ACR Electronics PLB-350C Installation instructions

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PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL

PLB-350C

406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons

Product No.: 2884 (AquaLink™ View)

2885 (SARLink™ View)

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CAUTION: Before proceeding to install, test or use your new

ACR Electronics‟ product, please read this Product Support Manual

in its entirety.

If you have questions regarding the contents of the manual or

something not covered in the manual, please contact our Technical

Service Department at ACR Electronics, Inc., Telephone +1 (954)

981-3333. You can also visit our website at

www.acrelectronics.com and access the Frequently Asked

Questions (FAQs) section for further information. If in the future you

lose this manual, you may access and print a replacement on the

ACR website.

About Cobham Beacon Solutions, ACR Products

Cobham Beacon Solutions, ACR Products

www.acrelectronics.com, designs and manufactures a complete

line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS,

SARTs, Strobe Lights, Life Jacket Lights, Search Lights and safety

accessories. The quality systems of this facility have been

registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2008 Series Standards.

Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies,

ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine

industries as well as to the military since 1956.

About Cobham plc

Cobham plc is an international company engaged in the

development, delivery and support of advanced aerospace and

defense systems for land, sea, air and space. The company has

four divisions that collectively specialize in the provision of

components, subsystems and services that keep people safe,

improve communications and enhance the capability of aerospace

and defense platforms.

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Table of Contents

STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON ______________________ 4

STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS _______________________ 6

STEP THREE - MAINTAINING YOUR PLB ______________________ 15

APPENDIX A - ACCESSORIES _______________________________ 19

APPENDIX B - USER INTERFACE: SPECIAL ICONS ________________ 20

APPENDIX C - USER INTERFACE: DIGITAL DISPLAY- OPERATION ___ 21

APPENDIX D - USER INTERFACE: DIGITAL DISPLAY - SELF-TEST ____ 24

APPENDIX E - USER INTERFACE: DIGITAL DISPLAY -LONG GPS TEST_ 27

APPENDIX F - THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM ___________________ 28

APPENDIX G - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS____________________ 29

APPENDIX H - WARRANTY, NOTICES _________________________ 30

APPENDIX I –RESTRICTIONS ON USE and EC DOC ______________ 31

PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS, CAUTIONS AND

NOTES CARFULLY

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STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON

Why is registration important?

As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon, it is mandatory that you register it

with the PLB national authority of your country: It is the law. Please note

that all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every

two years by the owner.

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 able to determine which

country‟s database will have your registration information. SAR forces will have

information as to who you are as the owner of the beacon, the name and type

of vessel that you have (if applicable), your address, and who to contact that

might know of your current situation - but only if your beacon has been properly

registered. Valuable search and rescue resources are wasted every year

responding to false alerts, and registering your beacon helps to resolve this

quickly.

Your personalized ID code

programmed inside each beacon is

transmitted to Search and Rescue

(SAR). SAR forces use this code to pull

up your registration to find out valuable

information about who needs help.

YOUR RESCUE WILL

BE DELAYED IF YOUR

BEACON ISN‟T PROPERLY

REGISTERED!

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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.

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.

How do I register?

Registration in the United States

The national authority that accepts registrations in the United States is the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

There are three ways to register:

1. The fastest and easiest way to register is online at

www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/.

2. Faxing a registration is also acceptable. Fax the registration form to the

fax number on the top of the registration form.

NOTE: Do not confuse the registration form with the ACR Electronics warranty

card.

3. If online or fax registration is not available, mail the registration form

with the pre-addressed, postage paid envelope to:

SARSAT Beacon Registration NOAA

NSOF, E/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, and then affix the decal

to your beacon in the area marked “BEACON DECAL HERE.” It is very

important that the proof of registration decal matches the UIN on the

beacon. If you do not receive confirmation back from NOAA within two weeks,

call toll free (888) 212-7283 for assistance.

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Registration in Canada

Canadian residents can register online at:

http://canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.ca/ or contact the Canadian Beacon

Registry by phone at: 877-406-7671 or by fax at: 877-406-3298. Canadian

registration forms can also be mailed to:

Canadian Beacon Registry

CFB Trenton, PO Box 1000 Stn Forces

Astra, Ontario K0K 3W0

Registration in Other Countries

In countries other than the United States and Canada, 406 MHz beacons are

registered with that country‟s national authority at the time of purchase. The

sales agent may have assisted you in filling out the forms and sending them to

the country‟s national authority. Alternatively, many countries allow online

registration in the International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database (IBRD)

at www.406registration.com.

To verify that the unit is properly programmed for your country, view the UIN

label on the back of the unit. In the event that the beacon is not programmed for

your country, the sales agent (if properly equipped) can reprogram the unit for

the correct country.

STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS

NOTE: Please be aware that, throughout your user manual, reference is made

to the beacon „BEEPING‟. Please note that the „beeps‟ are of a very high

pitched tone that some people are unable to hear. Be aware that the beeps are

not the indication of a fully functional beacon but only a guidance to

Technicians and Engineers to troubleshoot the unit.

1. How your beacon summons help

406 MHz beacons are a type of portable emergency equipment that transmits a

distress signal to search and rescue (SAR) organizations. The purpose of these

beacons is to aid SAR teams in tracking and locating ships or individuals in

jeopardy as rapidly as possible.

The 406 MHz frequency is a worldwide dedicated emergency frequency that is

detected by a network of satellites called the Cospas-Sarsat system. This

satellite system was established by, and continues to be supported by, its

primary benefactors - the USA, Russia, Canada and France. The Cospas-

Sarsat system has saved over 28,400 lives - and counting - since its inception.

See Appendix or the Cospas-Sarsat website for more information about the

system at www.cospas-sarsat.org.

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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 the beacon UIN and on some models the GPS

location of the beacon. Additional information about the beacon is accessed by

SAR from the beacon registration database. At the same time the 406 MHz

signal is activated, a 121.5 MHz signal is turned on. The 121.5 MHz signal is

used by SAR to home in on the beacon as they approach it.

The 406 MHz signal is detected by multiple satellites and from that information

the location of the beacon can be calculated. This data alone is sufficient for

SAR to find persons or ships in distress in a reasonable timeframe. However,

as a further enhancement, some beacons have a GPS engine onboard. This

feature allows the beacon to acquire current location coordinates from an

internal GPS receiver. The purpose of this feature is to send an even more

precise location of the beacon to the satellites, i.e., latitude and longitude data.

This helps SAR to reach the location even faster.

2. Internal GPS position system

The PLB-350C is fitted with an internal GPS receiver that will download the

coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the beacon‟s position on the globe, to be

transmitted to the Cospas-Sarsat emergency system.

When the beacon is activated, the internal GPS immediately attempts to

acquire positional coordinates. GPS coordinates can be acquired any time that

the GPS is on, but only valid data is saved. Once the beacon acquires valid

coordinates, the data is included as part of the next transmitted 406 MHz digital

message.

The internal GPS operates on a schedule during a beacon activation. The GPS

is on for a time, actively acquiring coordinates, and off for 20 minutes, in a

standby state. The schedule is designed to conserve battery but, at the same

time, assure that navigational coordinates are regularly updated.

3. Optional beacon management and testing services

Additional features and through satellite testing services are available for this

beacon when you subscribe to the SafeLife System. When you sign up for this

optional service you can test your beacon and have confirmation messages

sent to your cell phone or email. Expanded services also will include friends

and family contact information for check in messaging. Visit 406Link.com for

complete details. (This service is not required for your beacon to function as a

Personal Locator Beacon.)

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4. Anatomy of your beacon

NOTE: The appearance of your beacon may vary from this picture.

Figure 1

Antenna

Latch

Antenna

latch

Digital display

FRONT BACK

GPS

antenna

location

Antenna:

Wrapped

around

beacon

UIN Label: Applied at

the factory, the 15

character hexadecimal

number is unique to

each beacon.

Activation

button cover

Battery expiration label

with the month/ year

the battery needs to be

replaced.

Keypad

Multi-language label:

This optional label may

be applied for ease of

use.

Registration decal

supplied by some

countries: Once the

beacon is registered,

the label goes here.

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5. Distinguishing PLB Features

The distinguishing features available on your PLB vary with the particular model

that you selected. The following table summarizes the similarities and

differences in models.

PLB-350C

Product

names

AquaLink™View 406

GPS PLB

SARLink™ View 406 GPS PLB

ACR Product

Number

2884

2885

Unique

features

Digital display, LED strobe, 60 GPS acquisition tests

GPS engine

Internal, 66-channel GPS receiver

Top case

Clear

Buoyant

Yes

Included

Accessories

Multi-Function Belt Clip

Optional

Accessories

Flotation pouch (ACR P/N 9504)

6. Digital Display

The digital display in the beacon is used as a secondary visual aid, supporting

the green/red LED and the audio tone, which indicate the status of the beacon

during testing and during emergency operation.

The messages on the digital display typically appear as one or two words at a

time, until the entire message has been displayed.

When the beacon is

activated, the display will

show the message PLB ON.

The beacon will begin to

send 406 MHz emergency

signal bursts, at which time

the display provides other

messages including 406

SENT, 121.5 ON and GPS

coordinates, provided the

data was acquired. If GPS

data has not been

successfully downloaded

into the beacon, the digital

display will give you tips like

“GIVE CLEAR VIEW TO

SKY.”

PLB

GPS √

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In Self-Test, the display illustrates the test result of each step with “√” indicating

a pass and “X” indicating a failure. There are a total of five tests, including a

battery check. If all tests pass, SELF-TEST PASS will be displayed at the end

of the Self-Test mode. In the GNSS Self Test mode, the digital display will

show the letters “GPS Test” moving left to right while the internal GPS receiver

is acquiring the coordinate data. Once the data is acquired, the coordinates will

display as a confirmation that the data was successfully acquired. This will be

followed by the GPS coordinates horizontally scrolling through the display,

provided the beacon has successfully downloaded an external GPS location.

See Appendixes B through E for details about display messages.

7. Activating your beacon

Overview

Personal Locator Beacons are designed to be manually activated. They are

only to be activated when all other means of self-rescue have been exhausted.

When properly registered as required, the activation of the beacon tells Search

and Rescue who you are, where you are, and that you are facing a life

threatening situation.

Warning: This transmitter is authorized for use only during

situations of grave and imminent danger. Deliberate misuse may

incur a severe penalty.

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