FCC ID: B66ACR-RLB-33S APPENDIX 1 PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL ACR Y1-03-0180
PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL Y1-03-0180 Rev. T1 ThunderBird S.S.A.S. Ship Security Alert System FCC Type Accepted Pending Model No. RLB-33S Product No. 2800 Owner Vessel Radio Call Sign ACR Electronics, Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33312 +1(954) 981-3333 • Fax +1 (954) 983-5087 www.acrelectronics.com Email: Info@acrelectronics.
* * * WARNING * * * THIS BEACON IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE ONLY DURING SITUATIONS WHERE THE SECURITY OF YOUR VESSEL IS UNDER THREAT OR HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND POLICE ACTION IS REQUIRED DELIBERATE MISUSE MAY INCUR A SEVERE PENALTY 1 Y1-03-0180 Rev.
Forward Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the ACR ThunderBird 406 MHz Ship Security Alert System. (S.S.A.S.)The combination of superior design, high quality raw materials and quality controlled manufacturing produce a product that will perform for years to come. The Test Facility at ACR can reproduce some of the harshest environmental conditions known to man. This assures that the products we design and manufacture can stand up to the rigors found in a marine environment.
SECTION 1 - REGISTRATION OF 406 MHZ BEACONS 1.1 Registration Importance It is imperative that the owner of this 406 MHz Beacon registers it with the National Authorities*. All 406 MHz Beacons transmit a Unique Identifier Number (UIN) when activated. This UIN is programmed in the Beacon based on the country in which the Beacon was purchased. Registration provides the security forces with up to date emergency contact information, which will speed up the launch of a rescue operation.
All registration forms will be entered in the 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database within 48 hours of receipt. 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 affix the decal to your beacon in the area marked “Beacon Decal here”. If you do not receive confirmation back from NOAA, Please call toll free 1-888-212-7283 for assistance. 1.3.
There are a few precautions that should be taken to prevent false alarms. Do not transport Beacon within 1 meter (3.3ft) of a magnetic source. Do not mount Beacon within 1 meter (3.3ft) of a magnetic source. Do not mount remote switches where they can be confused with another switch. Do not mount beacon where if can get wet. Do not clean beacon with any liquid. 2.
The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. is shipped in the “OFF” position. During the installation procedure, leave the beacon in the “OFF” position to prevent false alarms. 3.1.2 Mounting Location The location selected must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the total installation and at the same time consider vibration, exposure to surrounding hazards, such as equipment movement, doors being opened, personnel traffic, etc.
3.1.5 Connecting the Beacon to a GPS Receiver via the Optical Interface (IR Transmitter) Your Beacon comes with a NMEA GPS Optical Interface cable (transmitter plug with lead wires) that should be connected to the ship’s GPS system. The IR transmitter plug attaches to your Beacon, via the keyed blue bezel on the top left of the beacon. The cable can be routed through the hole in the upper left corner of bracket.
3.2.4 Switch Installation Cut a 0.638” x 0.638” (16.2 mm x 16.2 mm) square hole in the selected panel. The recommended panel thickness is 0.039” to 0.106” (1.0 mm to 3.2 mm). Connect the wires to the back of the switch; one wire to “COM” terminal and the other to “N.O.” terminal. There should be no connection to the “N.C.” terminal. The wires should be soldered to the switch terminals.
If the supplied bracket is not ideal for the desired mounting location, the cross dipole has a standard female 1” x 14 thread allowing it to be mounted to a variety of off-the-shelf brackets and masts (Not provided). 3.3.2 Mounting Guidelines • Minimum height above deck: 10 feet • Allowable obstructions: Obstructions are allowable only below the antenna. There should be no conductive (metallic) objects in the entire hemisphere above the antenna. • 100 feet (30.
Attach male SMA connector (supplied) to coax cable per included instructions. Connect to mating female SMA connector on the beacon. SECTION 4 - OPERATION 4.1 General 4.1.1 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. Beacon is designed to be manually activated while installed in the mounting bracket. In fact, the ThunderBird S.S.A.S. beacon can only be activated manually. 4.1.2 The following two conditions must be satisfied to activate the ThunderBird S.S.A.S.
4.4.2 READY Mode: The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. is capable of being activated when in READY mode. The beacon is in READY mode whenever the thumb switch is in the “Ready” position (down to the back) as indicated by the “│” symbol displayed on the thumb switch. 4.4.3 ON Mode: The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. is activated and is transmitting bursts of data when in ON mode. The beacon is in ON mode when one of the remote switches are depressed while the beacon is in READY mode.
...................................................................................Stop if failed 2. Check 406 MHz Synthesizer ................................Beep and lights up LEDs if passed ..................................................................................Stop if failed 3. Check RF Power/Battery ......................................Beep and lights up LEDs if passed ..................................................................................Stop if failed 4.
receiver is properly connected to the beacon, this “default” data will be replaced by valid GPS position data, as described in the previous sections. Position data will be reset to default by activating the beacon (by placing the thumb switch in the ready position and then pressing one of the remote activation points) and then turning the beacon off by returning the thumb switch to the off position.
5.5 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. contains lithium batteries which meet the requirements of the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations. They also meet the United Nations Classification of Lithium Batteries for Shipment as "Non – Dangerous Goods". SECTION 6 – THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM 6.1.1 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. Beacon provides security alerting via radio transmission on 406 MHz to satellites of the COSPAS-SARSAT network.
6.2 Satellite Detection 6.2.1 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. transmits an encoded phase modulated radio signal to the satellite portion of the COSPAS-SARSAT System. The system was developed and implemented by the COSPAS-SARSAT Partners (Russian Federation, Canada, France and the United States). 6.2.2 COSPAS-SARSAT is an international system that uses Russian Federation and United States low altitude, near-polar orbiting satellites that assist in detecting and locating activated 406 MHz beacon signals.
GEOSAR SATELLITE COVERAGE FIGURE 1 SAR SATELLITE ORBITS FIGURE 2 SECTION 7 - AUTHORIZATIONS 7.1.1 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. meets the requirements of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 80 and GMDSS. 7.2 Characteristics 7.2.1 The ThunderBird S.S.A.S. is a floatable, battery operated unit. The beacon case, with its external antenna, is waterproof. The semiconductor circuits are mounted within the case assembly that also contains the battery power supply.
RTCM COSPAS-SARSAT FCC 7.3.2 Recommended Standards for Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAS) Using the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System Interim Cospas-Sarsat Type Approval Guidelines for 406 MHz SSAS Beacons Part 80 and GMDSS Specifications 406 MHz Transmitter Frequency Frequency Stability Output Power Digital Message Format Duration Rate Encoding Modulation Antenna Frequency Polarization VSWR 406.028 MHz ±2 parts per billion/100ms 5 watts Serialized1 520 ms 400 bps Biphase L ±1.1 radians peak 406.
USER / PROGRAMMING INTERFACE µP 406 MHz RF AMPLIFIER S.S.A.S BLOCK DIAGRAM FIGURE 3 18 Y1-03-0180 Rev.
Manufacturer Model Notes Y2K and EOW Compliant B&G Network LCD Plotter / DGPS * Yes B&G Network LCD Plotter / GPS * Yes B&G Network GPS and DGPS * Yes B&G Network GPS * Yes Data Marine Chartlink D7000 XT * Yes Data Marine Chartlink D7000 XTC * Yes Data Marine Chartlink II D8000 * Yes Data Marine Link D3500 * Yes Data Marine Link D3500 LD * Yes Furuno GP1810F * Yes Furuno GP1810 * Yes Furuno GP1610C * Yes Furuno GP1600F * Yes Furuno GP1600 * Yes Fur
Manufacturer Model Notes Y2K and EOW Compliant Garmin 180 * Yes Garmin 185 * Yes Garmin 190 * Yes Garmin 195 * Yes Garmin 210 * Yes Garmin GPSMAP 215 * Yes Garmin 220 * Yes Garmin GPSMAP 225 * Yes Garmin GPSMAP 230 * Yes Garmin GPSMAP 235 SOUNDER * Yes Garmin 120XL * Yes Garmin 12XL * Yes Garmin 45XL * Yes Garmin 55AVD * Yes Garmin 95XL * Yes Garmin GPS II * Yes Garmin GPS II+ * Yes Garmin GPS III * Yes Lowrance GlobalMap 12 * Ye
Manufacturer Model Notes Y2K and EOW Compliant Raytheon Raychart 620 * Raytheon Raytheon Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Si-Tex Trimble RC-520 RL-70RC DGPS-11 GPS-1 GPS-10 GPS-10A GPS-4A GPS-5 GPS-6 GPS-7 GPS-77P GPS-8 GPS-88P GPS-9 GPS-99P GPS-9D HG-7 SBR-90 SBR-91 4000DSi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Trimble 4000RSi * Trimble Trimble Trimble Trimble Trimble 7400MSi MS750 Navgraphic XL NavMariner DGPS N
*** WARNING *** THIS TRANSMITTER IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE ONLY DURING SITUATIONS OF GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER COSPAS-SARSAT System Overview FIGURE 5 22 Y1-03-0180 Rev.
ACR THUNDERBIRD FIGURE 6 23 Y1-03-0180 Rev.
ANTENNA INSTALLATIONS FIGURE 7 24 Y1-03-0180 Rev.
