Is anyone familiar with the Sat-24 system they have in Australia. Is there anything like that for the US. I like the extra functions above being just a plb with a gps.

Ive never herd of the Sat-24 system down here. Do you have any refferences that I can check out.

Our system as I understand it uses the 121 and 406 MHz beacons.
We have had the 406MHz system available from the very start of the system going online, but its only recently become popular in the general population. (people can start to afford it now <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) All of our 406Mhz beacons transmit on 121MHz as well.
The beacons us the COSPAS and SARSAT satelite systems, and as I understand the history some areas didnt have good 406MHz coverage, so they used a couple of geostationary satelites to recieve the beacons as well.
These Satelites report back to bases at Albany and Bundaberg and work with the base at Wellington in New Zealand. Then report back to the Control Centre located in Canberra run by Aust Marine Safety Authority.
As far as I know this system is not much different than the system in the US.

There was talk about a 1.6Ghz distress beacon with GPS position transmission. But I have not herd of this system operating or know any more details.

www.4wdaustralia.com.au/OntheRoad/Communications/SatTrak24/Default.asp

www.sat-trak24.com/Menu/Land/Land_P.htm

That makes more sense. You through me when you mentioned PLB.
I havent seen Sat Track 24, but I have seen a similar system locally which uses either the GSM or CDMA phone system.
Basically its a car alarm or fleet tracking controler that transmits a GPS location back to a control centre. The Sat Track 24 has the advantage of being able to connect a computer to the system, and also that it uses the a Sat Phone system. The extra features just seem like a value added bonus to these other systems.
I would look to the car alarm industry and fleet control tracking industry, and see what value added features they offer over there.

I think one of the reasons this system was designed is because the rental car companies has started to take the EPIRB/PLB's out of their cars. They were getting tourists 1000's of kilometers from anywhere setting them off over something simple like a flat tyre, expecting someone to come out and change it for them. The authorities started to crack the s^%ts and the rental companies removed the beacons.

Reality of it is that I take off for long stints in Southern and East Africa. Instead of carrying a lot of equipment like a
Sat phone I don't really need and its related costs, a system like Sat-24 resolves most issues.

As I understand there system, its transmitting through the Sat phone system any way.
They do sell to the US, so email them and see if it will work in Africa.

The down side of going thru Sat-24, is that they are not set up to respond in a crisis in Africa. And as I think I understand, it helps to be an Aussie.

Well I guess its Sat Phones or Tarzan calls for you then <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />