EPIRB

Distress radio beacons, also known as emergency beacons, are tracking transmitters which aid in the detection and location of boats, aircraft, and people in distress. Strictly, they are radiobeacons that interface with Cospas-Sarsat, the international satellite system for search and rescue (SAR). When activated, such beacons send out a distress signal that, when detected by non-geostationary satellites, can be located by triangulation.

There are three types of distress radio beacons compatible with the Cospas-Sarsat system:

• EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons) signal maritime distress.
• ELTs (emergency locator transmitters) signal aircraft distress.
• PLBs (personal locator beacons)