ACR Electronics GlobalFix 2842 User's Manual
Contents
1. In accordance with marked with the MED Mark of Conformity as follows Product Notified Body Regulations and Standards Manufacturer the Directive the product will be 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 GlobalFix PRO Model RLB 37 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 5061395 09 EC Quality System Module D Certificate No BSH 4613 05102 1251 09 IMO Resolution A 662 IMO Resolution A 694 IMO Resolution A 696 IMO Resolution A 810 IMO MSC Circ 862 ETSI EN 300 066 V1 3 1 2001 01 16 17 17 19 ACR Electronics Inc European 5757 Ravenswood Road Representative Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 USA Signed on behalf of ACR Electronics Inc Signed Title Document RLB 37 002 Name Kerry Greer Date ITU R M 633 3 05 04 ITU R M 690 1 10 95 C S T 001 Nov 2007 C S T 007 Nov 2007 IEC 61097 2 Ed 3 0 2008 01 IEC 60945 4 Ed 2002 08 we 5 NN ACR Electronics Inc European Office 1 Rose Cottages Pitmore Lane Sway Lymington Hampshire 5041 6BX UK January 6 2010 Executive Director Research amp Development Y1 03 0242 Rev B This Declaration complies with ISO IEC 17050 1 22. The internal GPS operates on a schedule during which the beacon is on for a time actively acquiring coordinates and off for a time in a resting state The schedule is designed to conserve battery but at the same time assure that navigational coordinates are regularly updated 2 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 blinks 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 Y1 03 0242 Rev B 25 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 COSPAS SARSAT System Ov
3. 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 2009 This unit will need to be replaced in August of 2011 Scratch off AUG 8 and 2011 on the HRU date calendar 011 Date Gebrauchszeit 2013 Validita 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 Mibration 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 0242 Rev B 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
4. 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 IlI brackets must be mounted in a protected location that is easily accessible should it be necessary to abandon ship The LowPro 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 Y1 03 0242 Rev B 16 CAUTION Keep this beacon a safe distance a
5. 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 0242 Rev B 26 APPENDIX C TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Beacon size without antenna Beacon weight Beacon material Color Waterproof Tested to 10 min 210 m 33 ft exceeds RTCM standard Buoyant Deployment Category Automatic hydrostatic release Category Il Manual Operational life 48 hours minimum 20 C 4 F Class 2 Battery type and LiMnOse replacement interval 5 years from date beacon placed in service or after u
6. long as the first four digits are the same as one of the two part numbers on the cover this manual is applicable Y1 03 0242 Rev B 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 USEFUL LIFE POLICY NOTICES PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS CAUTIONS AND NOTES CAREFULLY Y1 03 0242 Rev B 15 19 25 26 27 28 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 Official 406 Motz BEACON Registration Form 1 nnnm Your unique ID code programmed inside each EPIRB is AFS transmitted to Search and Rescue Ayour 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 t
7. 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 LowPro3 Category 11 bracket has four 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 lift the latch to release bracket pressure from the beacon The beacon will slide up and out of the bracket On either side of the bracket are release tabs Simultaneously depress each tab to separate the bracket from the mounting block The mounting block can be held in place to mark the placement of the screw holes or you can use the mounting template provided 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 Mounted to wall Y1 03 0242 Rev B 18 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
8. 004 ACR Electronics Inc is registered by UL to ISO 9001 2000 29 THE SCIENCE OF SURVIVAL ELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION SHORE BASED MAINTENANCE The Maritime Safety Committee approved guidelines for shore based maintenance SBM of satellite EPIRBs for the purpose of establishing standardized procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing and maintenance of satellite EPIRBs to ensure maximum reliability whilst minimizing the risk of false distress alerts IMO MSC Circ 1039 Products Maintenance Service Interval SBM Providers Manufacturer 406 MHz COSPAS SARSAT Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons EPIRBs e ACR Satellite 406 RLB 27 28 Cat amp Cat Il e ACR Satellite 406 RLB 32 Cat amp Cat 1 e ACR RapidFix RLB 33 Cat amp Cat Il e GlobalFix RLB 35 Cat amp Cat Il e ACR GlobalFix iPRO RLB 36 Cat amp Cat II e ACR Float Free 406 Memory Capsule RLB 35MC Cat 1 e ACR GlobalFix PRO RLB 37 Cat amp Cat II 406 MHz satellite EPIRBs should be inspected and tested annually in accordance with MSC Circ 1040 Shore based maintenance of all satellite EPIRBs should be carried out at intervals not exceeding 5 years It is recommended that maintenance be performed at the time when the battery is to be changed All ACR 406 MHz EPIRBs shall have their first shore based maintenance performed on the same dates as t
9. Category brackets also require replacement of the Hydrostatic Release Unit every two years NOTE Whenever a beacon is returned for service it must be accompanied by the bracket Y1 03 0242 Rev B 21 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 HRU holds down an ejection spring The spring must be held in place during the removal and installation of the HydroFix to prevent injury Depress the top of the ejection spring This will relieve pressure on the HRU and allow it to be rotated counter clockwise 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 WARNING Be sure to use only ACR s HydroFix HRU ACR P N 9490 in the SeaShelter4 M 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 Hy
10. EA o F ctor Spring d launches EPIRB Z7 from the bragis Ht E bw Y laa d IHRU releases the rod LIAR freely to th wath g separating the front and a surface Z K back cover of bracket at NT A x WS H depth between 4 13 feet Y1 03 0242 Rev B 11 Category and ll Beacons Manual Activation Without Deployment The beacon can be manually activated while still in its bracket by placing 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 once 90 degrees slide toward placed in the ON position antenna and all the way down to activate Category and Il Beacons Manual deployment and activation Both Category and Il 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 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
11. Feceiver H H Antenna Digital Display Screen Water Activation Sensors GPS Interface Strobe Light Red Green LEDs Manual Activation Switch WS DS T 2 Lanyard D 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 Internal GPS engine The internal GPS engine is located where it can most readily get a clear view of the sky Y1 03 0242 Rev B 7 Strobes Antenna Top View i TT M SES CER Activation Test Switch Green LED Red LED Internal GPS Receiver Switch Positions Position ON TRANSMITTING OFF READY Position Position Y1 03 0242 Rev B 8 Category 1 SeaShelter 5 Bracket Spring HydroFix Ejector Release Hydrostatic SRM knob Release Unit HRU De dl Antenna hook 1 Front cover hook detent Front Cover Back Support of Bracket Category 2 LowPro 3 Bracket Water Sensor Deactivation Magnet ies Antenna hook e Front Cover 2 Release Tabs Front Cover Back Support of Bracket Release Latch Y1 03 0242 Rev B 9 3 Activating your beacon A WAR
12. NING 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 Ill beacons are designed to be manually deployed from the bracket Two conditions must be met for a Category Il beacon to automatically activate tmustbe out of its bracket tmust be wet NOTE Either condition by itself will not automatically activate the beacon Category and II 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 0242 Rev B 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 d S EPIRB water sensors activate Hydrostatic Release
13. THE SCIENCE UF SURVIVAL ELECTRONICS COBHAM PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL GLOBALFIX PRO 406 MHz GPS EPIRB Model No RLB 37 Product No 284e 2844 Y1 03 0242 Rev B OWNER VESSEL RADIO CALL SIGN Y UIN ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 6645 Tel 1 854 981 3333 Fax 1 854 983 5087 www acrelectronics 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 acrelectronics com If in the future you lose this manual you may access and print a replacement on the ACR website NOTE re Applicable products This manual supports all configurations of GlobalFix PRO RLB 37 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
14. ar at http www acrelectronics com brc htm 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 158 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 changes in shipping regulations Shipping of hazardous materials requires special handling and documentation MSDS sheets along with shipping information can be found on our website at http www acrelectronics com hazmat default htm In the case of the RLB 37 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 min
15. are available from NOAA by calling 888 212 7283 212 SAVE or by visiting the ACR website at www acrelectronics 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 EPIRB reported as stolen NOAA or your national authority will notify the appropriate police department Visit www cospas sarsat org for more detailed 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
16. 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 If online or fax registration is not available mail the registration form with the pre addressed postage paid envelope to NOAA SARSAT Beacon Registration NSOF E SP3 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 0242 Rev B 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 countrys national authority Alternatively many countries allow on
17. droFix for marking the next expiry date and for selecting the correct rod adapter for the SeaShelter 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 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 0242 Rev B 22 9 Servicing the LowPro To remove a beacon from the Category ll bracket lift the latch and release the pressure from the beacon The beacon will now be able to slide upwards out of the bracket It is not antici
18. erview from EPIRBs transmitting on the frequency of w NU 406 MHz The Cospas Sarsat 406 MHz beacon 7 signal consists of a transmission of non a 4 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 satellite to pass overhead
19. es 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 0242 Rev B 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 No
20. heir battery replacement ACR only authorizes battery replacements and shore based maintenance to be performed by certified ACR service providers ACR Electronics Inc European ACR Electronics Inc 5757 Ravenswood Road Representative European Office Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 1 Rose Cottages Pitmore Lane USA Sway Lymington Hampshire 5041 6BX UK Signed on behalf of ACR Electronics Inc Signed A LG ame Kerry Greer Date September 23 2008 ACR Electronics Inc is registered by Title Executive Director Research amp Development Y1 03 0242 Rev B 30
21. hip 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 acrelectronics 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 acrelectronics com or return the attached card within 10 days Five years for the following products EPIRB PLB S VDR SSAS 2 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 f
22. hus 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 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 0242 Rev B 3 2 What country should I 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 1 The fastest and easiest way to register is online at www
23. imum 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 acrelectronics 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 acrelectronics com for authorized ACR BRCs Y1 03 0242 Rev B 20 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
24. 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 admit 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 0242 Rev B 19 Always refer battery replacement and any other beacon service to a factory authorized Service Center Find a Center ne
25. 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 above NOTE Category and Category Il beacons can be activated regardless of whether they are removed from the bracket Y1 03 0242 Rev B 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 or 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 GPS performance Take the EPIRB with you if abandoning ship provided there is time to get it 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 acti
26. line 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 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 0242 Rev B 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 24 800 lives and counti
27. ng since its inception 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 SAR 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 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 0242 Rev B 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 e A Internal GPS A A H nN
28. ng the Self Test you may follow the messages on the digital display or you may count the green LED flashes Y1 03 0242 Rev B 23 11 Extended GPS test The beacon may be tested for GPS functionality however this may only be done once in the five year lifetime of the battery due to the significant drain on the battery This test is not necessary at any time in the life of the beacon but is made available in the event that the beacon owner wishes to verify internal GPS engine viability An extended GPS test may be invoked by holding the switch in test position for 10 seconds after Self Test completes A long beep indicates the start of the extended GPS test and the internal GPS begins to acquire coordinates data Once the data is acquired another long beep and a green LED can be observed Y1 03 0242 Rev B 24 APPENDIX A USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS 1 Internal GPS position system The GlobalFix PRO 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 turned on the internal GPS is immediately turned on and it 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 transmitted 406 MHz digital message
29. pated that the LowPros will require servicing other than cleaning or rarely replacement Brackets are a key part of the overall beacon system They hold a beacon ready for deployment while preventing false alarms NOTE Whenever a beacon is returned for service it must be accompanied by the bracket 10 Self Testing the beacon The RLB 37 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 lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position and holding it in this position for at least one second and at most four seconds A beep indicates the initiation of the Self Test sequence Self Test will check battery 4 capacity and perform five functional test sequences as described in the digital display Appendix 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 When performi
30. rom 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 3 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 acrelectronics com 02009 by ACR Electronics Inc part of Cobham plc 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 0242 Rev B 28 ELECTRONICS THE SCIENCE OF 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 2009 26 EC of 6 April 2009 and has been type examined as described in this Declaration
31. se in an emergency not to exceed battery expiry Operating temperatures 20 to 455 C 4 F to 4 131 F Class 2 Storage temperatures 30 C to 70 C 22 F to 158 F Class 2 Frequenc 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 Frequenc 121 5 MHz Power output 25 mW PEP Modulation type AM 3K20A3X Light color Output power 1 cd effective candela Flash rate 20 30 min Range 360 visibility Accessories e SeaShelter Category Mounting bracket ACR P N 9501 e LowPro3 Category II Mounting bracket ACR P N 9502 e HydroFix universal hydrostatic release HRU kit ACR P N 9490 e COSPAS SARSAT certificate 189 For complete information regarding beacon type approvals please visit ACR s website at www acrelectronics com Beacon size without antenna Beacon weight Beacon material Color 0 0 0 0 Waterproof 0 0 0 0 Buoyant Operational life Frequency 0 Powerouput 1 Frequency Power output 1 Modulation type _ Light color 0 0 0 Outputpower 1 Flash rate 0 0 0 Rae A4 NOTE Y1 03 0242 Rev B 2 APPENDIX D WARRANTY USEFUL LIFE POLICY NOTICES 1 Limited Warranty This product is warranted against factory defects in material and workmans
32. vated and you wish to deactivate return 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 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 ll these methods are the same 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 Y1 03 0242 Rev B 13 Precautions to prevent false alarms Do not mount or transport the beacon within 4 6ft 1 4m of a magnetic source not store the beacon outside of its bracket 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 Heporting 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 includ
33. way from all magnetic sources Magnet safe distance is 4 6ft or 1 4m including the distance from stereo speakers 3 Category bracket The SeaShelter4 Category bracket has five pre drilled screw holes to use for securing the bracket to a flat surface Remove the SeaShelters 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 long and 7 washers not included is recommended Make sure that fasteners will not contact any wires or plumbing before drilling pilot holes Y1 03 0242 Rev B 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 must be easily accessible in
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