406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons
Contents
1. www beaconregistration noaa gov Or Mail To Additionally the beacon must be reprogrammed if you as the owner 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 Registration NOAA NESDIS NSOF E SP053 4231 Suitland Road Suitland MD 20746 For a complete list of all countries with online registration links visit www acrelectronics com support registrations Please check to make sure that your PLB is registered correctly Or Fax To Faxing a registration is also How do I register acceptable Fax the registration form Registration in the United States The national authority that accepts to 301 817 4565 registrations in the United States is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Jo IX 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 User Tip T COTPAT TARTAT ta RHIF OF REGISTRAT OH EWH WATE aa Teo A confirmation letter a copy of the actual registration and a proof of registration UIN A4CC3FFAA4F FFF decal will be mailed to you within two weeks When you receive these ee i documents please check the information carefully and then affix the decal to your beacon in the area marked BEAC2. Do not cover the GPS receiver with your hand and make sure you have a clear view to the sky to ensure GPS is downloaded gt Make sure the antenna Is pointing towards the sky out of the water Beacon is not intended to operate in water 10 5 Turning Your Beacon Off Turning off the beacon To deactivate your beacon depress the ON OFF button for more than 3 seconds Once the beacon is deactivated all blinking LED lights will stop signifying that the beacon is no longer sending your distress message If deactivation should fail try again before removing the 2 screws holding the unit together and unplugging the battery to disable the unit Return the beacon to ACR Electronics for service NOTE Leave beacon on until rescued Turning beacon off will prolong or prevent rescue Repeated activations could be viewed as a hoax www acrelectronics com survivors 6 Testing Your Beacon Your beacon has the ability to perform 2 different tests to ensure the beacon is working perfectly The first is a basic self test which checks the beacon s Data Integrity and Memory 406 MHz Synthesizer RF Power Battery GPS header and sends a satellite burst The second test is a GPS Self Test that actually turns the GPS Receiver on downloads your position and then transmits this data in the Self Test satellite burst Note Self test should only be performed in the first 5 minutes of any hour Basic Self Test No GPS Data Du
3. 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 30 500 lives and counting since its inception To learn more about the system visit 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 forces The distress message contains the beacon UIN and on some models the GPS location of the beacon Additional information about the beacon is accessed by SAR forces 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 forces 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 Learn more about the Cospas Sarsat satellite timeframe However as a further enhancement
4. positioning data the red flashing light will be replaced by a green flashing light once every 3 seconds The same GPS data will be sent with each 406 MHz signal for the next 30 minutes At that G p S 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 will stop GIVE CLEAR blinking and the red LED will flash once every 3 seconds until new GPS data is obtained GPS receiver orientation VI EW TO S KY 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 where it is outlined with the text GPS Give Clear View To Sky 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 Red Flashing Light Sending 406 MHz Signal Only Green Flashing Light Sending 406 MHz Signal with GPS Coordinates i OBfAT71 W O on LJ 4 Activating Your Beacon Proper Positioning and Handling during Activation
5. 2 Country C Home C wok C Cattari Fax C E mail nai sale Military _ Governenent Non military Hunting D Fishing C ah Vehicle Di Boat L Aircraft None _ Other Additional Data Emergency Contact Information ricase indicate someone other then the owner Name of Primary 24 Hour Emergency Contact Name of Alternate 24 Hour Emergency Contact Telephone Telephone 555 123 4567 if Hoa Work C Calhdar C Fax C Other 555 234 5670 uee D ame ent C Catar Fas C Ohar 954 981 3333 Horr wak C Catiar Fax C Otter 954 961 3333 555 235 6789 C kome C wak Fletta C Fax C Other 555 _ 456 7891 C Hana DE wak C Cottari Fae L Other C Horel Wor Diceta Far Other C Hore C Werk Dl conser T Face 2 Other cate M420 S pe eiw iO caai Fae O Otter 555 567 8910 Signature lo a If you have any cuesdons about this form or PLB registrations ir in General phass call 1 288 272 SAVE pe or 901 817 4515 For information on he U S Search amp Rescue Seiette Aded Tracking system classe vist wow corsal noes 1 20 1035 Rav F OMB 0648 0295 piros 31 JAN 2008 1 Registration 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 fastest and easiest way to register is online at j
6. LB must be promptly registered with the appropriate National Authority Failure to register the PLB could delay a Search and Rescue SAR response and may be unlawful WARNING This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty CAUTION False alerts endanger lives and cause expensive disruption to Search and Rescue services Deliberate misuse of the PLB could result in penalty and fine CAUTION Contains lithium batteries Do not incinerate puncture deform short circuit or recharge CAUTION Do not dismantle the PLB It contains no user serviceable parts CAUTION Remove from pouch prior to operation Disposal Remove the Lithium battery Dispose of the used battery in accordance with local waste disposal regulations Air Travel Product contains small lithium metal batteries that comply with IATA SP 188 PI 970 Air Cargo Always check with air carrier concerns for any additional restrictions 1 Registration REGISTERING YOUR BEACON Why Is registration important As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon it is a requirement that you register it with the National Authority of your country Please note that in many countries all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every two years by the owner Please check the requirements for your country of registration HOW REGISTRATION WORKS All 406 MHz beacons transmit a Un
7. ON 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 1 Registration Registration in Other Countries In countries other than the United States and Canada R 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 egistration in Canada Canadian residents can register online at The fastest and easiest way to register is online at http canadianbeaconregistry forces gc ca 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 Or Mail To Canadian Beacon Registry CFB Trenton PO Box 1000 Stn Forces Astra Ontario KOK 3W0 Or Fax To Faxing a registration is also acceptable Fax the registration form to 877 406 3298 International customers should visit www acrelectronics com to find the proper location to register your beacon 2 Anatomy Of A Rescue HOW THE BEACON WORKS How your beacon summons help 406 MHz beacons are a type of portable emergency equipment that transmits a
8. YOUR BEST LAST CHANCE ACR COSHAM Cobham Beacon Solutions 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 www acrelectronics com ResQLink 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL Model PLB 375 Product No 2880 Y1 03 0251 Rev A Table Of Contents amp Warnings Table of Contents 1 Registration 3 2 Anatomy Of A Rescue 6 3 _ Anatomy Of Your Beacon 4 4 _Activating Your Beacon 8 5 _Turning Your Beacon Off 11 6 _Testing Your Beacon 12 _ Satellite Testing 14 8 Preventing False Alarms 15 9 Beacon Maintenance 16 10 Product Specifications 18 This manual supports all configurations of PLB 375 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 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 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 1 954 862 2110 PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS CAUTIONS AND NOTES N gt gt Pe amp Ee gt CARFULLY CAUTION Before proceeding to test or use your new ACR Electronics product please read this Product Support Manual in its entirety WARNING The P
9. en 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 be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities The information that should be reported includes e The PLB 15 digit Unique Identifier Number UIN e Time and date e Duration and cause of activation e Location of beacon at the time of activation To report false alerts outside of the USA contact the national authority where your beacon is registered To report false alert in the United States contact the AFRCC United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center AFRCC Tel 1 800 851 3051 9 Beacon Maintenance 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 1 954 862 2110 ACR Technical Support can also be reached by sending an email to service acrelectronics 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 Battery Replacement Replace the battery no later than 6 years from beacon date of manufacture 5 years from i
10. gh visibility yellow Format 144 bits Strobe Bright white one flash per three seconds Long Message Serialized Activation Manual Message Protocol Standard Location Operation 2 steps deploy antenna press ON button Duration 520 ms Give clear view of sky Rate 400 bps Waterproof 16 40 ft 5 m 1 hr 33 ft 10 m 10 Encoding Biphase L min Factory tested 70 F exceeds RTCM Modulation 1 1 radians peak waterproof requirements Beacons are shipped from ACR with a Serialized code but can Buoyancy Category 2 non buoyant be reprogrammed at a service center to Accessories P N 9521 Flotation Pouch other coded formats including nationality of Approvals Cospas Sarsat FCC Pending Canada registration R amp TTE 121 5 MHZ TRANSMITTER Limited Warranty 5 years Frequency 121 5 MHz Lead Free Yes Tolerance 50 ppm TEMPERATURE RANGE Output Power gt 25mW PEP typical 63mW Operating 4 F 20 C to 131 F 55 C Morse Code P ID Every 50 seconds approx U S Protocol Storage 40 F 40 C to 158 F 70 C MODULATION BATTERY Type AM 3K20A3N Batteries meet the UN Classification for non dangerous goods Sweep Range 500 to 1600 Hz Sweep Rate 4 Hz Class Class 2 non hazmat lithium batteries Duty Cycle 33 3 l Morse P AM 2K00A2A pe Replacement Replacement due six 6 years from date of ANTENNA manufacture or five 5 years after beacon is Frequency 406 037 amp 121 5 MHz placed into service whichever is first or Polarization Vertical after e
11. ique 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 able to determine which country s database will have your registration information Search and Rescue 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 beacon helps to resolve this quickly USER PLB 375 P N 2880 U S A 366 bs Official 406 MHz PLB Registration Form Mail of Fax to NOAA SARSAT NSOF ESPJ 4231 Sutiand Roag Sultland MD 20746 Fax 301 817 4505 PLB Information PLB Manufacturer ACR Electronics mono RESQLINK PLB 375 _ PLB Registration New PLB Registration OReplacement of PLB Decal O Renewal of PLB Registration Check here if this PLB is a replacement for a previously registered PLB city Fort Lauderdale State Province FL O Change of PLB Information or Ownership Please enter the old PLB unique ID number Owner Operator Information Maling Address_ 5 57 Ravenswood Rd 8H SSL SSS hare Name_ Sample John A _ Conder _ Pax _ C Home C wak C Cattutar DA Fax C C Home Wok Cutter Fae ZIP Postal Code _ 3331
12. lf Test Fail Self Test Fail Battery lt 24 Hours 8 False Alarms 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 Register your beacon This does not reduce false alert rates however when the beacon is properly registered the situation can usually be resolved with a phone call 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 strobing periodically on its own this likely means it has accidentally been activated and needs to be shut off and reported 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 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 be
13. mergency use VSWR Less than 1 5 1 Operational Life Exceeds 24 Hours 4 F 20 C to AF I 131 F 55 C CAUTION Contains lithium batteries Do not incinerate puncture deform short circuit or recharge Do not dismantle the PLB contains no user serviceable parts Dispose of the used PLB with the battery removed in accordance with local waste disposal regulations 11 Product Warranty 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 email our Technical Service Department at service acrelectronics com or telephone 1 954 862 2110 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 acrelectronics com or return the attached card within 10 da
14. n service date 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 service 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 NOTE There are no user serviceable items inside the beacon DO NOT OPEN THE BEACON Opening the beacon will void the warranty Battery Replacement Center For the nearest location of a Battery Replacement Center visit our website at www acrelectronics com where to buy find a battery service provider This beacon contains 1 lithium metal battery pack that is less than 0 8 grams 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 1 954 862 2110 for proper shipping instructions or visit the ACR website for an MSDS at http www acrelectronics com media products 1465 1942 01113556817 MSDS 57 pdf 14 9 Beacon Maintenance Changing ownership or contact information As the owner of the beacon it is your responsibility to advise the national authority of any change in y
15. ng C Other Type DLand Vehicle XBoat C Arcratt CNone ClOther Additional Data Emergency Contact Information Piease indicate someone other than the owner Name of Primary 24 Hour Emergency Contact Name of Alternate 24 Hour Emergency Contact 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 your National Authority with the following information e Police department name e Police department phone number e 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 your national authority will notify the appropriate police department ifi i PLB 375 meets the requirements of Federal Communications 1 0 n Prod U ct Specifi cati on S Commission FCC Part 95 Subpart K For all other type approval information please visit our website at www acrelectronics com Find the product then click on Downloads GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL Product Number 2880 406 MHZ TRANSMITTER Model Number PLB 375 Frequency 406 037 MHz Size 1 3 x 1 9 x 3 9 3 3 x 4 8 x 9 9 cm Output Power 5 Watts Weight 4 6 oz 130 g Stability 2 ppb 100ms Material High impact and UV resistant plastic DIGITAL MESSAGE Color ACR treuse hi
16. ns 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 How To Activate Your Beacon To activate your beacon in a distress situation follow these steps 1 Unclip the antenna latch from the case and move antenna into the upright position 2 Depress the ON OFF button for 1 full second button is embossed only red color is for enhanced graphics presentation When Activated First Minute To let you know the beacon has been activated you will see the strobe light flash once every second while the RED light will flash once every 3 seconds a o e Q After the First Minute While transmitting your distress signal the RED light and Strobe light each will flash once every 3 seconds alerting you that your beacon is active ec O When the Red light is replaced by the GREEN light this indicates that Press For 1 Second your beacon has successfully downloaded your GPS coordinates and is PARA a transmitting them along with your 406 MHz Distress Signal 4 Activating Your Beacon Activation with GPS When your unit is activated the GPS receiver will turn on search to find your LAT LON and incorporate it into your 406 MHz signal As soon as the GPS receiver acquires valid
17. our registration information 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 Ss Official 406 MHz PLB Eon Form Sutiand MD 20746 Fax 301 817 4505 PLB Information AIBICID COTBERIERE FIBIFIF PLB Manufacture ACR Electronics modeiNo RESQLINK PLB 375 f PLB Registration New PLB Registration Replacement of PLB Decal 0 Renewal of PLB Registration Check here if this PLB is a replacement for a previously registered PLB O Change of PLB Information n or Ownership Please enter the old PLB unique ID nu number f Owner Operator Information Name_Sample John A Telephone Mailing Address 5757 Ravensw yd Rd 954 _981 3333 Hore Ded wok Coder _ Pare _ Other 954 _963 SOB7 Homel wok cstis Ji Fax C Oter city Fort Lauderdale State Province __FL Ge C Heme C wok C Cotter Far C oter ZIP Postal Code 33312 Country USA fj CI Heme C wok C Cahsar C Fax C Oter E mail General Use Data _ Commercial C Non commercial C Government Military _ Government Non miitary Specific Usage JEl Hiking JI Hunsing JX Fishi
18. ring a Self test your beacon will send a 406 MHz signal coded as Self test to the satellite system and a 121 5 MHz homing Signal This beacon has enough excess battery life to perform 60 self tests over the 5 year life of the battery To perform a Basic Self Test 1 Unclip the antenna latch from the case 2 Move the antenna into the upright position 3 Depress the Test button for 1 full second A Green Light will flash followed by a Second Long Green Light flash and the strobe light This indicates a successful Basic Self Test 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 for servicing of your beacon ACR strongly recommends performing the Self Test once per month or at least two weeks prior to a trip allowing enough time for service should your beacon require it Battery Witness Seal Life If your beacon flashes an initial Amber light at the beginning of the Self test this indicates that your electronic witness has been broken and you have used more than 1 hour of battery life 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 at least 24 hours of battery power Light Scheme Light Meaning Self Test Passed Battery lt 24 Hours Se
19. some beacons have a system www cospas sarsat org 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 c 3 Anatomy Of Your Beacon Anatomy of your beacon A Antenna Latch Latch unlocks antenna from beacon body When unclipped the antenna can be deployed to uncover On Off and test buttons B Strobe Light Activates when beacon is turned on and at the end of each self test C Green LED Light Visual indicator of beacon activity D Red LED Light Visual indicator of beacon activity E GPS Receiver Location of GPS Receiver give clear view to sky and do not obstruct Tl ON OFF Button Activates the beacon when pressed for 1 second Turns beacon off when pressed for 3 second button is embossed only red color is for enhanced graphics presentation G TEST Button Self Test Beacon to do full function test T H Antenna Wraps around product and protects On Off and Test Buttons I Lanyard Secures beacon to prevent loss A Warning This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty 4 Activating Your Beacon Overview Personal Locator Beaco
20. ys Five years for the following products EPIRB PLB S VDR SSAS Useful Life Policy The typical service life of a properly maintained Product is limited to 12 years from date of manufacture Products that are 12 years and 1 month or older from date of manufacture will not be serviced by ACR or our Battery Replacement Centers A Product that is 12 or less years old from date of manufacture will be serviced as long as the unit appears fit to be placed back into its final operational cycle Service includes the replacement of those items that must be replaced at service intervals and the verification that the device appears to be in good mechanical and electrical working condition by an ACR authorized service technician 17
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