[johnm]

Does anyone know whether these are any use? If so I have one going spare, though its battery life will have expired. If it's useless does anyone have advice on safe disposal?

[Flying_john]

Doorstop I'm afraid !

[johnm]

That's what it has been, but I'm reluctant to put it in small electricals at the dump and wondered if there was an approved disposal method....

[GrahamB]

..approved disposal method....

A thump or two with a lump hammer should do the trick... (after removing battery).

[Sooty25]

Careful with the battery, it'll be lithium.

[Flying_john]

Certainly worth destroying. Dont want some itinerant trying to make it work at sending out "whooping" noises on 121.5.

I think I would open and remove battery and dispose of separately, then if there is a crystal, smashing that up.

If it were a seagoing one, I think it would accidentally fall over the side of the boat !

[Paul_Sengupta]

Certainly a 121.5 emergency beacon will still be of use, but it shouldn't be in lieu of a 406, but maybe as well as, a backup, maybe for a few more hours of local tracking on what's left of the battery.

[Dave W]

Provide it to a passenger.

Your own 406MHz beacon can alert the Rescue Coordination Centre for all of you, then your own 406 beacon will also deliver 121.5 for local SAR homing to you; the old beacon can deliver the same service for a pax.

[johnm]

Thanks to @Paul_Sengupta and @Dave W for the suggestion, but on the basis of earlier advice it has already been dismantled and recycled I'm afraid.....