[amsat-bb] Re: Malaysian airliner puzzle

[Gordon JC Pearce]

On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 12:40:05PM -0500, Joe wrote:
> What I do not understand is why the Transponder is capable of being
> shut off at all?
> 
> That thing as soon as the plane is powered up should start
> transmitting, and continue to do so till the plane is shut down. And
> have no way anyone can shut it off in any way.

Because it takes a ludicrous amount of power to run.  It would be one of the first things you'd turn off if you were load-shedding for some reason.

-- 
Gordonjcp MM0YEQ