A REPORT

ON

EPIRB

PREPARED BY

AGUNBIADE OLUWADMILARE SAMUEL

SUBMITTED TO MY SUPERVISOR

ENGR. FRIDAY OYOLUMA

2nd SEPTEMBER, 2022

What is an EPIRB?
An EPIRB is a portable unit that runs on its own long-life battery (usually a sealed
lithium one). Once activated, it broadcasts its position via the Cospas - Sarsat polar
orbiting satellite system and/or ground stations located around the Earth.
This small electronic device can help search and rescue authorities find people
in distress. When activated, it emits a continuous distinctive radio distress signal
for at least 48 hours.

Most EPIRB’s operate in the 406 MHz band. There are two types of 406MHz EPIRB’s.

• A category one EPIRB is automatically activated when a ship sinks. These

category one EPIRBs are housed in a special bracket equipped with a
hydrostatic release. This mechanism releases the EPIRB at a water depth of
1- 3 meter. The EPIRB floats to the surface and starts transmitting. Category
one EPIRBs can also be activated manually.
• A category two EPIRB has to activated manually.
The satellite system can detect the location of the EPIRB with an accuracy of
2 to 5km. There are also 406MHz EPIRB’s available with an integrated GPS
navigation receiver and they transmit an accurate location. Both categories
of the 406 MHz EPIRBS also transmit a low-power (0,25 W) “homing” signal
on 121.5 Mhz. This allows rescue forces to home in on a beacon as soon as
 they are in the vicinity. A 406 MHz EPIRB transmit a 5W signal once every 50
seconds. The message is either a “short message” of 122-bit in length or a
“long message” of 144-bit in length. Both messages contain a 49 bit field for
identification and position information. The MMSI number is used to identify
the vessel in distress. The 406 MHz channel is 170 KHz wide with a center
frequency at 406.05 Mhz. A 406 MHz EPIRB is also part of the requirements
for GMDSS. Some EPIRBs have a secondary distress beacon which transmits
on 121.5 MHz.

EPIRB programming
Before purchasing an EPIRB, the following information must be
communicated to the authorised dealer:
• The MMSI code
• If there are other operational EPIRBs on board and their number.
• The name of the vessel
In this way the dealer will have all the data to program the EPIRB and label it.
For programming purposes, the manufacturer, distributor or an authorized
station may provide, if the reseller is not one of these subjects, it is assumed
that he has established a relationship with one of them in order to deliver the
programmed EPIRB.
EPIRB labelling
The labelling as well as required is important to facilitate the testing and verification
operations and must report:
• THE MMSI
• The UIN code
• The name of the vessel
• The date of the next SBM

Other information affixed by the manufacturer, such as: model name, serial
number, type and warnings, is also stamped on the EPIRB.
EPIRB testing
The EPIRB Testing is to decode and display the encoded message from a 406
MHz Cospas-Sarsat Emergency Position Indicating Radio Transmitter. The
tester can be connected directly to the EPIRB or monitored "over the air"
using the supplied whip antenna. The tester will decode any 406 MHz aviation
protocol for EPIRB's.

A complete measurement solution. Measures all Cospas-Sarsat frequency

channels and decodes all Cospas-Sarsat protocols. Measures 406 MHz
parameters, 121.5 MHz parameters modulation, and the in-band 406 MHz
frequency spectrum. The beacon industry is demanding higher quality from
406 beacons and is implementing more thorough periodic testing. EPIRB
Testers that only decode the 406 message are not suitable to meet the
increasing demands from the industry to ensure the beacons are indeed
operating properly. The EPIRB Tester provides thorough beacon
measurement capabilities.
An example of an EPIRB tester