http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-01-06-1/view
Beware! - Emergency Services Will Not Respond
From 1st February, 2009, the International Cospas-Sarsat Program will terminate satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5/243 MHz emergency beacons (EPIRBs and PLBs); only distress signals from the newer 406 MHz EPRIBs and PLBs will be processed.
The bottom line is that if you are still carrying one of the 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs or PLBs in February, and you find you are in significant distress, requiring immediate rescue assistance, don't bother flicking the switch . . . instead you can make the last entry in your diary: that you should have given yourself a new, 406 for Christmas.
AIS Info
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2009/01/ais_2009_forward_in_all_directions.html
