EPIRBs, officially known as Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons, are emergency beacons used in maritime distress. They are designed to save your life if you get into trouble by alerting rescue authorities and indicating your location anywhere in the world. EPIRBs are classified into two categories: Category I or Category II.

Category II EPIRBS are similar to Category I EPIRBs, except in most cases they are manually activated, however some models can be automatically activated.

EPIRBs (pronounced ee-pirbs), formally Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons, are devices that transmit a digital signal on the international distress signal frequency 406 MHz. Designed to work with satellites, EPIRBs are detectable by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites, which orbit the poles, and by the GEOSAR system which consists of GOES weather satellites and other geostationary satellites.

There are two types of EPIRBs - Category I or Category II that are approved for use in the United States today. Both transmit only on 406 MHz. In February of 2009, the FCC phased out the use of EPIRBs that transmitted on 121.5 MHz frequency (Class A, B, and S), and these devices may no longer be used, marketed or manufactured in the U.S. If you have one of these, please replace it with an approved 406 MHz device.

Category I EPIRBs float-free and are automatically activated by immersion in water, and they are detectable by satellite anywhere in the world. Category II EPIRBs are similar to Category I, except in most cases they are manually activated, however some models can be automatically activated.

EPIRBs use a special type of lithium battery designed for long-term, low-power consumption operation. The battery must be replaced by a dealer approved by the manufacturer during the specified time or it will not work properly. Also, consumers should be aware when ordering EPIRBs online, added shipping charges may apply for hazardous material. Some EPIRBs and PLBs are being manufactured that do not use hazardous material batteries.

Proper registration of your 406 MHz satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is intended to save your life, and is mandated by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. The Coast Guard is enforcing this FCC registration rule. According to the Coast Guard, "if the EPIRB is properly registered, [they] will be able to use the registration information to immediately begin action on the case. If the EPIRB is unregistered, a distress alert may take as much as two hours longer to reach the Coast Guard over the international satellite system. If an unregistered EPIRB transmission is abbreviated for any reason, the satellite will be unable to determine the EPIRB's location, and the Coast Guard will be unable to respond to the distress alert. Unregistered EPIRBs have needlessly cost the lives of several mariners since the satellite system became operational."

EPIRBs are a safe reliable way to track your boat or watercraft in case of any unforeseeable emergency. Fire, flood, engine damage or medical emergency are just a few reasons to have an EPIRB onboard for emergency crews to locate your boat quickly. The low cost is worth saving your watercraft or your life or the life of a love one. When you invest in an EPIRB, you invest in peace of mind.   

EPIRBs and marine watercraft locaters are for tracking, safety and survival insurance on the water from leading manufacturers like Garmin and Raymarine