User's Manual

Page 11
4.4.2 Red LED
The red LED is used to indicate transmissions by the EPIRB. When activated, it
flashes alternately with the strobe to indicate a good transmission on 121.5 MHz.
Every 50 seconds it illuminates for 2 seconds to indicate a good transmission on 406
MHz; immediately before the transmission the LED flashes rapidly as a warning to the
user.
When the EPIRB is first activated the red LED is illuminated continuously until the
EPIRB begins to transmit, when it begins to flash.
4.4.3 Green LED (fitted to Smartfind Plus only)
The green LED flashes alternately with the strobe to indicate that a valid position has
been obtained by the GPS receiver. Every 50 seconds it illuminates for 2 seconds to
indicate that the position is being transmitted on 406 MHz.
Every 20 minutes the GPS receiver updates its position information. If a fix is not
obtained, the green LED stops flashing, and illuminates only every 50 seconds (when
the previous position information is transmitted).
All LEDs also indicate the results of self-test – refer to section 10.1
4.4.4 Interpreting the LEDs:
There are three principal indications to the user:
• If the red LED is ON continuously, the EPIRB is active but has not yet made
a transmission. There is time to turn it off without causing an alert.
• If the red and green LEDs flash together and alternate with the strobe flash,
the EPIRB has a valid GPS position which it is transmitting regularly. This is
the normal operating condition which requires no user action.
• If the red and green LEDs flash at different rates, the EPIRB is attempting to
obtain a GPS fix. If this indication persists, it is advisable to move the EPIRB
to a different location; something may be affecting its ability to see the GPS
satellites.
The LEDs can give many other indications; these are principally for diagnostic
purposes.
4.5 Buzzer
The EPIRB contains a buzzer to give audible feedback.
When the EPIRB is activated the buzzer pulses rapidly (whilst the red LED is ON
continuously) as a warning that the EPIRB is about to transmit. Once the first
transmission is complete, the buzzer sounds synchronously with the strobe.
The buzzer is also used to indicate the results of self-test.