Mainstay urges all Distress Beacon Users to Have thier Epirb's , PLB's and ELT's Tested and certified annually.
Like their Commercial counterparts, Leisure Distress Beacon's also suffer from unexpected Failures and Registration Errors.
Commercial Vessels are mandated to have annual inspections and yet no mandate exists for the Leisure user.
Even in the most testing of Offshore yacht races a pass for Cat1 safety is a tick in the box saying that the self test works.
The following 2 Links are illustrative of problems that can occur.........
Limited Recall Notice ACR GlobalFix iPRO EPIRB (April 2009)
Cobham Life Support, ACR Products Urges EPIRB and PLB Owners to Re-Check Registration Codes
In simplistic terms the test switch on Epirb's and PLB's performs a very similar test to Picking up the Microphone on your Radio.... Keying the Transmit Key.... Observing a Transmit indication on the Radio.... and then concluding that the Radio is operating 100% correct. Would you set sail or leave for your Outdoor adventure with only that level of Radio testing ???
See following link for further information.