The Fast Find is a waterproof 406 MHz Personal Location eacon (PLB) that should be carried by individuals, who are embarking on trips into areas around the world where there is little or no other form of communication or where other forms of communication are unlikely to work. The Fast Find acts as your personal Emergency Location Beacon, it is your last resort communication to the national and international search and rescue bodies and it should not be mis-used. The Fast Find is designed as a direct communication, to the 406 MHz Search and Rescue satellite system, its signal indicates that you are in need of urgent response and assistance.
Its small size belies its rugged construction and powerful output. There is no compromise. Once activated, the distress beacon will send out a signal for help, and continues to transmit for at least 24 hours, at a powerful 5 watt output, ensuring that your call for help gets through whatever the conditions. The pocket sized, waterproof beacon transmits at the press of a button, to alert search and rescue services to your plight.
Fast Find has two radio transmitters which start transmitting when you activate your beacon. One transmitter operates at 406 MHz which transmits alerts via satellites. The other operates at 121.5 MHz which transmits a signal which can be received by over-flying aircraft and Search and Rescue homing receivers.
Ground stations track the satellites and process the distress signals to obtain a location of the distress. The processed information is then forwarded to a Mission Control Centre where it is combined with Fast Find registration information and passed to a Rescue Coordination Centre which alerts the appropriate Search and Rescue authorities. Successive satellite passes refine and confirm the original information.
Fast Find 210 with inbuilt GPS receivers determine their own geographical position and transmit it as part of the distress alert signal.
Fast Find has a secondary 121.5 MHz homing transmitter. This transmits on the 121.5 MHz internationally recognised aviation guard channel. If an aircraft hears an activated beacon, it will often make a report to the aviation authority which will pass this information to the Rescue Coordination Centre. When the rescue services get close they can "home in" on the 121.5 MHz signal using direction finding techniques.
If you find yourself facing grave and imminent danger with no other way of getting help, activating the Fast Find is simple. It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!
