Coast Guard encourages boaters to go digital with new emergency beacons

(coastguardnews.com)-- The Coast Guard is encouraging mariners and aviators to make the switch to digital 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) to keep pace with search and rescue technology.  Beginning Feb. 1, 2009, the Coast Guard and other search and rescue personnel will only receive distress alert broadcasts using digital 406 MHz EPIRBs. Search and rescue satellites will no longer process older model analog EPIRBs that only transmit on 121.5 or 243 MHz.  READ MORE