ACR AquaLink™
Contents
1. ACR AquaLink 406 MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon ry Head offshore with confidence With three rescuers where you are but who you are The overboard Performing a full functional self levels of integrated signal technology GPS onboard GPS can fix your position to within test of the PLB s internal circuitry battery positioning a powerful 406 MHz signal and 100 meters and then utilizes a powerful 406 voltage amp power and 406 MHz transmission 121 5 MHz homing capability the AquaLink MHz signal to relay your distress call to gives you peace of mind knowing your PLB quickly and accurately relays your position to orbiting satellites As local Search and Rescue will work the moment you need it most ACR a worldwide network of Search and Rescue is deployed a separate homing signal and Exclusive Built in GPS acquisition test mode Satellites reducing search time and increasing integrated LED strobe light guide rescuers to allows you to test GPS functionality up to 12 your chances of survival It s reliable signaling your exact location times over the life of the battery technology that has saved more than 30 000 lives since 1982 The AquaLink is small enough to be easily Tap in to the same field tested rescue carried in a pack or pocket or can be worn technology used by the U S Military U S The AquaLink broadcasts a unique on deck at the helm in quarters or on a life Coast Guard NATO Special Forces and registered dist2. A GH each additional year 359 99 659 74 618 95 939 89 5 Year Cost of Ownership 279 579 74 359 99 659 74 as 439 739 74 www acrartex com
3. Format o o 1 1 radians peak Beacons are shipped from ACR with a Serialized code but can be reprogrammed at a service center to other coded formats including nationality of registration 121 5 MHz Frequency Tolerance 50 ppm gt 25MmW PEP Output Power gt 25 mW PEP Morse Code P ID Every 50 seconds approximately U S Protocol AM 2K00A2A oO 406 037 amp 121 5 MHz Polarization Vertical VSWR Less than 1 5 1 Minimum Battery We aes A Operating Life 24 hours minimum 4 F to 131 F 20 C to 55 C Battery Replacement Battery replacement due no later than 6 years from date of Interval manufacture 5 years from date of install or after emergency use Batteries meet the UN Classification for Non dangerous goods Size of beacon less 2 31 x 5 81 x 1 25 in 5 87 x 14 76 x 3 17 cm SARLink Antenna 2 31 x 5 81 x 1 45 in 5 87 x 14 76 x 3 68 cm AquaLink High impact and UV resistant plastic ACR treuse High visibility yellow Weicht 8 9 oz 252 g without belt clip SARLink g 9 2 oz 260 g without attachment clip AquaLink Waemoai Factory tested to 16 4 ft 5 m for 1 hour and to 32 8 ft 10 m for 10 p minutes both at room temperature See section 4 Distinguishing PLB Features page 8 4 F to 131 F 20 C to 55 C 40 F to 158 F 40 C to 70 C PLB350B meets the requirements of Federal Communications Commission FCC Part 95 Subpart K For all other type approval informat
4. any of the LUT stations When there is GPS data included in the distress message SAR authorities instantly know your location to within 110 yards 100 m This speeds up the reaction time by not having to wait for one of the LEOSAR satellite to pass overhead Because most of the search and rescue forces presently are not equipped to home in on the 406 MHz Satellite beacons signal homing must be accomplished at 121 5 MHz Once the 406 MHz signal is relayed through the LEOSAR and or GEOSAR network SAR forces determine who is closest and then proceed to the beacon using the 121 5 MHz homing frequency 2 Global Positioning System GPS The GPS system is a satellite group that enables a GPS receiver to determine its exact position to within 30 m 100 ft anywhere on earth With a minimum of 24 GPS satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of approximately 11 000 miles they provide users with accurate information on position velocity and time anywhere in the world and in all weather conditions Beacons that have GPS engines add this data to its distress transmission allowing search and rescue forces to narrow the search to a very small area thus minimizing the resources required and dramatically increasing the effectiveness of the overall operation Y1 03 0241 2F 18 APPENDIX C TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Frequency 406 MHz Output Power greater than 5 watts typical 6 3 watts Frequency Stabilit 2 parts per billion 100ms
5. beeps every 5 seconds amp Red LED amp Long beep GPS data was not successfully acquired no signal sent out 6 Changing ownership or contact information As the owner of the beacon it is your responsibility to advise the national authority of any change in your registration information If you are transferring the beacon to a new owner you are required to inform the national authority where the beacon is registered You can do this by using their online database or by letter fax or telephone and informing the authority of the name and address of the new owner The new owner of the beacon is required to provide the national authority with all of the information requested on the registration form This obligation transfers to all subsequent owners See earlier section STEP ONE for further details on this process 7 Lost or stolen PLBs If your PLB is lost or stolen do the following immediately Report to your local authorities that the PLB has been lost or stolen Contact NOAA at 888 212 7283 212 SAVE or your national authority with the following information o Police department name o Police department phone number o Police case number If your PLB were to be activated the information you provided will be forwarded to the appropriate search and rescue authorities who will ensure that your PLB gets back to you If someone attempts to register a PLB reported as stolen NOAA or your national authority will notify th
6. however when the beacon is properly registered the situation can usually be resolved with a phone call e Be careful with whom you leave your beacon Make sure that they know how to use it and that they understand the ramifications of causing a false alert A lot of false alerts are generated by curious individuals If you notice the beacon is flashing the red or green LED and beeping periodically on its own this likely means it has accidentally been activated and needs to be shut off and reported e Do not stow beacon while other gear is in contact with the keypad The Cospas Sarsat satellites detect distress beacon transmissions immediately and locate the transmission within a few minutes of beacon activation NOTE If you report a false alert and the authorities have not received the signal do not be concerned This may mean that you were able to deactivate the beacon before transmitting the signal 12 False alert A false alert must be reported to the search and rescue authorities False alerts in the USA that are rectified must be reported to the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center AFRCC to let them know that the situation has been corrected and everything is fine Responsibly reporting these events to the AFRCC or your proper authority will not incur a penalty but deliberate misuse or not notifying the proper authority may incur a severe penalty Reporting Should there be a false alert for any reason it must
7. ACR website in the Support section entitled Hazmat MSDS Sheets amp Info 3 Self Test ACR strongly recommends performing the Self test once per month or at least two weeks prior to a trip to allow enough time for service should your beacon require it A Self test is initiated by holding the Self test button for at least 1 2 second and less than 5 seconds Your beacon will sound an initial beep and flash the green LED to signify the test has begun Four more beeps will follow The green LED will flash a second time to indicate that the Self test was successful NOTE The beep is a very high pitch sound that some people are unable to hear Watching the LEDs may be more useful to you Components Tested Data integrity and memory 406 MHz synthesizer RF power battery GPS header if equipped If a red LED flashes at the completion of the Self test your beacon has failed Repeat the Self test If the failure persists contact ACR Electronics or an authorized Battery Replacement Center to have your beacon serviced NOTE During a Self test your beacon will send a 406 MHz signal coded as self test to the satellite system The 121 5 MHz homing signal is inhibited during Self test This allows you to test your beacon any time during the day without causing false alerts Green LED with beep additional beeps Green LED Successful Self test strobe flash Green LED Less than 4 beeps Red LED
8. Standards Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the military since 1956 A CAUTION Before proceeding to install test or use your new ACR Electronics product please read this Product Support Manual in its entirety If you have questions regarding the contents of the manual or something not covered in the manual please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics Inc Telephone 1 954 981 3333 You can also visit our website at www acrartex com and access the Frequently Asked Questions FAQs section for further information If in the future you lose this manual you may access and print a replacement on the ACR website A PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS CAUTIONS AND NOTES CAREFULLY Y1 03 0241 2F Table of Contents STEP ONE REGISTERING YOUR BEACON STEP TWO HOW THE BEACON WORKS STEP THREE MAINTAINING YOUR PLB 13 APPENDIX A ACCESSORIES 17 APPENDIX B THE COSPAS SARSAT SYSTEM 18 APPENDIX C TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 19 APPENDIX D WARRANTY USEFUL LIFE POLICY NOTICES 20 APPENDIX E RESTRICTIONS ON USE 21 NOTE re Applicable products This manual supports all configurations of PLB 350B beacons In addition to the part numbers listed on the cover page other configurations of these products may be available thus you may have purchased a product configuration with a different version of
9. ator Beacons PLBs are a great beacon especially if you do any boating by yourself or while alone on deck but they are predominantly considered in the marine industry as a back up to an EPIRB Both are require registration It s quick easy and free and can be done online http www acrelectronics com support registrations SPOT vs 406 MHz PLB What s the aimrerence Technical Muscle Weak frequency low power High frequencyehigh power The high frequency and power allows a 406 MHz PLB to blast through trees bad weather and off canyon walls to reach satellites No redundancy GPS to GEOSAR PLBs have multiple ways to get you GPS to GlobalStar satellites Doppler shift from LEOSAR rescued With SPOT if you can t 121 5 homing signal download GPS no one knows where you are Required subscription fees to No fees if you dont pay for SPOT s service use at 99 per year plus 50 you will not be rescued tracking fees PLBs cut out the middle man and save valuable time linking directly to Search and Rescue satellites Commercial based satellites Direct to Search and Rescue GlobalStar forces COSPAS SARSAS E 1 ACR reson E nas PAA SSe aa P k POWER tnan a ka O Oj D p SPOT messenger f Ta A i Cost of Ownership ACR PLB 375 ACR PLB 350 B ACR PLB 350 C SPOT 279 99 359 99 439 99 119 99 Base Fee Peryear 0 80 SON 99 freaquirea S
10. be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities The information that should be reported includes The PLB 15 digit Unique Identifier Number UIN Time and date Duration and cause of activation Location of beacon at the time of activation Y1 03 0241 2F 12 To report false alert in the United States contact the AFRCC United States Air Force Rescue Tel 1 800 851 3051 Coordination Center AFRCC To report false alerts outside of the USA contact the national authority where your beacon is registered STEP THREE MAINTAINING YOUR PLB 1 Routine Maintenance Carefully inspect the beacon case for any visible cracks Cracks may admit moisture which could falsely activate the beacon or otherwise cause a malfunction Any cracks observed should be immediately referred to ACR for evaluation by calling 1 954 981 3333 ACR Technical Support can also be reached by sending an email to service acrartex com After checking the beacon case for cracks it may be wiped down with a clean damp cloth Do not use any type of cleaner on your beacon 2 Battery Replacement Replace the battery no later than 6 years from date of manufacture 5 years from date of install or after emergency use At each inspection check the time remaining until replacement is required The battery should be replaced if the beacon has been activated for any use other than the Self test Always refer battery replacements and other beacon ser
11. e appropriate police department Y1 03 0241 2F 16 APPENDIX A ACCESSORIES 1 Multi Function Belt Clip The SARLink comes standard with a multi function belt clip To install the clip simply align the bottom tabs on the clip with the insert holes located on the bottom of the beacon Snap the clip in place by pressing the top of the clip so that the two top tabs engage in the two insert holes on the top of the beacon see Figure 5 To remove the clip push up and back on the top tabs one at a time to disengage the clip from the beacon The belt clip has been designed to accommodate your extreme adventures You can secure your beacon directly to Figure 5 Belt Clip backpack webbing straps life jackets or belts to ensure the beacon is close at hand ACR recommends that you secure your beacon someplace on your person that is easily accessible in case of an emergency for rapid activation Ensure the beacon is secured firmly and is protected before heading out to avoid damage or loss NOTE ACR recommends that once you have clipped your beacon in place that you also anchor the beacon with the lanyard to your life jacket backpack etc to ensure the unit will not be lost if it should break out of the clip Y1 03 0241 2F APPENDIX B THE COSPAS SARSAT SYSTEM 1 General overview Beacons transmit to the satellite portion of the Cospas Sarsat system Cospas Sarsat satellites are an international system that util
12. g and the red LED will flash once every 2 seconds until new GPS data is obtained 9 GPS receiver orientation When activated it is critical that you do not cover the beacon with any body part water clothing etc The GPS receiver is located under the bottom portion of the case behind the product logo see Figure 4 To ensure optimum performance of the GPS receiver the beacon needs to have an unobstructed view of the sky Avoid submerging the GPS receiver in water if possible Water will shield and inhibit the GPS receiver and may cause difficulties obtaining your GPS coordinates Avoid leaning over the beacon to view blinking LED as you may shield the GPS reception Figure 4 GPS Receiver Location 10 Turning off the beacon To deactivate your beacon depress the ON OFF button for more than 4 seconds Once the beacon is deactivated all blinking LED s will stop signifying that the beacon is no longer sending your distress message If deactivation should fail remove the six screws holding the unit together and unplug the batteries to disable the unit Return the beacon to ACR Electronics for service Y1 03 0241 2F 11 11 Preventing false alerts A false alert is any activation of the beacon intentional or otherwise that does not result from a situation of grave and imminent danger Be sure to do the following to help minimize false alerts e Register your beacon This does not reduce false alert rates
13. ide on the registration form is used for rescue purposes only A confirmation letter a copy of the actual registration and a proof of registration decal will be mailed to you within two weeks When you receive these documents please check the information carefully and then affix the decal to your beacon in the area marked BEACON DECAL HERE It is very important that the proof of registration decal matches the UIN on the beacon If you do not receive confirmation back from NOAA within two weeks call toll free 888 212 7283 for assistance Y1 03 0241 2F 4 Registration in Canada Canadian residents can register online at http canadianbeaconregistry forces gc ca or contact the Canadian Beacon Registry by phone at 877 406 7671 or by fax at 877 406 3298 Canadian Beacon Registry CFB Trenton PO Box 1000 Stn Forces Astra Ontario KOK 3W0 Registration in Other Countries In countries other than the United States and Canada 406 MHz beacons are registered with that country s national authority at the time of purchase The sales agent may have assisted you in filling out the forms and sending them to the country s national authority Alternatively many countries allow online registration in the International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database IBRD at www 406registration com To verify that the unit is properly programmed for your country view the UIN label on the back of the unit In the event that the beacon is not
14. ing your beacon A WARNING This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty Overview Personal Locator Beacons are designed to be manually activated They are only to be activated when all other means of self rescue have been exhausted When properly registered as required the activation of the beacon tells Search and Rescue who you are where you are and that you are facing a life threatening situation Y1 03 0241 2F 8 NOTE The appearance of your key pad may vary from this picture Activation diagram ON OFF Button visible only when antenna is deployed mac 2m MM r ze When activated Flashing Red LED transmitting 406 MHz during activation Flashing Green LED 406 MHz includes GPS data Self Test Button IR LED Programming Interface Not owner accessible GPS Self Test Button PLB 350B Figure 2 Key Pad Functions NOTE If you notice the PLB is flashing the red or green LED and beeping periodically on its own this likely means it has accidentally been activated and needs to be shut off and reported as a false alert see section on false alerts Y1 03 0241 2F 9 6 Activation 406 MHz and 121 5 MHz To activate your beacon in a distress situation follow these steps see Figure 3 below 1 Unfasten the antenna from the case 2 Move it into
15. ion please visit our website at www acrartex com Hereby ACR Electronics Inc declares that this personal locator beacon is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999 5 EC Please see our website at www acrartex com for the latest declaration of conformity for this product Y1 03 0241 2F 19 APPENDIX D WARRANTY NOTICES Limited Warranty This product is warranted against factory defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 one year from date of purchase or receipt as a gift During the warranty period ACR Electronics Inc will repair or at its option replace the unit at no cost to you for labor materials and return transportation from ACR For further assistance please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 6645 Email service acrartex com Fax 1 954 983 5087 Telephone 1 954 981 3333 This warranty does not apply if the product has been damaged by accident or misuse or as a result of service or modification performed by an unauthorized factory Except as otherwise expressly stated in the previous paragraph THE COMPANY MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND EXPRESS OR IMPLIED AS TO MERCHANTABILITY FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER MATTER WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT The Company shall not be liable for consequential or special damages To place the warran
16. izes Russian Federation and United States low altitude near polar orbiting satellites LEOSAR These satellites assist in detecting and locating activated 406 MHz satellite beacons Cospas Sarsat satellites receive distress COSPAS SARSAT System Overview i itti 2 signals from beacons transmitting on the Se a PIDEN frequency of 406 MHz The Cospas Sarsat DEE SERT 406 MHz beacon signal consists of a transmission of non modulated carriers followed by a digital message format that provides identification data The 406 MHz system uses satellite borne equipment to measure and store the Doppler shifted frequency along with the beacon s digital data message and time of measurement This information is transmitted in real time to an earth station called the Local User Terminal LUT which may be within the view of the satellite as well as being stored for later transmission to other LUTs The LUT processes the Doppler shifted signal from the LEOSAR and determines the location of the beacon then the LUT relays the position of the distress to a Mission Control Center MCC where the distress alert and location information is immediately forwarded to an appropriate Rescue Coordination Center RCC The RCC dispatches Search and Rescue SAR forces The addition of the GEOSAR satellite system greatly improves the reaction time for a SAR event This satellite system has no Doppler capabilities at 406 MHz but will relay the distress alert to
17. om front portion of the case It is imperative that the receiver is not obstructed during the GPS acquisition test or activation to ensure that the GPS receiver is acquiring your latitude LAT and longitude LON position This test must be performed outside with a clear view of the sky Press the GPS button for greater than 5 seconds Observe the beacon for the entire GPS test A beep and green LED will indicate that the GPS has been turned ON The beacon will beep every 5 seconds and the GPS will remain ON until LAT LON coordinates have been obtained or until 2 minutes have elapsed If good LAT LON data has been obtained a single 406 MHz test signal will be sent out with location data and the GPS will be turned OFF and the green LED will light for at least 3 seconds along with a long beep This LAT LON data is not saved for use The green LED indicates that the GPS is functioning properly and that the beacon is in a location or environment where it can receive the necessary signals from satellites If the GPS does not acquire good LAT LON data the GPS will turn OFF after 2 minutes followed with a RED LED light up for 3 seconds along with a long beep and no 406 MHz signal will be sent out Y1 03 0241 2F 15 Green LED and beep at start Successfully acquired GPS followed by continuous beeps every 5 data 406 MHz signal sent out seconds Green LED amp Long beep with location data Green LED and beep at start followed by continuous
18. on helps to resolve this quickly Y1 03 0241 2F 3 What country should I register in The beacon must be registered in the country of the owner s residence If the beacon is not programmed to that country s code and protocol and the residence is outside of the USA the beacon needs to be reprogrammed The beacon must be reprogrammed if you as the owner permanently move out of the country where the beacon is registered To verify the country for which a beacon is programmed see the label with the UIN Unique Identification Number on the back of the unit How do register Registration in the United States The national authority that accepts registrations in the United States is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA There are three ways to register 1 The fastest and easiest way to register is online at www beaconregistration noaa gov 2 Faxing a registration is also acceptable Fax the registration form to the fax number on the top of the registration form NOTE Do not confuse the registration form with the ACR Electronics warranty card 3 If online or fax registration is not available mail the registration form with the pre addressed postage paid envelope to SARSAT Beacon Registration NOAA NSOF E SPO53 1315 East West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 9684 All registration forms will be entered in the 406 MHz beacon registration database within 48 hours of receipt The information you prov
19. programmed for your country the sales agent if properly equipped can reprogram the unit for the correct country STEP TWO HOW THE BEACON WORKS NOTE Please be aware that throughout your user manual reference is made to the beacon BEEPING Please note that the beeps are of a very high pitched tone that some people are unable to hear Be aware that the beeps are not the indication of a fully functional beacon but only a guidance to Technicians and Engineers to troubleshoot the unit 1 How your beacon brings help 406 MHz beacons are a type of portable emergency equipment that transmits a distress signal to search and rescue SAR organizations The purpose of these beacons is to aid SAR teams in tracking and locating ships or individuals in jeopardy as rapidly as possible The 406 MHz frequency is a worldwide dedicated emergency frequency that is detected by a network of satellites called the Cospas Sarsat system This satellite system was established by and continues to be supported by its primary benefactors the USA Russia Canada and France The Cospas Sarsat system has saved over 28 400 lives and counting since its inception See Appendix or the Cospas Sarsat website for more information about the system at www cospas sarsat org When a 406 MHz beacon is activated the digital distress message is sent to Cospas Sarsat satellites and in turn the distress message is relayed to SAR The distress message con
20. ress signal that not only tells vest and will float if accidentally dropped Arctic explorers SPECI FI CATIONS Product Number 2882 Model Number PLB 350B Size 2 3 X 5 8 x 1 45 5 9 x 14 8 x 3 7 cm Weight 9 2 oz 261 g with lanyard e No Subscription Fees Battery Class Class 2 non hazmat lithium batteries Battery Replacement Interval e Floats Replacement due six 6 years from date of manufacture or five 5 years after beacon is placed into service whichever is first or after emergency use e Super Bright LED Strobe e On Board 66 Channel GPS Battery Operational Life Exceeds 24 H 4 F 20 C xceeds 24 Hours 4 F 20 C e Self Test and GPS Test Features Battery Typical Performance 35 Hours 4 F 20 C Battery Storage 40 F to 158 F 40 C to 70 C e Typical Performance 35 Hours T Material Engineered polycarbonate blend e Non Hazmat Battery D gt Color ACR treuse high visibility yellow Made in the U S A a e Mage IN tne U S Activation Manual D Operation 2 steps deploy antenna press ON button Give clear view of sky E Waterproof 16 40 ft 5m 1 hr 33 ft 10 m FD 10 min Factory tested 70 F exceeds RTCM waterproof requirements Ll Radiated Power 6 3W 406 MHz C 50 mW 3dB 121 5 MHz LLI Accessories Attachment clip included gt Approvals Cospas Sarsat FCC Canada R amp TTE eee Limited Warranty 5 years Lead Free Yes Ga It is manda
21. tains the beacon UIN and on Y1 03 0241 2F 5 some models the GPS location of the beacon Additional information about the beacon is accessed by SAR from the beacon registration database At the same time the 406 MHz signal is activated a 121 5 MHz signal is turned on The 121 5 MHz signal is used by SAR to home in on the beacon as they approach it The 406 MHz signal is detected by multiple satellites and from that information the location of the beacon can be calculated This data alone is sufficient for SAR to find persons or ships in distress in a reasonable timeframe However as a further enhancement some beacons have a GPS engine onboard This feature allows the beacon to acquire current location coordinates from an internal GPS receiver The purpose of this feature is to send an even more precise location of the beacon to the satellites i e latitude and longitude data This helps SAR to reach the location even faster 2 Internal GPS position system The PLB 350B is fitted with an internal GPS receiver that will determine the coordinates latitude and longitude of the beacon s position on the globe to be transmitted to the Cospas Sarsat emergency system When the beacon is activated the internal GPS immediately attempts to acquire positional coordinates GPS coordinates can be acquired any time that the GPS is on but only valid data is saved Once the beacon acquires valid coordinates the data is included as part of the next
22. the part number for example 2880 63 As long as the first four digits are the same as one of the part numbers on the cover this manual is applicable Y1 03 0241 2F 2 STEP ONE REGISTERING YOUR BEACON Why is registration important As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon it is mandatory that you register it with the PLB national authority of your country It is the law Please note that all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every two years by the owner Your personalized ID code programmed inside each beacon is ARA transmitted to Search and Rescue youR RESCUE WILL SAR SAR forces use this code to pull BE DELAYED IF YOUR up your registration to find out valuable BEACON ISN T PROPERLY information about who needs help REGISTERED HOW REGISTRATION WORKS All 406 MHz beacons transmit a Unique Identifier Number UIN when activated The UIN is programmed based on the country in which the beacon s owner resides thus authorities are able to determine which country s database will have your registration information SAR forces will have information as to who you are as the owner of the beacon the name and type of vessel that you have if applicable your address and who to contact that might know of your current situation but only if your beacon has been properly registered Valuable search and rescue resources are wasted every year responding to false alerts and registering your beac
23. the upright position 3 Depress the ON OFF 9 button for 1 full second You will hear a beep and your beacon is now activated While transmitting your distress signal the red LED will flash once every 2 seconds alerting you that your beacon is active An additional beep will sound every time your beacon transmits data to the satellites roughly every 50 seconds Figure 3 7 406 MHz 121 5 MHz antenna position For maximum performance you must deploy the beacon antenna into the proper position as shown in Figure 3 If at all possible be sure the antenna is positioned facing the sky and avoid submerging in water This device is intended to operate on or above the ground or while attached to your person above the water line 8 Activation with GPS If your unit is activated the GPS receiver will start up search to find your LAT LON and incorporate it into your 406 MHz signal As soon as the GPS receiver acquires valid positioning data the red LED will stop blinking and the green LED will begin flashing once every 2 seconds The same GPS data will be sent with each 406 MHz signal for the next twenty minutes At that time the internal GPS will start up again search to find your LAT LON and incorporate it into your next 406 MHz signal If for any reason the internal GPS cannot update your LAT LON your last position will be used for the next four hours At that time the green LED Y1 03 0241 2F 10 will stop blinkin
24. to ACR for service AN 4 OY Successful Self test Less than 24 hours O transmission life is left in the Red LED with beep 4 additional beeps Green LED strobe flash Y1 03 0241 2F 14 a ee Red LED with or without beep Failed Self test Return unit to ACR for service Less than 24 hours of transmission life is left in the batteries Less than 4 additional beeps Red LED strobe flash PLB 350B only 4 Battery witness seal failure If your beacon flashes an initial red LED at the beginning of the Self test this indicates that your electronic witness has been broken and you have used more than the allotted battery life for self testing While the beacon will still operate normally in a distress situation ACR strongly recommends you have your battery replaced and the electronic witness reset to ensure that you will have 24 hours of battery power 5 GPS acquisition test This test is NOT required as 100 of all GPS receivers that leave ACR have been tested to ensure they perform correctly However if you would like to ensure your GPS receiver is working please follow these instructions very closely caution The following test should not be performed more than twelve times during the life of the battery pack Once this GPS testing feature reaches 12 times the feature will be disabled by internal software until the battery is replaced NOTE The GPS receiver is located under the bott
25. tory that you register your PLB It s fast easy and free www beaconregistration noaa gov For further monatan please contact CID When activated the unique identification code in your PLB is linked to the registration database This ACR Electronics I nc way authorities can retrieve valuable information about you and your trip 5757 Ravenswood Road LJ aj ie The AquaLink is a satellite signaling device of last resort for use when all other means of self rescue Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 have been exhausted where the situation is grave and imminent loss of life limb eyesight or Tel 954 981 3333 valuable property will occur without assistance Fax 954 983 5087 Email sales acrartex com 2012 ACR Electronics Inc 03 12 www ACRARTEX com Tht oCLENUE Ur SURVIVAL PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL PLB 350B 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons Product No 2882 AquaLink 2883 Y1 03 0241 2 Rev F f l i COSPAS SARSAT Ti he ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 6645 Tel 1 954 981 3333 Fax 1 954 983 5087 www acrartex com About ACR Electronics ACR Electronics www acrartex com designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs PLBs AIS SARTs Strobe Lights Life Jacket Lights Search Lights and safety accessories The quality systems of this facility have been registered by TUV to the AS9100C ISO 9001 2008 Series
26. transmitted 406 MHz digital message The internal GPS operates on a schedule during a beacon activation The GPS is on for a time actively acquiring coordinates and off for a time in a standby state The schedule is designed to conserve battery but at the same time assure that navigational coordinates are regularly updated Y1 03 0241 2F 6 3 Anatomy of your beacon Antenna Wrapped around beacon Antenna latch Activation button cover GPS antenna location Figure 1 UIN Label Applied at the factory the 15 character hexadecimal number is unique to each beacon Multi language label This optional label may be applied for ease of use Registration decal supplied by some countries Once the beacon is registered the label goes here Battery expiration label with the month year the battery needs to be replaced NOTE The appearance of your beacon may vary from this picture Y1 03 0241 2F 4 Distinguishing PLB Features The distinguishing features available on your PLB vary with the particular model that you selected The following table summarizes the similarities and differences in models AquaLink 406 GPS PLB SARLink 406 GPS PLB names 2882 2883 ACR Product Number LED strobe 12 GPS acquisition tests features GPS engine 0 Internal 66 channel GPS receiver oe Multi Function Belt O oe Optional Flotation pouch ie P N 9504 Accessories 5 Activat
27. ty in effect register online at www acrartex com or return the attached card within 10 days Five years for the following products EPIRB PLB S VDR SSAS Notices ACR Electronics diligently works to provide a high quality Product Support Manual however despite best efforts information is subject to change without notice and omissions and inaccuracies are possible ACR cannot accept liability for manual contents To ensure that you have the most recent version of the Product Support Manual please visit the ACR website at www acrartex com 2009 by ACR Electronics Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted only with permission of ACR Electronics Inc Ongoing product improvements may change product specifications without notice Trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners Y1 03 0241 2F 20 APPENDIX E RESTRICTIONS ON USE Europe R amp TTE Directive The following countries place no restrictions on the use of this product e Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland Greece Iceland Ireland Italy The Netherlands Norway Portugal Romania Sweden Switzerland Liechtenstein e United Kingdom The following countries require a license for this product e France Germany Hungary Latvia Lithuania Slovak Republic e Spain The following countries currently do not allow PLBs including this product e L
28. uxembourg e Malta e Slovenia Y1 03 0241 2F EPIRB vs PLB What is the difference ACR EPIRB PLB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon Personal Locator Beacon Not required to float Floating versions only float so it can Floats in an upright position to transmit be retreived if dropped in water Performs best while floating Needs to be held out of the water or attached high on a PFD for best transmission Floatation Minimum of 48 hours at temperatures Minimum of 24 hours at temperatures down to 4 F 20 C down to 4 F 20 C Longer in nominal temps Longer in nominal temps Transmission Requirements Either manually activated in or out of the bracket OR Automatically activated when Manually activated out of its bracket and in the water Not required Some newer versions Required to have strobe light have flashing LED strobes Strobe Light Mounted in a bracket automatic or Mounting manual deployment or carried in a Worn or carried on a person Options ditch bag Registered to the person Registration Registered to the vessel PLBs are legal to be used on land as well as on water For Boaters an EPIRB is the best beacon to have they are designed for the rough and tough life of living on a boat and the abuse that comes with boating They are also designed to work best while floating in the water and will transmit for twice as long as Personal Loc
29. vice to a factory authorized Battery Replacement Center Battery replacement includes servicing the beacon by replacing all o rings testing the water seal and the electrical properties A warnine This device is life saving equipment The battery chemistry make and construction are controlled by regulation Battery service may only be performed by factory trained personnel with OEM parts tested to meet the applicable standards and retain approvals Unauthorized service may also result in the product failing to perform in an emergency Ask your service center if they have been specifically authorized by ACR to service this product and do not leave the beacon with them if they are not an ACR Battery Replacement Center BRC Visit our website htto Awww acrartex com email us at service acrartex com or call 1 954 981 3333 for a listing of authorized Battery Replacement Centers nearest you Y1 03 0241 2F 13 For the nearest location of a Battery Replacement Center visit our website at www acrartex com Click on Battery Replacement Center This beacon contains two 2 lithium metal battery packs that are less than 2 grams each They are not classified as Hazmat for transportation Prior to shipping beacon for service alert your carrier about the batteries contained in this equipment to make sure they properly label your package Call ACR s Technical Service department at 1 954 981 3333 for proper shipping instructions or visit the
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search