Fastfind & Fastfind Plus Personal Locator Beacon Owner’s manual
WARNING Use only in situations of grave and imminent danger Register PLB with NOAA SARSAT (refer to details on Page 2 following) before use McMurdo Limited reserves the right to change this specification at any time without notice, and hereby specifically disclaims liability for any consequences of such action.
Contents Recommendations and Safety Notices.......................................1 Registration and licensing...........................................................2 Quick Checklist ...........................................................................3 Introduction .................................................................................4 Preparation for Use .....................................................................4 Operation ...................................................
Recommendations and Safety Notices This Fastfind or Fastfind Plus Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is an emergency radio beacon for use only in situations of grave and imminent danger. False alarms cause expensive disruption to search and rescue services, and may endanger lives. Deliberate misuse of the PLB can result in a severe penalty. Make sure you read this manual and understand how to activate/deactivate your PLB, and how to change the battery packs.
Registration and licensing Each PLB is programmed with a unique digital identity before reaching the customer. This 15 digit hexadecimal number appears on the programming information label located on the back of the PLB (visible when the battery pack is removed), and is pre-printed on the registration card included in the PLB pack. This is the identity which is transmitted to the satellite system when the PLB is activated.
Quick Checklist Do: • • • • Test the PLB before taking it on a trip Ensure that the PLB is registered with NOAA SARSAT Make sure that you know how to activate and position the PLB in an emergency Check the battery expiry date Don’t: • • • Activate the PLB unless there is a genuine emergency Tamper with the red cover or antenna Test the PLB more than once per month (on average) Page 3
Introduction Congratulations on your discerning purchase of this Fastfind 406MHz PLB. This beacon has been designed to ensure your peace of mind by providing you with many years trouble-free service. If you have any problems or require further help and advice, please do not hesitate to contact your retailer, distributor or McMurdo directly. The Fastfind and Fastfind Plus PLBs are Personal Locator Beacons.
Operation Self-test Emergency ON button Green lamp Red lamp Self-test/OFF button PLB control panel (Fastfind shown) The PLB should be tested before setting out, but testing should be limited to about 12 times per year to minimise the total power taken from the battery. Self-test should only be carried out in the first five minutes of any hour. Open the flip-top lid. Do NOT pull off the red anti-tamper cover.
Self-test On successful completion of the self-test sequence, the green light on the left will flash 3 times and the buzzer will sound 3 times. The PLB will switch itself off after completing a self-test, even if the OFF button is still held down. Release the button and close the flip-top lid. If the self-test fails, repeat it. If the problem persists, check the battery expiry date. Do not use the PLB; return it to a dealer.
Emergency operation Important: DO NOT pull off the red anti-tamper cover unless you are activating the PLB in an emergency. Make sure the PLB is firmly anchored to lifejacket, clothing, or person (eg with a strap) before activating. Raise the flip-up lid to expose the red anti-tamper cover. Once opened, the flip-up lid can be pulled off the PLB and discarded if necessary. Grasp the handle part of the red anti-tamper cover, and pull sharply away from the PLB body. This uncovers the START/ON button.
Switching off To switch off the PLB after it has been activated in an emergency (eg when rescue has been effected), press the OFF button and hold it down until the indicator lights go off and the buzzer stops sounding. A five second delay is built in to the operation of the OFF switch to prevent inadvertent de-activation during an emergency situation. After operating the OFF button, confirm that both indicator lights are extinguished and that the buzzer has stopped.
Using the PLB in an emergency Do: • • Keep PLB flat with antenna vertical Try to place PLB where it has a clear view of the sky • • • Obscure or hold the antenna Place PLB next to large metal objects Submerge antenna Don’t: Ideal position for PEPIRB in open area Page 9
How does it work? Once you activate the PLB, the PLB transmits a continuous series of radio signals on 406 MHz. Providing the PLB’s batteries are in good condition, the signal should continue for a minimum of 24 hours. These signals can be detected by aircraft within range and by orbiting and geostationary satellites.
If an aircraft hears an activated beacon, it will immediately make a report to the Federal Aviation Administration who will pass this information to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC). Detection of the beacon by aircraft or satellites is highly dependent on the beacon placement and antenna position. Once activated, the beacon should be placed in a clear area with as clear a view of the sky as possible, and with the antenna fully extended and as vertical as possible.
COSPAS-SARSAT Satellite System This diagram shows the path the distress signal takes from the PLB through the satellite and ground station to the Search and Rescue organization, as was described on Page 10. The orbiting satellites circle the entire Earth; the illustration shows the satellite “footprint” (the area each satellite sees as it passes).
The images below show the coverage areas of the geostationary NOAA satellites over North America. GOES-W can see the entire continent, although the East coast is marginal; only Alaska and Hawaii are invisible to GOES-E. Consequently, coverage overlaps over virtually all the continental US and there is always one satellite which can see any place.
Indicators Fastfind (non-GPS version) Event Red Light Green Light Buzzer Event PLB SELF-TEST Self-test completed and passed Off Self-test button pressed and held On while self-test sequence in progress (approx 8 seconds) Off Flashes 3 times Off Sounds 3 times EMERGENCY OPERATION After 2 minutes 121.5MHz homing transmitter 406 MHz burst transmission on. Flashes every 2.5 seconds Off except during a 406 MHz burst transmission Off Long flash for 2 seconds every 50 seconds, then off.
Fastfind Plus (integral GPS version) Event Red Light Green Light Buzzer Event PLB SELF-TEST Self-test button pressed and held On while self-test sequence in progress (approx 8 seconds) Off Off First 2 minutes Start/On button pressed EMERGENCY OPERATION After 2 minutes 121.5MHz homing transmitter on. Red Light On continuously for first 2 minutes Flashes every 2.
DIAGNOSTIC INDICATIONS Event Red Light Green Light Buzzer Self-test button pressed and held Off Self-test completed Flashes 3 times Off Off SPECIAL MODES Protocol Programming During operation Only flashes for 2 seconds every 50 seconds - Flashes every 2.5 seconds, but no long (2 second) flash - - Flashes continually. Does not flash - Off Off - - - - Meaning No power to PLB Self-test failure No 121.5MHz signal No 406 MHz signal Programming mode.
False Alarms and Complete Deactivation If the PLB has been accidentally activated, or if rescue has been effected before arrival of the rescue services: Attempt to contact the rescue services, coastguard, or police by radio or telephone to advise them of the situation. Only switch off the PLB if you cannot make contact with the authorities, otherwise leave it on until instructed by the rescue services or authorities to turn it off.
Service and Maintenance WARNING: If the PLB has been used in an emergency, the battery pack must be replaced. It is advisable to return the PLB to a dealer for a complete service. Before use If the PLB has not been examined for more than 1 month, check the battery expiry date. Run the self-test. Examine the PLB for any signs of cracks or other damage. After use If the PLB has not been activated, clean it using fresh water, wipe dry and examine for any damage. Store in a cool dry place until next needed.
A new battery pack must be fitted when the expiry date has been reached. Only use branded battery packs designed specifically for the Fastfind and Fastfind Plus products. Do not remove and replace the battery pack unnecessarily: this may jeopardise the integrity of the O-ring seals which prevent water ingress around the battery connections between the battery pack and the PLB. To change the battery pack, refer to the instructions supplied with each battery pack.
Specification General Approved to COSPAS-SARSAT T.007 Class 1 Complies with EN 60945 RTCM 76-2002/SC110-STD V1.
GPS receiver/engine Centre frequency Received signal sensitivity Maximum number of satellites tracked (Fastfind Plus only) Band L1 1.
McMurdo Limited Product Warranty Subject to the provisions set out below McMurdo Limited warrants that this product will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of purchase.
User Notes Page 23
Contact: McMurdo Pains Wessex Inc 200 Congress Park Drive Suite 102 Delray Beach, Florida 33445 Telephone 561 819 2600 Fax 561 819 2650 Toll free: 1 800 576 2605 www.mcmpw.com Website: Email: www.mcmurdo.co.uk customerservice@mcmurdo.co.
