PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL GPS Personal Locator Beacon Model No.: PLB-300 Product No.: 2897, 2898 Y1-03-0228 Rev.
* * * WARNING * * * THIS TRANSMITTER IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE ONLY DURING SITUATIONS OF GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER DELIBERATE MISUSE MAY INCUR A SEVERE PENALTY IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH YOUR NEW 406 BEACON, DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE STORE! CALL ACR ELECTRONICS AT +1 (954) 981-3333. WE WILL HELP YOU RESOLVE ANY PROBLEMS YOU MAY BE EXPERIENCING. MANY QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED OVER THE PHONE.
Foreword Thank you for purchasing from ACR Electronics, Inc. We design, manufacture and distribute quality products knowing they are used to save lives. Many of our products are required to be tested and approved by regulatory bodies worldwide. We believe in going beyond those specifications to insure our products work when needed in real world conditions. With proper care and maintenance your ACR product will last for years.
SECTION 1 – PRODUCT FEATURES 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. The PLB-300™ (referred to as “beacon”) is available in various configurations, as shown in the table below.
2.2 Where to Register You must register your beacon with the national authority of your resident country. Verify that your beacon’s UIN is programmed for your resident country, regardless of where you do your adventuring. To verify the country for which a beacon is programmed, see the label with the UIN on the back of the unit. Units that do not have a country specified on the UIN label are programmed for the United States.
2.5 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 should assist in filling out the forms and sending to that country’s national authority. To verify that the unit is properly programmed for that country, view the UIN label on the side of the unit.
3.2 Reporting of False Alerts A false alert must be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities. The information reported must include the beacon Unique Identifier Number (UIN), date, time, duration and cause of activation, as well as location of beacon at the time of activation. If the beacon is registered outside of the United States, contact your national authority.
4.1 Activation (406 MHz and 121.5 MHz) To activate your beacon in a distress situation, follow these steps: 1) Unfasten the antenna from the case. 2) Move it into the upright position (see figure 3 below). 3) Depress the ON/OFF button for 1 full second. You will hear a BEEP and your beacon is now activated. While transmitting your distress signal, the red LED will flash once every 2 seconds alerting you that your beacon is active.
4.4 4.5 GPS Receiver Orientation 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 behind the ResQFix™ or MicrOFix™ logo (see figure 4). 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.
NOTE: The GPS receiver is located under the front portion of the case (see figure 4). 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. Press the self-test button for greater than 5 seconds. Observe the beacon for the entire GPS test. A BEEP and green LED will indicate that the GPS has been turned ON.
5.2 d Attachment Clip The ResQFix™ comes standard with an attachment clip. To install the clip, simply align the bottom tabs on the clip with the insert holes located on the bottom of the beacon. Snap the clip in place by pressing the top of the clip so that the two top tabs engage in the two insert holes on the top of the beacon (See figure 6). To remove the clip, push up and back on the top tabs one at a time to disengage from the beacon.
6.2 Battery Replacement The battery must be replaced by the date indicated on the beacon or every five (5) years. 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 all long life battery replacement and other beacon service to a factory authorized service center.
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.
8.3 Specifications 406 MHz Transmitter Frequency 406 MHz Output Power 5 watts Frequency Stability ±2 parts per billion/100ms Digital Message: Format Long message/ Serialized1* Message protocol Standard Location Duration 520 ms Rate 400 bps Encoding Biphase L Modulation ±1.1 radians peak 1* Beacons are shipped from ACR with a Serialized code but can be reprogrammed at a service center to other coded formats including nationality of registration. 121.5 MHz Transmitter Frequency: 121.
DE ECLARA ATION OF O CONF FORMIT TY AC CR Electron nics hereby y declaress that the following products p arre in confo ormity with h Directive 199 99/5/EC off the Europ pean Parliam ment and of o the Coun ncil of 9 Ma arch 1999 on Radio Equipment E and d Telecom mmunication ns Termina al Equipm ment (R&TT TE), and has been type examined as desscribed in this t Declara ation.
