406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL Model: PLB-375 / Product No.: 2880 (ResQLink), 2881 (ResQLink +) Y1-03-0251 Rev.
Table Of Contents & Warnings PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS, CAUTIONS AND NOTES CARFULLY Table of Contents 1. Registration 3 2. Anatomy Of A Rescue 6 3. Anatomy Of Your Beacon 7 4. Activating Your Beacon 8 5. Turning Your Beacon Off 11 6. Testing Your Beacon 12 7. Satellite Testing 14 8. Preventing False Alarms 15 9. Beacon Maintenance 16 10. Product Specifications 18 11. Product Warranty 19 This manual supports all configurations of PLB-375 beacons.
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 Unique Identifier Number (UIN) when activated.
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. Additionally, the beacon must be reprogrammed if you, as the owner, move out of the country where the beacon is registered.
1. Registration 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. To verify that the unit is properly programmed for your country, view the UIN label on the back of the unit.
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 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.
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. F.
4. 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. How To Activate Your Beacon To activate your beacon in a distress situation, follow these steps: 1.
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 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.
4. Activating Your Beacon Proper Positioning and Handling during Activation 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. Make sure the antenna is pointing towards the sky, out of the water. Beacon is not intended to operate in water. While the unit is waterproof, it must be above the water’s surface to function properly. ResQLink+ Floating Version: Not intended to operate in water.
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.
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 beacons 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.
6. Testing Your Beacon GPS Self Testing (GNSS Self-Test) The GPS receiver is located under the bottom front portion of the case. It is imperative that the receiver is not obstructed during Self-Test or activation to ensure that the GPS receiver is acquiring your latitude (LAT) and longitude (LON) position. This test must be performed outside with a clear view of the sky. This beacon has enough excess battery life to perform 12 GPS self tests over the 5 year life of the battery.
7. Satellite Testing Your Beacon Optional Advanced through Satellite Testing and Beacon Management Additional features and through satellite testing services are available for this beacon when you subscribe to www.406Link.com. 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.
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.
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.
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 your 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.
10. Product Specifications GENERAL/ENVIRONMENTAL Product Number 2880 Model Number PLB-375 Size P/N 2880 1.3 x 1.9 x 3.9” (3.3 x 4.8 x 9.9 cm) Weight 4.6 oz (130 g) Buoyancy Category 2, non buoyant Product Number Model Number Size Weight Buoyancy 2881 PLB-375 P/N 2881 1.6 x 1.9 x 4.5” (4.1 x 4.8 x 11.4 cm) 5.4 oz (153 g) P/N 2881 Category 1, buoyant* *The ResQLink+ is a buoyant PLB but is not intended for operation in water.
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.
