOAA registration data base. • Use results from Registration Data base with great care.

  22. Scrambled HexID Codes • Use results with Great Care. • Until you have confirmed the beacon you identified in the RGDB: • is going off is in a location that correlates with the A or B solution, • and there is no distress, you must treat with the same care and concern as all other unregistered Alerts.

  23. Questions? Larry.T.Yarbrough@uscg.mil (305) 415 6868 L. Yarbrough/D7CFVS

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