GME’s GPS EPIRB price breakthrough

by Matthew Heap, GME on 17 Aug 2010 Back in 2004 Australia’s GME revolutionised the marine safety world with the award winning MT400 406 MHz EPIRB. The MT400 concept, evolutionary design and price point set a new standard in beacon design and became the benchmark to which all other manufactures aspired.

Now some six years later GME has once again upped the ante with the introduction of remarkable MT406G, a totally compliant Class 2 EPIRB with a fully integrated 16 Channel GPS receiver for the amazing recommended retail price of AUD$569 including GST.

The key benefits of a GPS equipped EPIRB, are faster detection by the geo-stationary satellites, typically less than ten minutes anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. Non GPS beacons using low earth orbiting satellites can take up to two hours to detect an emergency signal depending on the time of day and position.

The second and arguably the most important attribute of a GPS equipped EPIRB like the MT406G is the accuracy of the beacons position; by transmitting latitude and longitudinal coordinates as part of the emergency message; search and rescue authorities can pinpoint the distress message down to around 100 metres, as opposed to 5 kilometres with a standard non-GPS EPIRB. In a true emergency scenario this combination of rapid alerting and a precise location could well be the difference between successful rescue and a family tragedy.

GME has been designing and building EPIRBs in Australia for over 35 years, the company is now one of the largest manufactures of EPIRBs and PLBs in the world, with product being exported to more than 40 countries. So don’t be deterred by the budget price, the MT406G utilises the latest microprocessor based technology, is engineered to the exacting Australian/New Zealand 4280.1 EPIRB standard, and is backed by GME’s legendary 6 year warranty.

The MT406G will be available from mid-September through GME’s national distribution network. For additional information visit www.gme.net.au or call your local GME state office.