Originally Posted by
Kingbird87
If I am not mistaken,the ELT and the FDR both communicate through VHF and UHF frequency, and a VLF pinger, and we picked up the pinger in the vicinity of on Northern Hokkaido enroute to the AO. You are correct about the sound waves of SONAR. That is why we had a Radio Operator on the HC-130 and knuckle dragging pilots to fly the airplane. He got the DF steer off the tracker, and I thought it was only possible with VHF, UHF, S-Band and HF. The pinger indicated location through receiver intensity. Somehow we were accurate enough for 2 SU-15's and three Mig 23's to launch on us. This was also the only mission I ever flew where the PJ's did not want to jump.
Sorry, I edited my post as I was discovering more information:
Originally Posted by
80ktsClamp
SONAR is soundwaves...
The "pinger" is an acoustic device as well, not RF.
Even VLF only goes down to 20 meters below the surface. Submarines use that for communications when they would come up near the surface. Only ELF frequencies can penetrate down to submarine operating depths. VHF and UHF have far less penetration that is limited to just below the surface.