The MT403G and MT403FG, with their prerogatives, have marked an era becoming the models that best contributed to the spread of EPIRB technology. Today, these models are consigned to history and replaced by the new EPIRB MT603G and MT603FG.
Although the new models are aesthetically similar to the previous ones, internally all the components have been revised and updated, in order to further refine some important aspects, such as the immediacy in launching the distress or the autonomy in the transmission phase.
The new MT603G and MT603FG are already equipped to receive the signal from the new constellation of MEOSAR satellites, making the location of the shipwreck more precise, faster, easier and less equivocal. As soon as they receive the signal, the rescue coordinators (COSPAS-SARSAT) are already able to locate the position of the EPIRB precisely, even before they have decoded the message transmitted in the distress signal.
Both are equipped with an efficient 66 channel GPS receiver and boast all the features that have always distinguished the EPIRB GME, such as instantaneous heating to enter immediately into operating mode and the efficient water-switches that can immediately activate the EPIRB in case of contact with water (but only if the EPIRB is released from its holder).
They have a battery life and a warranty of 6 years, but it should be remembered that in Italy the replacement of the EPIRB or batteries, is required every 4 years. Therefore, for use in Italy, this prerogative is reduced in its benefit, but certainly the sense of trust that GME has towards its production remains unscathed.
The two models differ in their activation mode. The MT603G is activated only by manually extracting it from its support, while the MT403FG is activated automatically in the event of sinking, automatically extracting itself from its support by means of a hydrostatic hook.