User Manual
Contents
1. Antenna Water Activation Sensors Manual Activation Switch stove Light Grips Red Green LEDs d b A aS Tiu e y p Fx EST fi uL e x rs f 1 ii h 2 ES geg r a f YU Li Lo As R S A g g ei 2 X f Lanyard E Battery 8 R S P R p q B Left Side Front Back Right Side Activation switch with Witness Tab The activation switch embodies a special patented method of activating a beacon Refer to a subsequent section of this manual for how to activate the beacon Optional External GPS interface The external GPS Interface serves as the connection to the ships GPS system Use of this feature requires the purchase of an Optical GPS interface Cable Y1 03 0250 Rev D 7 Strobes Top View _____ nott Antenna He N Ch FN IL LX Y Optional GPS Interface Green Ji dh a ur LED Activation Test Switch Red LED OFF READY TEST ON TRANSMITTING Position Position Position Y1 03 0250 Rev D 8 Category 1 SeaShelter Bracket Ejector Spring Spring jose HydroFix s Hydrostatic Release Unit HRU Optional GPS Interface Antenna Cable Hook Front cover hook detent Front Cover Back Support of Bracket Category 2 QuickDraw Bracket e Antenna Hook Water Sensor Deactivation Magnet2. water sensors activate Hydrostatic Release O H Oo ME en Oo On Ejector Spring launches EPIRB from the bracket allowing it to float freely to the water surface N EL HRU releases the rod I separating the front and back cover of bracket at a Er 1 57 depth between 4 13 feet Y1 03 0250 Rev D 11 Category and Beacons Manual deployment and activation Both Category and beacons can be manually deployed by removing the beacon from the bracket Once removed the beacon can be activated by placing it in water OR by lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position sliding it toward the antenna and pushing down to the opposite side of the beacon Activating the beacon in this manner breaks off the Activation Witness Tab and allows the switch to properly seat showing the J symbol ON A Category or Il beacon MANUALLY activates with the following sequence 1 Remove the beacon from its bracket 2 Activation method one Place beacon in water 3 Activation method two Lift the switch to a vertical position Slide the switch toward the antenna Push the switch down to the opposite side of the beacon see illustration below Category and Beacons Manual Activation Without Deployment The beacon can be manually activated while still in its bracket by placing
3. 4 F to 4 131 F Class 2 Storage temperatures 30 C to 70 C 22 F to 158 F Class 2 406 037 MHz Power output Digital message format Standard location protocol for the USA Beacon can be reprogrammed at a service center to other coded formats and to national location protocol 121 5 MHz 25 mW PEP Modulation type AM 3K20A3X White 1 cd effective candela 20 30 min 360 visibility Accessories SeaShelter3 Category Mounting bracket ACR P N 9501 QuickDraw Category Il Mounting bracket ACR P N 9507 HydroFix universal hydrostatic release HRU kit ACR P N 9490 Optional External GPS Optical Interface Cable for Category Mounting bracket ACR P N 9388 1 Optional External GPS Optical Interface Cable for Category Il Mounting bracket ACR P N 9388 e FCC ID 4B66ACR RLB36 e COSPAS SARSAT certificate 189 NOTE For complete information regarding beacon type approvals please visit ACR s website at www acrartex com Y1 03 0250 Rev D 28 APPENDIX D WARRANTY NOTICES 1 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
4. Release Latch Y1 03 0250 Rev D 3 Activating 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 Category beacons are designed to be automatically deployed and activated in the event of a sinking vessel The beacon may also be hand held on the deck of vessels or floated in water and attached to a raft or life vest with the lanyard provided Category Il beacons are designed to be manually deployed from the bracket Two conditions must be met for a Category 11 beacon to automatically activate must be out of its bracket It must be wet NOTE Either condition by itself will not automatically activate the beacon Category and beacons can always be manually activated in or out of their bracket The beacon and bracket are designed to allow the user to perform periodic testing while the beacon is in its bracket Y1 03 0250 Rev D 10 Category beacons Automatic deployment and activation If the vessel sinks the HydroFix HRU frees the beacon from the bracket allowing it to float to the surface Built in sensors detect that the beacon is no longer in its bracket and when continuity is created by water between two of the top cap screws an activation circuit is completed NOTE Transmission of the 121 5 MHz and 406 MHz signals will not occur until 100 seconds after activation RM
5. the thumb switch to the OFF position If automatically activated and you wish to deactivate remove the beacon from the water and dry the unit or place the beacon back into the release bracket The beacon normally takes up to 12 seconds to deactivate If deactivation should fail remove the four screws holding the unit together and unplug the battery to disable the unit Return the beacon to ACR Electronics for service Y1 03 0250 Rev D 13 5 False alarms To prevent false alarms it is important to be aware of how your beacon can be activated An ACR 406 MHz EPIRB can be activated by two different methods Whether you have a Category or Category these methods are the same II II II When the beacon is out of its bracket and wet the unit will start transmitting When the switch is moved to the ON position in or out of the bracket the unit will start transmitting Precautions to prevent false alarms Do not mount or transport the beacon within 4 6 ft 1 4 m of a magnetic source Do not store the beacon outside of its bracket if it can get wet Do not mount the EPIRB backwards in its bracket lanyard roll must face in Do not clean the beacon with a water hose and brush while out of its bracket Reporting Should there be for any reason an inadvertent activation or false alarm it must be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities The information that should be reported inclu
6. Rev D 21 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 the information on the registration form If you are transferring the beacon to a new owner you are required to inform the national authority 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 Registration forms for the United States are available from NOAA by calling 888 212 7283 212 SAVE or by visiting the ACR website at www acrartex com Outside of the United States the new owner may contact his local authority for the necessary form s T Lost or stolen EPIRBs If your EPIRB is lost or stolen do the following immediately Report to your local authorities that the EPIRB 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 EPIRB were to be activated the information you provided will be forwarded to the appropriate search and rescue authorities who will ensure that your EPIRB gets back to you If someone attempts to register an
7. USA Signed on behalf of ACR Electronics Inc Signed C 2277 Name Thomas J Pack Date December 10 2011 Title Director New Product Development Document RLB 38 005 This Declaration complies withISO IEC 17050 1 2004 ISO 9001 Registered Quality Management ACR Electronics Inc is registered by NQA to ISO 9001 2008 Y1 03 0250 Rev D 30
8. changes in shipping regulations Shipping of hazardous materials requires special handling and documentation MSDS sheets along with shipping information be found our website at http www acrartex com In the case of the RLB 38 the product contains small batteries that are non hazardous However regulations can change Be advised that it is best to verify the shipping requirements at the time you are preparing to ship the unit 4 Shore based maintenance for SOLAS vessels SBM IMO MSC Circ 1039 The Maritime Safety Committee has approved guidelines for shore based maintenance of satellite beacons for the purpose of establishing standardized procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing and maintenance of satellite beacons The first shore based maintenance on all ACR EPIRBs is due at the date of the first battery replacement Visit ACR s website at www acrartex com for organizations that perform shore based maintenance 5 Annual testing for SOLAS vessels IMO MSC Circ 1040 SOLAS regulation 1V 15 9 dictates annual testing of 406 MHz satellite EPIRBs Testing should be carried out using suitable test equipment capable of performing the relevant measurements All checks of electrical parameters should be performed in the self test mode if possible These tests can be performed by certified ACR Battery Replacement Centers BRCs Visit ACR s website at www acrartex com for authorized ACR BRCs Y1 03 0250
9. flashing an extra green LED at the end of a Self Test 4 Updating the external GPS position data When the beacon is properly connected to a functioning and compatible GPS receiver GPS position data is automatically updated about every 20 minutes while valid GPS position data is present The operator can force the acquisition of new GPS position data by initiating a Self Test with the beacon connected to an external GPS receiver with a valid position fix This bypasses the normal programmed waiting time of 20 minutes for the automatic update of GPS position data Y1 03 0250 Rev D 25 If no valid GPS position data is available the beacon will keep the previously stored GPS position data for up to 4 hours In this case call ACR Customer Service at 1 954 981 3333 for instructions on how to reset the beacon with the default message A new beacon is programmed with the GPS position data set to a default If the beacon should be activated this default GPS position data indicates to the satellite system that the beacon has no valid GPS position stored in memory Once a functioning and compatible external GPS receiver is properly connected to the beacon the default data will be replaced by valid GPS position data as described in the previous sections 5 LED indication of GPS fix When the beacon is activated and valid coordinates are acquired the data is included in the digital message of the next 406 MHz transmission The LED blink
10. EPIRB reported as stolen NOAA or your national authority will notify the appropriate police department Visit www cospas sarsat org for more information 8 Servicing the SeaShelter and the HydroFix HRU The SeaShelter3 Category bracket has two main pieces the lid and the base To open the bracket turn the spring loaded knob counterclockwise 1 4 of a turn and pull The lid will lift away from the top of the base and disengage from the detent at the bottom of the base The lid is tethered to the base to help prevent loss Brackets are a key part of the overall beacon system They hold a beacon ready for deployment while preventing false alarms Category brackets also require replacement NOTE Whenever a beacon is returned for service it must be accompanied by the bracket of the Hydrostatic Release Unit every two years Y1 03 0250 Rev D 22 To remove the expired HRU When opening the SeaShelter lid note that the beacon is installed with the lanyard face in Pull the beacon with steady pressure from the bracket Do not get beacon wet while out of bracket The HRU has a keying feature that locks it to the bracket If you view the HRU rod as the center of a clock a properly installed HRU will rest at the 7 o clock position as shown in the picture above WARNING The holds down an ejection spring The spring must be held in place during the removal and installation of the HydroFix t
11. 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 warranty 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 2 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 regist
12. 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 programmed for your country the sales agent if properly equipped can reprogram the unit for the correct country 4 Do need a radio license In the United States you may or may not need to obtain or update a radio station license Check the FCC s website at http wireless fcc gov services index htm job licensing amp id ship stations or call toll free 888 225 5322 CALLFCO for the latest information Outside of the United States contact your local authority for the requirements Y1 03 0250 Rev D 5 STEP TWO HOW THE BEACON WORKS 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 special system 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 23 500 lives and counting since its inception
13. S SARSAT System Overview from EPIRBs transmitting on the frequency of 406 MHz The Cospas Sarsat 406 MHz beacon NIORT signal consists of a transmission of d 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 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 satel
14. See Appendix G 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 SAH The distress message contains important information about the beacon and its owner 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 or download coordinates from an external GPS receiver The coordinates are added to the ID of the unit which is transmitted with the 406 signal This enables the SAR authorities to locate the beacon to an accuracy of 110 yards 100 m Y1 03 0250 Rev D 6 2 Anatomy of your beacon NOTE When unpacking your beacon it is recommended that you save the original packaging for re use when shipping the beacon for battery replacement in the future
15. THE oLIENLE Ur SURVIVAL PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL SATELLITE 406 406 MHz EPIRB Model No RLB 38 Product No 2874 2875 Y1 03 0250 Rev D OWNER VESSEL RADIO CALL SIGN oa gt COSPASAME SARSAT ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 6645 Tel 1 954 981 3333 Fax 1 954 983 5087 www acrartex com 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 please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics Inc Telephone 1 954 981 3333 Please be ready to provide the technician with the page number you wish to discuss If you have a question that is not covered in the manual please visit our website and access the Frequently Asked Questions FAQs section for further information or call our Technical Service Department The website address is www acrartex com If in the future you lose this manual you may access and print a replacement on the ACHR website NOTE re Applicable products This manual supports all configurations of Satellite 406 RLB 38 beacons In addition to the part numbers listed on the cover page other configurations of these products are available thus you may have purchased a product configuration with a somewhat different part number As long as the f
16. The SeaShelter can be mounted on a vertical surface with the beacon antenna pointing skyward or a horizontal surface with the beacon face up Avoid mounting locations that subject the bracket to breaking waves Avoid structures like dodgers or cabin tops that could trap the beacon upon deployment A CAUTION Category II brackets must be mounted in a protected location that is easily accessible should it be necessary to abandon ship The QuickDraw can be mounted on a vertical surface with the beacon antenna pointing skyward or a horizontal surface with the beacon face up Avoid mounting locations that subject the bracket to breaking waves Avoid mounting locations that do not provide protection from harmful UV rays of the sun The bracket must be mounted facing inboard to avoid being lost overboard due to impacts of breaking waves personnel or loose gear Visually inspect the area surrounding the mounting bracket installation site for hidden hazards or obstacles that may have been overlooked during the location selection If there is any doubt as to the ready accessibility to the beacon at all times or if any condition may appear to be questionable conduct a complete and thorough investigation before final approval of the installation NOTE When selecting the beacon bracket location be sure to consider the requirement for four screw holes to secure the bracket A caution Keep this beacon a safe distance away from all magnetic sou
17. With gentle pressure hold the lid while you turn the lock counterclockwise until it stops then clockwise until it stops This should capture the HRU and snap the lid into a locked position Confirm that the lid is attached to the bottom of the bracket and the HRU CAUTION Do not force the lid closed If the lid does not close easily check to see that the beacon is properly installed in the bracket and the HydroFix is properly seated Y1 03 0250 Rev D 23 9 Servicing the QuickDraw To remove a beacon from the Category bracket press the PUSH lever to release the beacon from the bracket The beacon will now be able to forward and down out of the bracket It is not anticipated that the QuickDraw will require servicing other than cleaning or rarely replacement NOTE Whenever a beacon is returned for service it must be accompanied by the bracket 10 Self Testing the beacon The Satellite 406 beacon may be self tested as is warranted up to a maximum of sixty times in the five year life of the battery or once per month for the life of the battery Self Tests can be performed randomly however ACR recommends that you perform the Self Test on a once per month schedule Do not exceed sixty 60 Self Test cycles limit in the five year life of the battery to conserve the battery for emergency use The functional Self Test is initiated by momentarily P lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position and y
18. ation regarding the use and testing of your GPS system in conjunction with the beacon Using the optical interface is not necessary for the beacon to function properly it will however enhance the beacon s performance Y1 03 0250 Rev D 19 STEP FOUR MAINTAINING THE BEACON 1 Safety DOs and DON Ts On a routine basis aboard ship DO NOT Hold or carry the beacon by its antenna Mount the beacon in its bracket close to large structures or magnetic areas Tie the lanyard to the EPIRB bracket or any other structure Obscure the beacon by placing objects in front of it On a routine basis aboard ship DO Mount the beacon in its bracket in an obvious location so that all can see it Mount the beacon in its bracket with the rolled lanyard facing inward facing the bracket Follow the recommended maintenance schedule Perform a beacon Self Test monthly Follow up with beacon service if Self Test fails 2 Routine beacon maintenance At least every ninety days the float free mounting bracket and beacon should be inspected for deterioration and or residue buildup that may affect the function of the beacon or automatic release Part of the visual check includes checking the antenna for tightness Clean the beacon and the mounting bracket to remove any residue buildups It is recommended that the beacon and mounting bracket be wiped with a damp cloth Carefully inspect the beacon case for any visible cracks Cracks may a
19. ble 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 your homeport 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 alarms and registering your beacon helps to resolve false alarms quickly Y1 03 0250 Rev D 3 2 What country should register in Register your beacon with the EPIRB national authority of the country for which the beacon was programmed typically the country where purchased regardless of where you do your boating The beacon must be reprogrammed if you as the owner move or the vessel sails under the flag of a different country than the one for which the beacon was previously programmed 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 Units that do not have a country specified on the UIN label are programmed for the United States 3 How register Registration in the United States The national authority that accepts registrations in the United States is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Here are three ways to register The fastest and easiest way to register is online at www beaconregistration noaa
20. des II The EPIRB 15 digit Unique Identifier Number UIN Time and date Duration and cause of activation Location of beacon at the time of activation To report false alarms in the United States contact any of the following US Region Telephone Number Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico USCG Atlantic Area Command Center 757 398 6390 Pacific Ocean Area USCG Area Command Center 510 437 3700 USCG HQ Command Center 800 323 7233 To report false alarms outside of the USA contact the national authority where your beacon is registered Y1 03 0250 Rev D 14 STEP THREE INSTALLING THE BEACON 1 Marking battery and Hydrostatic Release Unit expiration dates NOTE It is the beacon owner s responsibility to record the expiration dates for both the beacon battery and the HydroFix hydrostatic release unit This information must appear on the product itself The left side of the battery housing indicates the battery expiry date Space is provided for the beacon owner to mark the date the beacon was placed into service The beacon should be serviced 5 years from the installation date but no later than the battery expiry date The ACR HydroFix HRU has an expiration date of 2 years from the date of installation or 4 years from the date manufactured whichever comes first Upon installing your beacon or new HRU permanently scratch the new expiration date on the HRU date calendar as seen below Model HRU 100 Part N
21. dmit moisture which could falsely activate the beacon or otherwise cause a malfunction Any cracks observed should immediately be referred to ACR Service for evaluation Call ACR Electronics Technical Service 1 954 981 3333 3 Battery replacement Battery replacement is due 5 years from date after the beacon placed into service or by expiry date on the beacon whichever is first During each inspection check the time remaining until battery replacement is required The battery must also be replaced if the beacon has been activated for any use other than the Self Test Y1 03 0250 Rev D 20 Always refer battery replacement and any other beacon service to a factory authorized Service Center Find a Center near at http www acrartex com Battery replacement includes servicing the beacon by replacing all o rings testing the water seal and the electrical properties and doing a full functional test on the unit NOTE There are no user serviceable items inside the beacon Do not open the beacon except to disable in case of faulty or accidental activation Otherwise always have the beacon serviced A WARNING Battery contains lithium To avoid possible fire explosion leakage or burn hazard do not open recharge disassemble or heat beacon above 70 C 4158 F or incinerate These products contain lithium in the battery Various beacons may or may not require special shipping instructions due to the lithium batteries and
22. ered trademarks are the property of their respective owners Y1 03 0250 Rev D 29 THE SUTENLE Ur SURVIVAL EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ACR Electronics hereby declares that the following product is in conformity with Council Directive 96 98 EC of 20 December 1996 on Marine Equipment MED last amended by Commission Directive 2010 68 EU of 22 October 2010 and has been type examined as described in this Declaration In accordance with the Directive the product will be marked with the MED Mark of Conformity as follows Product Notified Body Regulations and Standards Manufacturer yy Last two digits of the year in which the mark is affixed 406 MHz COSPAS SARSAT Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon EPIRB MED Item A 1 5 6 Trade Name Satellite 406 Model RLB 38 Bundesamt f r Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie BSH Notified Body No 0735 Bernhard Nocht Str 78 20359 Hamburg Germany EC Type Examination Module B Certificate No BSH 4612 5061677 10 EC Quality System Module D Certificate No BSH 4613 05103 2218 12 IMO Resolution A 662 16 ITU R M 633 2 05 00 IMO Resolution A 694 17 ITU R M 690 1 10 95 IMO Resolution A 696 17 C S T 001 Nov 2007 IMO Resolution A 810 19 C S T 007 Nov 2007 IMO MSC Circ 862 IEC 61097 2 Ed 3 0 2008 01 ETSI EN 300 066 V1 3 1 2001 01 IEC 60945 4th Ed 2002 08 incl Corr 1 2008 ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312
23. f holding it in this position for at least one second and at F g most four seconds A beep indicates the initiation of Me the Self Test sequence Self Test will check battery capacity and perform four functional test sequences aS J described below TEST SUCCESS FAIL EEPROM Connect Beep Green LED Test Stopped Red LED Lock Circuit Beep Green LED Test Stopped Red LED Signal Strength Beep Green LED Test Stopped Red LED Locator Light Beep Green LED Strobe Test Stopped Red LED Green LED p The last green LED indicates a successful test If any of the individual tests fail during Self Test there will be two beeps and a red LED flash at the end of the Self Test Self Test will discontinue at that point NOTE The beeps are a very high pitched tone that some people may not be able to hear You may count the green LED flashes Y1 03 0250 Rev D 24 APPENDIX A USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS 1 How the external GPS interface works The beacon is fitted with an optical interface to connect with an external Global Positioning System GPS receiver that will determine the latitude and longitude of its position This data is transmitted to the emergency system When the beacon is coupled to a working external GPS receiver it immediately begins downloading data Once valid position data has been obtained the beacon will attempt to update the positional data every 20 minutes The Satellites 406 will store the las
24. gov 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 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 SP053 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746 All registration forms will be entered in the 406 MHz beacon registration database within 48 hours of receipt The information you provide 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 with the existing label on the unit and then affix the decal to your beacon in the area marked BEACON DECAL HERE If you do not receive confirmation back from NOAA in the expected timeframe call toll free 888 212 7283 for assistance Y1 03 0250 Rev D 4 Hegistration outside of the United States In countries other than the United States 406 MHz beacons are registered with that country s national authority at the time of purchase The sales agent should 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
25. irst four digits are the same as one of the two part numbers on the cover this manual is applicable Y1 03 0250 Rev D 1 Table of Contents STEP ONE REGISTERING YOUR BEACON STEP TWO HOW THE BEACON WORKS STEP THREE INSTALLING THE BEACON STEP FOUR MAINTAINING THE BEACON APPENDIX A USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS APPENDIX B THE COSPAS SARSAT SYSTEM APPENDIX C TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS APPENDIX D WARRANTY NOTICES A PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS CAUTIONS AND NOTES CAREFULLY Y1 03 0250 Rev D 15 20 25 27 28 29 STEP ONE REGISTERING YOUR BEACON 1 Why is registration important As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon it is mandatory that you register it with the EPIRB 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 Oos 406 Mit BEACON ation 1 Your unique ID code programmed inside each EPIRB is 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 This UIN is programmed into the beacon based on the country in which the beacon is registered thus authorities are a
26. lite 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 The GlobalFix iPRO stores adds 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 0250 Rev D 2 APPENDIX C TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Waterproof Tested to 10 min 210 m 33 ft exceeds RTCM standard Deployment Category Automatic hydrostatic release 48 hours minimum 2 20 C 4 F Class 2 Battery type and LiMnOs replacement interval 5 years from date beacon placed in service or after use in an emergency not to exceed battery expiry Operating temperatures 20 C to 455 C
27. o 9490 Date of Installation Example Patent No 7 435 148 Date of installation of New HRU or First Installation of EPIRB including new HRU August 1 2010 This unit will need to be replaced in August of 2012 Scratch off AUG 8 and 2011 on the HRU date calendar 011 Date Gebrauchszeit 2013 Validita leg 4 Date of Manufacture Example On the bottom of the HRU a date of L AUG SEP 8 9 DISPOSE AFTER TWO YEARS FROM INSTALL DATE OR 4 YEARS FROM DATE MANUFACTURED manufacture is pin stamped 0808 This unit will need to be replaced in August 2012 Scratch off AUG 8 and 2012 on the HRU date calendar 2 Mounting location The selection of a mounting location will vary from vessel to vessel Beacons should be protected from outside influences while being readily accessible at all times in the event of an emergency The location selected must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the total installation Hazards to avoid when selecting a mounting location Vibration Exposure to the elements Possibility of impact from hatches gear or personnel Harmful vapors Exhaust Harsh chemicals Locations that can be obscured by foreign articles on a temporary or permanent basis Y1 03 0250 Rev D 15 A CAUTION Category brackets must be mounted free from obstruction to allow the beacon to automatically float free from the vessel in case of sinking
28. o prevent injury Depress the top of the ejection spring This will relieve pressure on the HRU and allow it to be rotated counterclockwise to the 5 o clock position The HRU is now free to be removed Slowly relieve pressure from the ejection spring and allow it to deploy WARNING Discard the expired HRU Failure to replace the entire assembly may cause the bracket to malfunction JC WARNING Be sure to use only ACR s HydroFix HRU ACR P N 9490 in the SeaShelter Use of unauthorized replacement parts will void your warranty and may cause the bracket to malfunction Check the date of manufacture on the new HRU Follow the instructions that accompany the HydroFix for marking the next expiry date and for selecting the correct rod adapter for the To install the new HRU Apply pressure to the ejection spring and hold it flat against the bracket With your free hand place the new HRU into the key way in the 5 o clock position and rotate clockwise to the 7 o clock position Slowly remove pressure from the ejection spring The HRU should now be held in the 7 o clock position with the pressure on the ejection spring Reinstall the beacon with lanyard face in Beacon should fit snugly in the bracket with the antenna captured by the bracket Reinstall the lid by seating the bottom of the lid to the detent on the base Close the upper portion of the lid so the HRU rod lines up with the spring loaded knob
29. rces Magnet safe distance is 4 6 ft or 1 4 m including the distance from stereo speakers Y1 03 0250 Rev D 16 3 Category bracket The SeaShelter Category bracket has five pre drilled screw holes to use for securing the bracket to a flat surface Remove the SeaShelter3 lid by turning the spring loaded knob on the lid 1 4 turn counterclockwise and pull The lid will lift away from the top of the base and disengage at the bottom of the base The lid is tethered to the base to help prevent loss Pull the beacon with steady pressure from the bracket It is not necessary to remove the HydroFix Hydrostatic Release Unit HRU to mount the bracket using four of the holes For extreme conditions a fifth hole is available when the HydroFix is removed and the ejector spring is deployed The bracket can be held in place to mark the placement of the screw holes or you can use the mounting template provided The use of 10 pan head stainless steel fasteners minimum of e long and e washers not included 15 recommended Make sure that fasteners will not contact any wires or plumbing before drilling pilot holes m y e er Val 3 Y1 03 0250 Rev D 17 4 Category Il bracket Category Il brackets are designed to hold the beacon securely in place The beacon must be manually deployed The bracket can be mounted on a vertical flat surface with beacon antenna up or on a horizontal flat surface facing skyward This location mus
30. s green when GPS coordinates are sent If a time period of 4 hours passes without the internal GPS receiver being able to update the last good set of navigational coordinates the message transmitted by the beacon will revert back to default data At this point the green LED will stop blinking and the red LED will flash The internal GPS will continue to seek coordinates and when successful the green LED will flash This new data will be transmitted in the next message burst and the green LED will continue to flash 6 Compatible GPS receivers External GPS interface requirements In order to be compatible with the Satellite 406 an external GPS receiver must provide location information according to the following requirements NMEA 0183 Version 1 5 or higher Baud rate 4800 Talker device identifier GP GPS Receiver Sentence format GGA GPS Fix Data For more information regarding external GPS device compatibility please visit the ACR website at www acrartex com Y1 03 0250 Rev D 26 APPENDIX B THE COSPAS SARSAT SYSTEM 1 General overview EPIRBs transmit to the satellite portion of the Cospas Sarsat system Cospas Sarast satellites are an international system that utilizes 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 signals COSPA
31. t be easily accessible in order to manually deploy the beacon or to perform the required maintenance and functionality tests Typical locations include near the helm station or just inside the companionway door The QuickDraw Category bracket has three pre drilled screw holes to use for securing the bracket to a flat surface Remove the beacon from the bracket To do this while holding the assembly press the PUSH lever to release the beacon from the bracket Pull the beacon forward and down to remove The bracket can be held in place to mark the holes The use of 8 pan head stainless steel fasteners and washers not included is recommended Be sure to confirm that fasteners will not contact any wires or plumbing before drilling pilot holes M To reinstall the beacon inside the bracket place the antenna behind the top notch in the bracket The yellow lanyard roll faces the bracket and rests in the concave part of the bracket Snap the beacon into place by pushing firmly at the bottom of the beacon on the ACR logo until the snaps engage the bottom of the beacon Top in First Bottom in Second Y1 03 0250 Rev D 18 5 Installing the Optional optical GPS interface cable The beacon is fitted with an optical interface to connect with an external Global Positioning System GPS receiver that will determine the latitude and longitude of its position The black lead wire with white stripes should be connected
32. t valid positional data for up to 4 hours if it becomes unable to obtain new updated data It will update this data if and only if it receives new good positional data from the external GPS receiver 2 Using the external GPS interface Once a compatible operating GPS receiver is connected to the Satellites 406 M the beacon will store coordinate data for incorporation into the emergency message The coordinates are transmitted to the satellite when the beacon is activated in an emergency Coordinate data provides a more accurate location to the Search and Rescue Authority and may lead to a faster rescue Since the last valid GPS position data may stay in the memory for up to 4 hours the user should take care to make sure that the GPS position data stored is accurate This can be accomplished by two methods By always leaving a properly functioning external GPS receiver connected to the beacon before activation or By connecting a properly functioning external GPS receiver with a valid position fix and allowing sufficient time to acquire valid GPS position data 3 Testing the external GPS interface Connect the optical interface plug to the beacon bezel and allow sufficient time for the GPS receiver to acquire valid GPS position data usually less than 1 minute but it can take up to 20 minutes Lift the thumb switch to the vertical Self Test position and release Your beacon will confirm that it has acquired valid GPS data by
33. the Activation Switch in the ON position Activation by this method overrides all sensors and turns the beacon ON Push the main switch up Witness tab will break 90 degrees slide toward once placed in the ON antenna and all the way position down to activate Y1 03 0250 Rev D 12 TIPS FOR OPTIMUM DEPLOYMENT OF AN ACTIVATED BEACON When activating and deploying your beacon in an emergency DO NOT Hold or clutch the beacon or antenna Operate the beacon while hand held if at all possible Turn the beacon off for any reason including to save power Activate the beacon if you have any other means of self rescue Operate the beacon inside a life raft or under any other canopy cover Tether the beacon to the bracket or vessel When activating and deploying your beacon in an emergency DO Follow the steps to activate the beacon as described on the beacon or in this manual Give clear view to the sky for best performance Take the EPIRB with you if abandoning ship provided there is time to get it l Tether beacon using the lanyard to the life raft and let the beacon float if in a life raft Keep EPIRB upright for best signal transmission either by floating it resting it or holding it in this position Manually activate the beacon if it has not been automatically activated 4 Turning off the beacon If your beacon was manually activated and you wish to deactivate return
34. to the output of the external GPS receiver positive transmitter pin The black wire should connected to the negative pin If you have a Category beacon and bracket the connector is at the end of the black lead wire plugs into the beacon via the bezel on the top of the beacon See the location of the GPS interface in previous figures Anatomy of your beacon page 7 and Top View page 8 It is important to seat the connector completely in the bezel for an operational connection If you have a Category beacon and bracket your connector has two extensions on it that must be aligned with the two notches on the Category II beacon bezel The connector is then gently inserted downward into place and turned 90 to lock the connector into the bezel If the external GPS receiver is operational and the connection has been correctly made to the optical interface the green LED in the optical interface will start flashing at activation NOTE The baud rate output for your GPS receiver NMEA 0183 should be 4800 bps If you are not sure if your receiver is NMEA 0183 compliant check the interface settings listed in your GPS manual To optimize your GPS interface feature be sure that your GPS receiver is equipped with a NMEA 0183 Version 1 5 or higher with GPGGA sentence enabled Consult your GPS receiver manual for the maximum cable length acceptable for an external GPS connection to the beacon Also see Appendix A for inform
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