KTI EPIRB

[Orchidius]

Hey there,

I'm looking into buying the following EPIRB:

Safety Alert SA1G | KTI

It looks really, really great on paper. 10 year battery life, 10 year warranty, Australian made, compact, interestingly priced,...

The one thing missing are ISO/SOLAS/CE/wheelmark/... certifications. I emailed them and they told me they don't have any atm, but are looking into the requirements to get them later down the line.

What's your thought? Does anybody have any experience with the company and/or their products?

Many thanks!

[Orchidius]

Nobody?

[hellosailor]

It's Australian, mate. You might wait patiently until it is DAYTIME in Oz and some folks who have heard of it, have had time to wake up and get their cuppa.

[Orchidius]

Hehe, fair enough, srry 'bout that.

Forget about the timezone aspect of international forums every now and again (a)

[Wotname]

OK, can't tell you too much ('cause I don't know a lot ) but they have only recently extended into the retail/consumer market. They have been around a long time supplying high end specialist radio / electronic products to government / militarily type users.

They do have defense department approvals and ACMA / ASMA approvals for their products locally.


I think it is early days for for widespread multinational type approvals for their new consumer products. These things take time & big money to obtain and it's often not easy for a small specialist supplier to break into this market.

My gut feeling is that the beacon will be a good product and I guess it is priced to attract sales.

[artist]

I contacted them from Canada and they said that the unit needs to be re-programmed with the correct country code, if you're not in Australia. They can do it, but the re-program fee brings the price up to comparable with ACR and others. The bat life is still attractive, so I'm still considering it.

[Orchidius]

The price I mentioned was a quote including shipping and reprogramming.

Edit: Looks like I haven't mentioned a price yet, woops. I got a quote for 392$. That's shipped to Belgium and reprogrammed (special ordered from the factory programmed for Belgian use with my MMSI number already in it).

[artist]

That's in line with the price for Canada as well, including shipping. I was impressed that they included the shipping too. Many these days slap a big shipping bill on top!

[Reefmagnet]

I just put one on my boat last weekend. Seems ok, although I haven't had need to use it yet . The 10 year battery life is a good feature. I had to chuck out the Pains-Wessex unit that it replaced because the 6 year battery had expired and there are far too many hoops to jump through to qualify for the free battery replacement.

I do note that the external design and bracket are near identical to the old Pains-Wessex's (which was the reason I brought it - to retain he original mounting bracket holes - so I assumed (and I could be wrong) that the KTI models have some association with the earlier Pains Wessex models which were very popular in their day. My one complaint with the KTI is the flat metal strip style antenna which is both cheap looking and flimsy compared to earlier units of the same style. In fact, in the box the antenna was formed around a piece of foam that my wife made me keep attached to it when we mounted it to the bulkhead.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

.....

I do note that the external design and bracket are near identical to the old Pains-Wessex's (which was the reason I brought it - to retain he original mounting bracket holes - so I assumed (and I could be wrong) that the KTI models have some association with the earlier Pains Wessex models which were very popular in their day. My one complaint with the KTI is the flat metal strip style antenna which is both cheap looking and flimsy compared to earlier units of the same style. In fact, in the box the antenna was formed around a piece of foam that my wife made me keep attached to it when we mounted it to the bulkhead.

Yes it does look very similar to the old PW unit. I seem to remember that GME also had a very similar looking unit. Maybe the cases were made by a third party.
???
Maybe they are so old they KTI could now get them cheap or perhaps KTI made the original cases?

[hellosailor]

"Measuring tape" antennas have proven very effective and durable, even the military loves to use them. It probably IS cheaper than a conventional whip of some types but I can't see that being something to hold against them. They're durable and effective and spring straight up, when others may take a permanent deformation and curve.

[MarineTechMike]

Hey guys,

Found this place looking to search prices to sell an Epirb. Figured I would chime in since that is mostly what I do all day long!!

1. Epirbs with 10 year battery life could never be IMO approved, IMO has 5 year requirement on life. So you would still need to do it in five if you were IMO vessel.

2. If you get one with 10 years---I would still go somewhere and have it tested. Basically you can't test it two ways: 1. Using the test function and having an electronics guy capture the transmission into his box. 2. Live testing in a RF enclosure measuring all the signals, 406, 121, etc.
+++
You also can do the self test, and get the beeps and flashes---But I would take it to a guy if it's been on your boat for 10 years and is supposed to save your life.

ACR has a 100 rebate until the end of May on all there models.

ACR has a Full 5 year warranty!!!.

Kannad and Mcmurdo's are one year---Two years if you send in some paperwork.

Always needs to be programmed correctly for the Registration database you plan on registering in.

UK, USA, use serial programming---so this is just a programming to that country.

Some other flags don't accept serial programming and they have to be programmed using the MMSI # given to the vessel with their radio/registration info. Sometimes you need to request one. Most of the times they are free.

Have fun--be safe!!

[MarineTechMike]

Some More info:

There was also a "recall" or something similar on some of the GME's.

They were not working when they were set off.

So if you have a GME, I would suggest you do some research into

that issue and clear yours however they suggest.

I received an E-Mail from Llyod's Register on this, since my radio firm is class approved by them. This info is readily available on the web!

Take care have fun!!

MIKE

[hellosailor]

Mike, I think you may be getting "battery life" confused.

AFAIK they all use Lithium primary battery types these days, and those "all" have a TEN YEAR battery life.

That means the battery will be useless and dead in ten years, it has nothing to do with the five year battery REPLACEMENT period.

You are generally supposed to replace the battery every five years, because at that point it has about half of the original power left in it, so it can be expected to work for the minimum required transmission time for another five years--but it is already "half dead" and cutting into your safety margins.

Five years, replacement suggested (or mandated.)
Ten years, functional life of battery.

Two different things, AFAIK.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by MarineTechMike

Some More info:

There was also a "recall" or something similar on some of the GME's.

They were not working when they were set off.

So if you have a GME, I would suggest you do some research into

that issue and clear yours however they suggest.

I received an E-Mail from Llyod's Register on this, since my radio firm is class approved by them. This info is readily available on the web!

Take care have fun!!

MIKE

See http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1502960