THE SCIENCE OF SURVIVAL ResQLink™ 400 & ResQLink™ View 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons Product User Manual Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Models: PLB-400 & PLB-425 Part Numbers: 2921 & 2922 Name of Owner/Organization: ACR Electronics, Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Phone (954) 981-3333, Fax (954) 983-5087 www.acrartex.
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Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Please read all Notes, Warnings and Cautions Carefully. CAUTION: Before proceeding to test or use your new ACR Electronics, Inc. (ACR) product, please read this Product User Manual in its entirety. WARNING: The Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) must be promptly registered with the appropriate National Authority. Failure to register the beacon could delay a Search and Rescue (SAR) response and may be unlawful.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Beacon (406 MHz) Registration Registering Your Beacon As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon, and due to the global alerting nature of the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system, it is a requirement that you register the beacon with the National Authority of your country (e.g. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in the U.S., Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Australia - online registration preferred in Australia and the Rescue Coordination Centre in New Zealand).
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Beacon (406 MHz) 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 out of the USA, the beacon needs to be reprogrammed. The fastest and easiest way to register is online at: www.beaconregistration.noaa.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Beacon (406 MHz) Registration Registration in Canada Canadian registration form is included with Canadian coded ACR PLBs The fastest and easiest way to register is online at: http://canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential International customers should visit www.406registration.com and view the Beacon Registration Contacts List to find the proper location to register your beacon. 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.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Anatomy of your Beacon (PLB-400) Anatomy of your Beacon A. Antenna Latch – Latch unlocks antenna from the beacon body. When unclipped, the antenna can be deployed to uncover ON/OFF button. A B. Strobe Light – Activates when the beacon is turned on. Facilitates rescue during low-light emergencies. C. Green LED light – Visual indicator of beacon activity. C D D. Red LED light – Visual indicator of beacon activity. F E.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Anatomy of your Beacon (PLB-425) Anatomy of your Beacon The PLB-425 includes all the features (A through H) marked on the PLB-400 diagram on the previous page. The PLB-400 and PLB-425 are functionally the same except the PLB-425 also includes a digital screen as depicted by letter “I” in the diagram to the right. Throughout the rest of the manual, beacon images which include a screen represent the PLB-425 and images without a screen represent the PLB-400.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Overview Company Confidential Activating Your Beacon 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. Note: Beacon should be activated in open space with clear view of the sky (eg.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Activating Your Beacon (continued) Activation with GPS When your unit is activated, the GPS receiver will turn on, search to find your Latitude (LAT) / Longitude (LON), and incorporate it into your 406 MHz signal. For the first 6 hours after beacon activation, the internal GPS will start up every 30 minutes, search to find your LAT/LON, and incorporate it into your next 406 MHz signal.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential 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 of the sky to ensure GPS is acquired. Above Ground. Above ground held in hand is also acceptable On Ground Intended Operational Environments: Make sure the antenna is pointing towards the sky, out of the water. PLB will not work submerged in water.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential User Interface: Digital Display during Operation (specific to PLB-425 model only) The following table describes the visual feedback on the digital display that the PLB-425 provides during activation. Digital Display Feedback During Activation The ACR logo appears indicating the beacon has been activated. The system reports that it is in the process of acquiring GPS.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Turning Your Beacon Off Turning off the beacon To deactivate your beacon, depress the ON/OFF button for 2 seconds. You will see 2 fast green LED flashes and all blinking LED lights will stop (and the screen will turn off on the PLB-425 model), signifying that the beacon is no longer sending your distress message. NOTE: Leave beacon on until rescued. Turning the beacon off will prolong or prevent rescue. Repeated activations could be viewed as a hoax.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Testing Your Beacon Your beacon has the ability to perform 2 different tests to ensure that the beacon is working perfectly. The first is a basic self-test which checks the beacon’s design performance and sends a self-test message transmitted with default location data.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential User Interface: Digital Display during Self-Test (specific to PLB-425 model only) The following table describes the visual feedback on the digital display that the PLB-425 provides during a Self-Test. Digital Display Feedback During a Passed Self-Test The ACR logo appears indicating that the Beacon Self-Test has been initiated. The system performs a thorough testing of the beacon’s functionality and all tests pass.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Testing Your Beacon GPS Self-Test (GNSS Self-Test) The GPS receiver is located under the bottom front portion of the case (indicated by “GPS Give Clear View to Sky”). It is imperative that the receiver is not obstructed during the GPS self-test or during 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.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential User Interface: Digital Display during GPS/GNSS Test (specific to PLB-425 model only) Digital Display Feedback During a Passed GPS/GNSS Test The ACR logo appears indicating that the beacon GPS/GNSS Test has been initiated. The system reports that it is in the process of acquiring GPS. While acquiring GPS connection, the system reminds you that for optimum GPS performance, position the beacon so that it has a clear view of the sky.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential 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. Visit 406Link.com for complete details.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential False Alert A 406 MHz false alert MUST be reported to the search and rescue authorities. To report a 406 MHz false alert in the United States, contact: United States Air force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) Telephone: 1-800-851-3051 To report a false alert outside of the United States, contact the national authority where your beacon is registered. False alerts in Canada, notify the Canadian Mission Control Center by calling 1-800-211-8107.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Battery Replacement Replace the battery no later than the battery expiration date specified on the beacon, or after emergency use. 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 selftest/GPS test.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential The new owner of the beacon is required to provide the national authority with all of the information requested on the registration form. This obligation transfers to all subsequent owners. Lost or Stolen PLBs If your PLB is lost or stolen, do the following immediately: • • Report to your local authorities that the PLB has been lost or stolen.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Beacon model hardware part Company Confidential A3-06-3138- number Size 4.52 (L) x 2.03 (W) x 1.49” (D) Weight 5.3 oz. (151 g) Buoyancy Category 1, buoyant The ResQLink View is a buoyant PLB but will not work submerged in water. Intended operational environments include on ground and above ground including held in hand. In all cases, the beacon must be facing skyward with the antenna perpendicular.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Frequency 406.031 MHz Output Power 5+ Watts Stability 2 ppb/100ms Modulation Type Phase (16K0G1D) Digital Message Format 144 bits Long Message Serialized 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. Message Protocol Standard Location and National Location Duration 520 ms Rate 400 bps Encoding Biphase L Modulation +1.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Morse P Company Confidential AM (2K00A2A) Antenna Frequency 406.031 MHz and 121.5 MHz Polarization Vertical VSWR Less than 1.5:1 Hereby, ACR Electronics declares that the radio equipment type Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is in compliance with Directive 2014/53/EU. The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the following internet address: www.acrartex.com. CAUTION: Contains lithium batteries. Do not incinerate, puncture, deform, shortcircuit or recharge.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Appendix A – Accessories Custom ACR Skins Custom ACR skins are available for both the PLB-400 and PLB-425 models. The PLB-425 comes with two skins (Camouflage and Aqua Marine as shown in the image below) included when purchased. Additional skins will be available for both the PLB-400 and PLB-425 at www.acrartex.com.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Multifunction Accessory Clips Indented areas on each side of the back case of the PLB shown below provide different attachment options. Users can utilize either the Belt Clip or the Oral Inflation Clip (both come included with the beacon) to provide different wearability options.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential The Belt Clip and Oral Inflation Clip are attached to the beacon as shown below. Please note that the Oral Inflation Clip (for use when attaching the beacon to the Oral Inflation Tube on a lifejacket) is designed to be used in conjunction with the black mounting strap as shown. The purpose of the mounting strap is to prevent the Oral Inflation Clip from detaching from the Oral Inflation Tube of the lifejacket.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Attachment to Lifejacket Oral Inflation Tube Using Oral Inflation Clip After attaching the Oral Inflation Clip (with mounting strap attached to the clip) as shown above, steps 1-4 below show how the clip is attached to the lifejacket’s Oral Inflation Tube.
Y1-03-0343 Rev. B Company Confidential Note: Step 4 above requires use of the lanyard (included with your beacon) to attach the clip to the beacon as shown. One side of the lanyard should be threaded through the small hole on the side of the clip and then tied to the clip using a secure knot. The other side of the lanyard should be tied to the beacon using a secure knot (see step 4 on prior page for location where lanyard should be tied to the beacon).
