New Emergency frequency?

[eldo72]

Hi, I am relatively new to the watch world, having had a lot of "cheap" watches for years and finally purchasing an Omega speedmaster after a long and hard search (and save). I am really interested in an Emergency for my next watch, as I do a lot of backcountry exploring on my bike, mostly in and around British Columbia, Canada. I love the idea of the Emergency, and the extra help it could give in potential "situations", but I am wondering if anyone has heard of Breitling initiating plans to update their emergency signal after 2009? I know that local search and rescue will be using 121.5 in the years to come, but I would think people usng this watch professionally (as opposed to recreationally) would be after an up to date frequency.

[rik]

Hi eldo,

This is a topic that pops up on a regular basis here and the general consensus is, as far as I can remember and I'm no expert, that there are no plans to change the freq. that we know of because the emergency is designed to be used in conjunction with the other survival aids on board any self-respecting aircraft, and the current frequency will still be monitored by local searchers coming to locate the casualty in the final stages of the rescue.

That's just a potted version mind - more information, posted by much more informed members than me, can be found by typing 'breitling emergency frequency change' in the search facility on the menu bar.

Rik

[GoldenBear]

Lots of opinions on this watch...I have one, so I know. I understand the 121.5 will continued to be monitored after the switch. I also heard that Breitling was going to adjust the freq. when the watch is serviced. The salesman told me that so I think that is just a RUMOR. Look in the FAQ section of this board. There are several very helpful posts about the Emergency by people who know. The main theme that I have garnered is bring multiple rescue devices on your trips and let people know your plans. There are many that are far better, cheaper and more reliable (but not as "unique") rescue locator devices.

[jojo]

hi
look at this

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=33499
and this
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=170

regards jonas

[fenderusastrat]

I have 3 Emergency watches and I really have to say I couldn't care less what frequency the watches transmit to. I know the E can transmit to 121.1 mhz and this signal is monitored by planes flying overhead, and I also know that the FCC is stopping to monitor those signals in 2009. But really - the chances of me ever using this function of the watch are like .000001%. I do not own the watch because I think I am going to need to use the emergency beacon - if I thought I would need to use an ELT I would buy something other than the Emergency. The neat part about the Emergency watch containing such a transmitter is that it is the only watch in the world to do so. Which frequency the watch can transmit to is far less important to me than the fact that it can transmit the distress signal itself and the fact that its the only watch to have such a feature.

I will say that if Breitling does change the frequency, I will hope that they offer a "frequency upgrade" through service. It would be nice to have the option to update to a new frequency (if a new one is used)...

[dasbury]

I'm not typically one to stir the pot, nut I am a realist. Come one people, 121.5 MHz is not what it once was, and Breitling should be moving to 406 MHz to preserve this space and stay with the time. If you're a poser and just want the watch, then so be it, but if you are really a pilot, ot other individual who lives in remote areas and may have the need to be rescued at some point DO NOT base a rescue on a 121.5 MHz frequency Emergency any longer. You can buy a 406 MHz EPIRB with built in GPS for under $500.

If you love the watch and don't care about the transmitter, so be it, however, if you want to be rescued in a remote situation one day ... good luck with 121.5 MHz Emergency!

[O2AFAC67]

I'm not typically one to stir the pot, nut I am a realist. Come one people, 121.5 MHz is not what it once was, and Breitling should be moving to 406 MHz to preserve this space and stay with the time. If you're a poser and just want the watch, then so be it, but if you are really a pilot, ot other individual who lives in remote areas and may have the need to be rescued at some point DO NOT base a rescue on a 121.5 MHz frequency Emergency any longer. You can buy a 406 MHz EPIRB with built in GPS for under $500.

If you love the watch and don't care about the transmitter, so be it, however, if you want to be rescued in a remote situation one day ... good luck with 121.5 MHz Emergency!You're not really a pilot, are you Dennis? :-s Tell you what. If you run across a pre-owned Breitling Emergency and need to get rid of it to "stay with the time", send it to me and I'll be happy to hold on to it and even use it as a backup ELT while flying. I suspect most of the other pilots on the forum would be perfectly willing to do the same even well after 2009... :think: :thanks
Thanks,
Ron

[SHANE 1000]

I have a solo sailing trip coming up soon and it gives me comfort to know that I have this strapped to my wrist , JUST IN CASE I need to use it, if I do and it saves my life then great otherwise I will become fish S*** floating around the Pacific ocean with a Breitling strapped to a bloody stump.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/shane1000m/Breitling%20Emergency/100_4113.jpg

[davey vermaak]

Hey bud

That is one of the best emergency pics I've ever seen!!!!

Also on the topic, if Breitling DO decide to change the transmitter freq when they get serviced, they will need to change the dial too..........so I really doubt it will ever happen.

Davey

And just because it's superbowl today here is my E pic.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/damnfoolman/dol2.jpg

[Lloydy]

You're not really a pilot, are you Dennis? :-s Tell you what. If you run across a pre-owned Breitling Emergency and need to get rid of it to "stay with the time", send it to me and I'll be happy to hold on to it and even use it as a backup ELT while flying. I suspect most of the other pilots on the forum would be perfectly willing to do the same even well after 2009... :think: :thanks
Thanks,
Ron


As a fellow pilot, I completely agree with you. 121.5 will be around for longer than most people would care to realise, and I for one would feel confident on wearing one and transmitting (if the unfortunate day ever did arise) this frequency to search & rescue.
On the subject of frequency change in the future on the actual watch, it would seem hard to believe Breitling doing a regular service on a unit, and checking the operation of a signal that is not actually in use.
I'm sure they have something up their sleeve.
All the best,
Graham.:-!

[Lloydy]

Don't quite know what happend to that reply, but i'm sure you all can work it out.
Graham.

[letsjet]

Eldo,

I'll add my opinion to help you understand my thinking on the matter. First, the Emergency watch should by used as a backup redundant device and not as a primary. So, you should already have a full ELT, Epirb, or PLB with you depending on the means of travel. 406mhz w/ gps is a great solution, but read about them further. You will find that these devices include a 121.5 transmitter. Why? Well, because once the satellite triggers the response the SAR uses 121.5 to directionally find you. If you only have a 406, well you are not doing yourself any service. SAR could get close and never find you.

So, if you find yourself in an emergency situation and need rescue, hope that your primary devices serve you well. If not, and you know SAR is close and looking for you, pull the Emergency activation knob. For me, the Emergency would be a third backup behind my backup, but I wouldn't be without it.

fenderusastrat (http://forums.watchuseek.com/member.php?u=10228), you should have your E's checked. They are transmitting .4mhz off freq. :-)

[fenderusastrat]

I don't know why others buy the Emergency, I can imagine that Pilots buy them partly because of the appeal of the transmitter function - but I am not a pilot. I buy my Emergency watches because firstly because they look sweet (and unique), secondly becuase they have great function (besides the transmitter), thirdly because they are extremely accurate, and lastly also because they have a unique transmitter in them that no other watch has.

Can you possibly get any more unique than the yella fella Emergency in Titanium? Well, I guess maybe an Orbiter 3 E in Titanium could be considered more unique. But there is no question that none are more uniqe than the White Gold E - Massive, shiny and heavy with the weight prescence of a beast - yet so understated, "incognito" (with a look like SS), and so not "in your face" like the same model in yellow gold. It just does not get any better than the Emergency - regardless of what signal it transmits to and who is actually listening to those signals....

LONG LIVE THE EMERGENCY!!! :-!

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff6/fenderusastrat/FamilyEmergency.jpg

[dasbury]

I am indeed a pilot and have done a lot of search and rescue. 121.5 MHz ELTs get us "in the zone" only. 406 MHz pin points the target substantially closer. I carry on my person a 406 MHz PLB with an integrated GPS (for under $500) - if I go down and live a SAR team will be on me in under an hour.

So to each their own, but the Emergency seems like a very expenseive outdated back up ELT.

[MaxStatic]

Well, I work in SAR and we don't even have the ability to home in on 121.5 any longer. Not that it really matters....explanation to follow.

I think the big deal here is that after 2009, 121.5 and 243 will no longer be monitored via SARSAT where 406 will. If someone hits an ELT, we can hear it on guard but can't DF to it so we rely on info passed from NOAA's SARSAT alert routed via AFRCC to either us or CAP.

If it's a military asset we are going to recover, we will have GPS cord from their CSEL relayed by AFRCC. That is how we locate them. Then we use visual detection and signaling to contact i.e. IR strobe, flare, mirror, smoke, etc. If they have an older radio like a PRC90 or Hook-112, they can talk us in. Of course we can get GPS cord from the 112 but that is a can worms I'm not going into here....

If it's a civ SAR, we can get a sat fix from AFRCC but as they will no longer listen to the other two guard freqs after '09, it would be a moot point anyway. We would most likely stick to last known location and work our SAR patterns from there. An ELT is great for letting someone know you are in trouble but as far as recovery, it's kind of useless unless it's a 406/gps unit. Besides, if we are going in to pick some dude up, and he is beeping on guard, guard gets washed out. Then we have to push to UHF vs VHF for comm with other recovery players. If this is a mil op that's no problem but most civil players are probably not going to have UHF so..... Most of the time we just give them our Victor interplane freq but sometimes that doesn't happen. Now, with the beep, you can't pass the freq on guard because its washed out with the beep....then you have to try and get their attention w/center and yadayada....yea pretty lame.

So what's my point? You are better off with a GPS and some form of comm either cell phone, satphone, some kind of FM radio or one of those all-in-one ELT/GPS jobs and a flaregun. Once your location is out, turn the ELT off. Both for mil and civ. What if one of the recovery players has a problem while in the area and can't get out on guard? Yea, it's best not to be beaming all the time. Others may have more input and more experience with this but I can tell ya, 121.5 is dead for us. If you are a civ flyer and go down, get a call out with location if able, then build a nice fire for some heat, moral, and most important for us...smoke. If you have a flare gun or other signaling device, use it when appropriate. If you have the ability to get on a radio, either FM or Victor, talk us in. Hell, the last SAR I heard about, the guy walked the recovery players in on his cell phone.

So, after saying all that, if you want to wear a 121.5 ELT on your wrist, I'm certainly not going to stop you. I have several buds that wear them and I love Breitlings, even though I don't own any yet. Just don't get the thought in your head that it's a "turn on get recovered" option. In my experience, there are so many falses on 121.5 that chances are no one is going to listen.

Just my humble rotorhead $0.02.

[MaxStatic]

I carry on my person a 406 MHz PLB with an integrated GPS (for under $500) - if I go down and live a SAR team will be on me in under an hour.

So to each their own, but the Emergency seems like a very expenseive outdated back up ELT.

My point exactly, the units made by ACR are great and right around $500 depending on which one you choose. I seem to remember a $150 option called the Spot that is GPS based that is new to the market. Don't know anything about it though.

[Verner]

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/little_daffodil/DSC00682.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/little_daffodil/SaturdayOrangeShotII-1.jpg

121.5, 243 or 406, who cares?

;-)

Best wishes,

Verner

[GoldenBear]

I couldn't tell from your response if you are saving up for an Emergency or not...I know several Naval Aviators that have them. They couldn't wait to get theirs and they love them. Anyway, one of them does Coast Guard SAR and he had high praise for the Emergency. He said they could definitely help find you in a bind (as opposed to nothing). He also said the frequency would be monitored by computer after 2009 and there are many better tools and plenty that should be on board an aircraft. He was also the one that stressed a flight plan, letting someone know where you are and having plenty of back-up devices, in the air, on land or sea. (Isn't that in the Marine Hymn?...) The Emergency isn't the best tool out there, but it is far better than nothing.