GPS EXPLAINED

GPS PLBs have been designed to enhance further the lifesaving capabilities of conventional Emergency Location Beacons. When a GPS PLB is activated in an emergency, GPS positional information is automatically transmitted as part of the distress message.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has an array of orbiting satellites and provides the PLB with positional information and with new positional updates occurring every 20 minutes. Fast Find PLB is capable of tracking 50 GPS satellites at once. The inclusion of GPS based positional information can greatly reduce the time it takes for the Search and Rescue authorities to arrive on scene. When speed of response and accuracy of location are important considerations, then GPS PLBs offer the best in performance.

The location of a Fast Find 210 GPS PLB can be determine to a typical positional accuracy of about +/- 62 metres (0.03 miles) within a few minutes of PLB activation and a non-GPS Fast Find 200 PLB within about +/- 5km (3 miles) and typically within 45 minutes.

For an full explanation, visit the Cospas-Sarsat web site at http://www.cospas-sarsat.org.