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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 27 Apr 2008
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Breitling Emergency Watch
Hi,

I have a Breitling emergency watch (with 121,5 MhHz sender) for 6 years and always found it comfortable to wear on my trips as a "last resort" back-up.

Recently, Breitling have doubled the price for changing the batteries to US 600 !!! As an additional discomfort, the watch needs to be sent to Breitling for more than 4 weeks roughly every two years !!!

Instead of contacting a lawyer right away: Does anyone know a way to do a reliable battery change at a normal watch shop? Could this affect the functioning of the emergency sender device?

Many thanks,
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  #2  
Old 27 Apr 2008
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Just before my last travel stint to SE Asia the battery of my Omega Seamaster started to expire. I contacted a couple of genuine reatailers here in London wrt changing it. Although it wasn't in the 600-bucks range it was still a bit of a hit, and a 2-3 week turnaround time. So i took it to the official distributer in Bangkok when i arrived there, and they changed the battery and checked the watch out in 20 mins for £8! Result...
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Old 28 Apr 2008
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I've had a breitling for almost twenty years, although not the emergency one. I usually send it in every few years (whenever it stops working) for a "service", which is more than a battery change--they replace gaskets, etc. However, every time I send it in, they also try to replace all kinds of expensive cosmetic items (ie, the hands, the crystal, scratched links in the bracelet, etc.), which adds up to $600 pretty quickly. By the time I cross off all of the cosmetic items, it's still maybe $350. And it takes 4-6 weeks. I'm completely underwhelmed by all of this, and I won't buy any more Breitlings, that's for sure.

Are you sure that a Breitling dealer in town can't do something simple like change the battery? I'm pretty sure that I had a Breitling dealer here in DC change my battery for me a few years ago; wasn't cheap, maybe $40 or so, but it beats $600 and 4 weeks...
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Old 28 Apr 2008
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This is not a normal Breitling watch. The problem is the integrated emergency sender (with a 1m long extractable antenna).

Any watchmaker can open the watch and put one new battery in for the watch and two batteries for the 121,5 MHz sender.

The question is: how risky is it not to have the emergency sender maintained by Breitling every two years?

I think a pilot might be able to answer this, because the emergency sender is similar to those on aircraft.
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Old 28 Apr 2008
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Here is a picture:

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  #6  
Old 28 Apr 2008
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Cut your losses, get a Casio The thought of all that money on my wrist


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  #7  
Old 28 Apr 2008
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121.5mhz transmitters
hi
i looked at buying one around christmas time for a remote dive trip, in case the boat left without me/ sunk etc. a wee bit of research pointed out that frequency will no longer be monitered shortly

The Ultimate Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) FAQ - EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE (tm)

lots of people are still selling this frequency, without always pointing this out.
however, i suppose the local receiving equipment is still currently in use.
and there could still be a case for group purchase ie all divers from the boat are given one, and that particular boat has the soon outdated receiver.

but spending any money on a lifesaving tool on this frequency is i think not sensible.
406mhz transmitters are a little too big to put on your wrist at the mo, but are about £400. further info via that link may advise on the "best" one to get?
still a nice watch tho!!
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Old 29 Apr 2008
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Most EPIRBS use two frequencies -

One is for the satelite .. this is the one that is changing .. the old satelites are not being replaced .. and teh ground stations theat 'talk' to them are changing over to teh new frequency.

The other frequency is for 'ground' use .. I think you'll find that is monitored by comercial aircraft .. they can tell it is 'active' but not where. Search crews have directional equipment to locate it. Think you'll find this is the 121.5MHz signal.. and teh 406 EPIRBs will transmit that as well as teh 406MHz signal. Oh and the cheapest ones here are around $500?

The watch is designed for aircraft pilots - who should be near comercial air lanes .. thus making the 121.5MHz effective.
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Old 29 Apr 2008
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Oh, what things we cling to...
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Old 29 Apr 2008
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Grizzly7 and Frank Warner,

very good information. Thank you.

Althouh the new 406MHz frequency further devalues the Breitling watch, I think it will still be better to wear the 121,5MHz transmitter (to attract overflying aircraft and specific search crews) than to wear no transmitter at all.

Nevertheless, the Breitling policy sucks. Doubling service prices, while dropping the main function of that watch - without informing the registered owners - is not what I expected.
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Old 29 Apr 2008
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Booger me. And I was outraged when Casio wanted £40 to replace the battery in my altimeter watch...
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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Old 29 Apr 2008
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My Seamaster usually went to Swatch for a battery change £50 every couple of years. This time however I was informed that the watch was faulty and needed a service - another £70. As it had been working when I sent it to them I asked for it to be returned. Took it to a watchmaker in Glasgow who changed the battery and tested it for £25 - still working and I know where it will go in future.
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Old 30 Apr 2008
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My watch is worth more than your bike.

Sometimes I like to announce this to strangers.

It makes me feel swell.
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Old 30 Apr 2008
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F*** me! You're cutting tonight Dan. That's the second sarcy, post I 've read from you tonight. I know what you mean though. I do wonder where some people plan on riding their bikes and I do know how sarcastic you can be. To be honest, I can't fink of an easier way of getting my throat cut than wearing a £400 watch.
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Last edited by Stretcher Monkey; 30 Apr 2008 at 08:17.
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Old 30 Apr 2008
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I like the HUBB, because there is lots of good information and very little sarcasm/jealousy/save-the-planet/"I am better than you" stuff.

I had previously registered in all of the German-speaking travel forums, and deregistered again because they are unfortunately full of "Dan 23"-like comments.

You like to ride low-budget Dan 23? Fine with me.

When you imply that a Breitling watch is not an appropriate statement for a traveller, I think your statement does not have the appropriate width or wit for this traveller forum. But hey: it's a free world. Everyone is entitled to his own errors.

P.S.
I have a different opinion about safety anyway (but am not missionary about it): very often it`s a bold and confident "rich" attitude that gets you through, whereas the "poor" approach attracts the gangster/bureaucrat/victim-seeker. Luckily, some have the choice to adapt. Has nothing to do with a Breitling watch, however...
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