REQ Field Strenth Meter to detect 406 and 121.5 MHz freqency

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WiseOne - 23 Sep 2006 20:34 GMT

Hi Folks..

I'm looking for a bit of info on a Field Strength meter for detecting
EPIRB 406MHz and 121.5MHz signals.

My reason for asking is that I am part of our local coastguard unit
which gets sent out from time to time after an EPIRB has been
activated.

Out at sea, it is a bit easier.. not much .. but a bit easier than
trying to detect it on land so what I'm after is some sort of
directional Field Strength meter that will detect this frequency and
allow me to 'home' in on it then deactivate it.

The last EPIRB we had to search for was behind a shed in a harbour
full of trawlers. 6 team mebers, a lifeboat and a helicopter were
tasked to this at 4 in the morning

Any info greatly appreciated

WiseOne

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Cletus Foghorn - 23 Sep 2006 22:45 GMT

> Hi Folks..
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Any info greatly appreciated

Hiar a professional.

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Dana - 24 Sep 2006 02:42 GMT

> > Hi Folks..
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> > full of trawlers. 6 team mebers, a lifeboat and a helicopter were
> > tasked to this at 4 in the morning

If it was on land, it was no a man overboard, so once you determined that
the signal was on land, heck with it, let it go until the battery dies. Or
try to find the owner and bill him for the fuel the helicopter used.

> > Any info greatly appreciated

Start billing for false alarms.
And get with your avionics guys, as radio direction finders have been around
for quite some time now. And these emergency transmitters would not be being
made if there were no receivers to pick them up.

> Hiar a professional.

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John - 27 Sep 2006 23:06 GMT

>Hi Folks..
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
>WiseOne

Field strength meters are usually used in close proximity to a
transmitter.

What you want is a receiver (for the desired frequencies) with a
signal strength meter and a directional antenna (a yagi or cubical
quad is relatively small at those frequencies).

Find a local ham (amateur radio operator) and ask him/her.

John

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WiseOne - 29 Sep 2006 21:25 GMT

Cheers John..

I've a friend who has a friend who is a Ham operator. I'll have a
word in his ear to see what he thinks..

Many thanks

WiseOne

>>Hi Folks..
>>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
>John

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Electronics Forum / Basics / September 2006

REQ Field Strenth Meter to detect 406 and 121.5 MHz freqency