Table of Contents
Advertisement
5.0
RANGE EXERCISES
5.1
Selecting a Location for the Test BEACON
This range exercise involves placing the test BEACON in an area similar to where rescues are
expected to take place, then moving away from the BEACON in measured distances and recording
the signal strength. For open water searches, anchor the BEACON in an area where there is at
least 8 nautical miles of open water in all directions. Secure the BEACON so it cannot be moved or
pulled under by wind or current. Attaching the BEACON to an orange life buoy or similar flotation
device in addition to the supplied flotation collar will improve the BEACON's visibility in heavy seas.
If the application is an oil platform, anchor the test BEACON in an area around the platform. If an
airport, then place the test BEACON somewhere on the airport grounds. If you expect to conduct a
search in more than one environment, do a range exercise in each environment.
This will help you build experience with the Vecta
environment impact the radio waves traveling from a BEACON.
5.2
Recording Observations
Once the test BEACON is placed and the location accurately determined, turn the test BEACON
ON and point the Vecta
away from the test BEACON, recording the COARSE and FINE at intervals of 0.25, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5,
2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 (nautical and/or statutory miles) etc., until it can no longer
be heard under any circumstances. A form similar to the following may be helpful in recording the
results of your range exercise:
0.0
0.25
COARSE
FINE
When doing a range exercise in the ocean, especially at greater distances, wave height can cause
a BEACON to be heard intermittently as it rides up out of a trough to the crest of a swell or wave
and back down. A GPS is invaluable in ensuring accurate distance intervals.
Emergency transmitters that emit the VHF 121.5 MHz frequencies are limited to line of sight and
will be detectable at a much greater range or distance on the open ocean than on land. This is a
function of the transmitted signal being absorbed by hilly terrain, vegetation and buildings.
5.3
Conducting a Blind Search
A partner hides the test BEACON within a realistic search area. Place the test BEACON in an area
that does not inhibit the signal. (Avoid situations such as in a hole, submerged under water, lying
on its side, laying on a metal plate, etc. A BEACON can be found in these situations, however
these situations are considered advanced and should be practiced only after the fundamentals are
attained.) The trainee using the Vecta
5.4
Search Patterns
At the very beginning of a search, it is important to slowly rotate the Vecta
horizontal to vertical and back when searching for the signal. The signal will be more easily
detected when the Vecta
may not be known to the searcher.
directly at the BEACON. Record the COARSE and FINE reading. Move
2
0.5
0.75
1.0
1.5
need only be aware of the search area boundaries.
2
becomes aligned or polarized with the antenna of the transmitter, which
2
and how the effects of your particular search
2
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
8
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
antennas from
2
Y1-03-0227 Rev. A2
8.0
Advertisement
Table of Contents
