Personal Locator Beacons

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dominic

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...you never know - someone may be interested (or lost)

ICASA has published regulations on the use of personal locator beacons (PLBs)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GENERAL NOTICE

NOTICE 243 OF 2007

PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB) REGULATION

Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005

REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF SECTION 4(1)

In terms of section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36
of 2005, ICASA hereby approve and publish these regulations.

Mr Paris Mashile
Chairman of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa

1. DEFINITIONS

In these regulations, a word or expression shall have the meaning
assigned to it in terms of the Telecommunications Act, (Act No. 103 of
1996), as amended, and unless the context indicates otherwise.

"PLB" means a Personal Locator Beacon operating within the SCOSPAS-
SARSAT satellite service; and

"COSPAS-SARSAT satellite service" means a search and rescue system of
polar-orbiting satellites designed to locate distress beacons
transmitting in the 406 MHz band and on other frequencies.

2. APPLICATION

These regulations shall be applicable for individuals in remote areas
as a means to alert others of an emergency situation and to aid search
and rescue personnel to locate those in distress. These regulations
further make provision for the registration and licensing of PLB's.

3. FREQUENCY

(1) The frequencies 406-406.100 MHz have been exclusively reserved
for distress beacons operating with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite service.

(2) The use of these frequencies shall be restricted to transmissions
of distress and safety communications.

(3) PLB's operating on these frequencies shall use phase modulation.

4. EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION

All PLBs shall satisfy all the technical and testing requirements as
detailed in the COSPAS-SARSAT documents C/S T.001 (406 MHz beacon
specification) and T. 007 (406 MHz beacon type-approval standard).

5. DATA PROGRAMMING PROTOCOL

(1) PLB's may be of location or non-location types

(a) The Cospas-Sarsat Serial User protocol shall be used for PLB
programming and shall include the beacon's unique serial number
as issued by the manufacturer.

6. FEES

(1) The application fee shall be R 210.00 which will be non-
refundable.

(2) The fee in respect of change of ownership request for a PLB shall
be R100.00 (one hundred rand), per application.

(3) The fee in respect of a request to amend PLB registration
particulars shall be R100.00 (one hundred rand), per request.

(4) Registration fee shall be a once off fee of R100.00 (One hundred
Rand)

7. REGISTRATION PROCESS

Registration of PLB's is mandatory and it shall be the responsibility
of the supplier/distributor to ensure that the PLB is registered with the
Authority using the Registration Form attached hereto as Annexure A. The
Authority shall forward the necessary registration to the custodian of
the master Search and Rescue ("SAR") database.

8. ABUSE OF PLB'S

Misuse of PLB's shall constitute an abuse of South African Search and
Rescue facilities and shall be a contravention in terms of the Electronic
Communications Act. Any person found guilty of such an offence shall on
conviction be liable to a find not exceeding R5 000.00 (five thousand
rand) or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both
such find and imprisonment at the court's discretion.
 
ic said:
Are PLB's large and obtrusive? - I'm wondering if Ivy & Paris & Roy & Papi & Lyndall could be forced to each wear a locator beacon around their necks - it should preferably be rather heavy and unfashionable...
Click to expand...
They're so far up each other's arses you'd only need one.
 
PLB's form part of the self rescue supplies on ships and aircraft - often designed to trigger with the inflation of a lift-raft or life-jacket. They tend to be large and brightly coloured - designed to be pretty close to indestructable.

Random googling brought up http://www.hunter-ed.com/sc/course/ch8_signaling_for_help.htm

Yes - they are hectically expensive and they instantly trigger international search and rescue teams if activated.... you gonna have some mighty pee'd off people if you hang one round ivy's neck and activate it :sick:
 
ambo said:
PLB's form part of the self rescue supplies on ships and aircraft - often designed to trigger with the inflation of a lift-raft or life-jacket. They tend to be large and brightly coloured - designed to be pretty close to indestructable.

Random googling brought up http://www.hunter-ed.com/sc/course/ch8_signaling_for_help.htm

Yes - they are hectically expensive and they instantly trigger international search and rescue teams if activated.... you gonna have some mighty pee'd off people if you hang one round ivy's neck and activate it :sick:
Click to expand...

Here are a few less random ones (cheaper too).:D
http://www.transair.co.uk/Category.asp?SID=1&Category_ID=591
 
ambo said:
Yes - they are hectically expensive and they instantly trigger international search and rescue teams if activated.... you gonna have some mighty pee'd off people if you hang one round ivy's neck and activate it :sick:
Click to expand...
why? she clearly needs help......
 
ic said:
Are PLB's large and obtrusive? - I'm wondering if Ivy & Paris & Roy & Papi & Lyndall could be forced to each wear a locator beacon around their necks - it should preferably be rather heavy and unfashionable...
Click to expand...

I am totally confused here...
Why would you want to rescue them in the first place??
Telecoms may just move forward without the likes of them blocking the road.:eek:
 
Still not sure if it would be worth...
They will not be working where-ever they are.
Even if they are doing something illegal, they will least likely be found guilty.
Much better if they just get lost.:D
 
Hell, I am so glad to hear they are massively expensive. My husband has been asking questions about my regular 5 hour shopping trips on a Saturday afternoon.. and the fact that I never seem to buy anything.I am sure that, were they cheaper, he would order me one ASAP.
 
toxicwaste said:
Hell, I am so glad to hear they are massively expensive. My husband has been asking questions about my regular 5 hour shopping trips on a Saturday afternoon.. and the fact that I never seem to buy anything.I am sure that, were they cheaper, he would order me one ASAP.
Click to expand...

Now, i'm intrigued. How does a women shop for 5 hours and not buy anything?
Option 1: the cute gym instructor
Option 2: Credit card already maxed :eek:
Option 3 : hmmm, /me outa options...:D
 
:D
dominic said:
...you never know - someone may be interested (or lost)

ICASA has published regulations on the use of personal locator beacons (PLBs)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GENERAL NOTICE

NOTICE 243 OF 2007

PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB) REGULATION

Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005

REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF SECTION 4(1)

In terms of section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36
of 2005, ICASA hereby approve and publish these regulations.

Mr Paris Mashile
Chairman of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa

1. DEFINITIONS

In these regulations, a word or expression shall have the meaning
assigned to it in terms of the Telecommunications Act, (Act No. 103 of
1996), as amended, and unless the context indicates otherwise.

"PLB" means a Personal Locator Beacon operating within the SCOSPAS-
SARSAT satellite service; and

"COSPAS-SARSAT satellite service" means a search and rescue system of
polar-orbiting satellites designed to locate distress beacons
transmitting in the 406 MHz band and on other frequencies.

2. APPLICATION

These regulations shall be applicable for individuals in remote areas
as a means to alert others of an emergency situation and to aid search
and rescue personnel to locate those in distress. These regulations
further make provision for the registration and licensing of PLB's.

3. FREQUENCY

(1) The frequencies 406-406.100 MHz have been exclusively reserved
for distress beacons operating with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite service.

(2) The use of these frequencies shall be restricted to transmissions
of distress and safety communications.

(3) PLB's operating on these frequencies shall use phase modulation.

4. EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION

All PLBs shall satisfy all the technical and testing requirements as
detailed in the COSPAS-SARSAT documents C/S T.001 (406 MHz beacon
specification) and T. 007 (406 MHz beacon type-approval standard).

5. DATA PROGRAMMING PROTOCOL

(1) PLB's may be of location or non-location types

(a) The Cospas-Sarsat Serial User protocol shall be used for PLB
programming and shall include the beacon's unique serial number
as issued by the manufacturer.

6. FEES

(1) The application fee shall be R 210.00 which will be non-
refundable.

(2) The fee in respect of change of ownership request for a PLB shall
be R100.00 (one hundred rand), per application.

(3) The fee in respect of a request to amend PLB registration
particulars shall be R100.00 (one hundred rand), per request.

(4) Registration fee shall be a once off fee of R100.00 (One hundred
Rand)

7. REGISTRATION PROCESS

Registration of PLB's is mandatory and it shall be the responsibility
of the supplier/distributor to ensure that the PLB is registered with the
Authority using the Registration Form attached hereto as Annexure A. The
Authority shall forward the necessary registration to the custodian of
the master Search and Rescue ("SAR") database.

8. ABUSE OF PLB'S

Misuse of PLB's shall constitute an abuse of South African Search and
Rescue facilities and shall be a contravention in terms of the Electronic
Communications Act. Any person found guilty of such an offence shall on
conviction be liable to a find not exceeding R5 000.00 (five thousand
rand) or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both
such find and imprisonment at the court's discretion.
Click to expand...
 
bwana said:
Or he'll start tracking your cellphone ;) http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/look4me_about.jsp
Click to expand...

*You can now rest assured knowing where your loved ones are at all times by using your cellphone to locate any consenting Vodacom user.*

*koffs...you don't actually have to be consenting to be tracked... the trick is not to get too attached to the darn fone...then you skip off out and leave it at home ....:D:D Been there, done that heh...

toady
 
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