Along with the change of over-the-air television broadcasts to digital in February will be a change in how boaters’ distress beacons will be transmitted.

People who want to continue receiving free television reception will have to have a new TV with a digital tuner or a digital-to-analog converter box.

Not as well-known but of substantial importance is that a critical piece of life-saving equipment will also be affected with the change from analog to digital transmissions — Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacons or “EPIRBs.”

Starting in February, older beacons that transmit only an analog signal (121.5 or 243 MHz) will no longer be “heard” by search and rescue satellites.

Boaters need to ensure that their distress beacon is capable of transmitting a digital signal (406 MHz) in order for it to be recognized.

Although recreational boaters are not required to carry an EPIRB, they are strongly recommended for all boaters, including kayaks and other paddle craft, along with a VHF-FM marine band radio. The 406 MHz signal sent by newer EPIRBs are picked up by a satellite constellation, which determines the EPIRBs position through triangulation. EPIRBs with embedded GPS are even more helpful in quickly finding a distressed boater.

“Registering your EPIRB with accurate contact numbers ensures that the Coast Guard can confirm an actual distress or false alarm and can take the guess work out of who or what they are looking for,” said Lt. Meredith Phillips, Pacific Northwest search and rescue controller.

Registration for new 406 MHz beacons is free, required by law and can be done at http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov or by calling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at 1-888-212-SAVE.