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OWNER
VESSEL
RADIO CALL SIGN
UIN #
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CAUTION: Before proceeding to install, test or use your new ACR Electronics’ product, please read this Product Support Manual in its en tirety. If you have questions regarding the contents of the manual, please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics, Inc., Telephone +1 (954) 981- 3333. Please be ready to provide the technician with the page number you wish to discuss. If you have a question that is not covered in the manual,
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Table of Contents STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON ___________________________________ 2 STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS ____________________________________ 6 STEP THREE - INSTALLING THE BEACON ___________________________________ 16 STEP FOUR - MAINTAINING THE BEACON __________________________________ 21 APPENDIX A - USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS ________________________ 27 APPENDIX B - USER INTERFACE: SPECIAL ICONS ______________________________ 29 APPENDIX C - USER INTE
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STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON 1. Why is registration important? As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon, it is mandatory that you register it with the EPIRB national authority of your country: It is the law. Please note that all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every two years by the owner. Your unique ID code programmed inside each EPIRB is transmitted to Search and Rescue YOUR RESCUE WILL BE DELAYED IF YOUR (SAR). SAR forces use this code to pul
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2. What country should I register in? Register your beacon with the EPIRB national authority of the country for which the beacon was programmed, typically the country where purchased, regardless of where you do your boating. The beacon must be reprogrammed if you, as the owner, move or the vessel sails under the flag of a different country than the one for which the beacon was previously programmed. To verify the country for which a beacon is programmed, see the label with the UIN (Uniq
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Registration outside of the United States In countries other than the United States, 406 MHz beacons are registered with that country’s national authority at the time of purchase. The sales agent should have assisted you in filling out the forms and sending them to the country’s national authority. Alternatively, many countries allow online registration in the International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) at www.406registration.com. To verify that the unit is properly progra
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STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS 1. How your beacon brings help 406 MHz beacons are a type of portable emergency equipment that transmits a distress signal to search and rescue (SAR) organizations. The purpose of these beacons is to aid SAR teams in tracking and locating ships or individuals in jeopardy as rapidly as possible. The 406 MHz frequency is a worldwide dedicated emergency frequency that is detected by a special system of satellites called the Cospas-Sarsat system. This satell
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2. Anatomy of your beacon NOTE: When unpacking your beacon, it is recommended that you save the original packaging for re-use when shipping the beacon for battery replacement in the future. // Activation switch with Witness Tab The activation switch embodies a special, patented method of activating a beacon. Refer to a subsequent section of this manual for how to activate the beacon. // External GPS interface The external GPS interface serves as the connection to the ship’
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Strobes Antenna Top View GPS Interface Activation/Test Switch Green LED Red LED Digital Display Internal GPS Screen Receiver Switch Positions TEST Position ON/TRANSMITTING OFF/READY Position Position Y1-03-0233 Rev. D 8
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Category 1 – SeaShelter™ Bracket 3 Spring HydroFix™ Ejector Release Hydrostatic spring knob Release Unit (HRU) Antenna hook GPS Interface Cable Front cover hook (detent) Category 2 – LowPro™ Bracket 3 Water Sensor Deactivation Magnet Antenna hook GPS Interface Stowage Port GPS Interface Stowage Port Front Cover Release Tabs Release Latch Y1-03-0233 Rev. D 9
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3. Digital Display The digital display in the beacon is used as a secondary visual aid, supporting the green/red LED and the audio tone, which indicate the status of the beacon during testing and during emergency operation. The messages on the digital display typically appear as one or two words at a time, until the entire message has been displayed. When the beacon is activated, the display will show the message EPIRB ON. The beacon will begin to send 406 MHz emergency signal bursts,
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4. Activating your beacon WARNING: This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger. Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty. Overview Category I beacons are designed to be automatically deployed and activated in the event of a sinking vessel. The beacon may also be hand held on the deck of vessels, or floated in water and attached to a raft or life vest with the lanyard provided. Category II beacons are designed to be manually deploye
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Category I beacons-Automatic deployment and activation If the vessel sinks, the HydroFix™ HRU frees the beacon from the bracket, allowing it to float to the surface. Built-in sensors detect that the beacon is no longer in its bracket and when continuity is created by water between two of the top cap screws, an activation circuit is completed. NOTE: Transmission of the 121.5 MHz and 406 MHz signals will not occur until 100 seconds after activation. Ejector Spring launches EPIRB fr
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Category I and II Beacons-Manual deployment and activation Both Category I and II beacons can be manually deployed by removing the beacon from the bracket. Once removed, the beacon can be activated by placing it in water OR by lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position, sliding it toward the antenna and pushing down to the opposite side of the beacon. Activating the beacon in this manner breaks off the Activation Witness Tab and allows the switch to properly seat, showing the
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TIPS FOR OPTIMUM DEPLOYMENT OF AN ACTIVATED BEACON: When activating and deploying your beacon in an emergency, DO NOT: // Hold or clutch the beacon or antenna // Operate the beacon while hand held, if at all possible // Turn the beacon off for any reason, including to save power // Activate the beacon if you have any other means of self rescue // Operate the beacon inside a life raft or under any other canopy or cover // Tether the beacon to the bracket or vessel When activating an
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Precautions to prevent false alarms // Do not mount or transport the beacon within 4.6ft/1.4m of a magnetic source. // Do not store the beacon outside of its bracket if it can get wet. // Do not mount the EPIRB backwards in its bracket (lanyard roll must face in). // Do not clean the beacon with a water hose and brush while out of its bracket. Reporting Should there be, for any reason, an inadvertent activation or false alarm, it be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorit
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STEP THREE - INSTALLING THE BEACON 1. Marking battery and Hydrostatic Release Unit expiration dates NOTE: It is the beacon owner’s responsibility to record the expiration dates for both the beacon battery and the HydroFix™ hydrostatic release unit. This information must appear on the product itself. The left side of the battery housing indicates the battery expiry date. Space is provided for the beacon owner to mark the date the beacon was placed into service. The beacon should be servi
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CAUTION: Category I brackets must be mounted free from obstruction to allow the beacon to automatically float free from the vessel in case of sinking. The SeaShelter ™ can be mounted on a vertical 3 surface with the beacon antenna pointing skyward or a horizontal surface with the beacon face up. Avoid mounting locations that subject the bracket to breaking waves. Avoid structures like dodgers or cabin tops that could trap the beacon upon deployment. CAUTION: Category II brackets must be
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CAUTION: Keep this beacon a safe distance away from all magnetic sources. Magnet safe distance is 4.6ft. or 1.4m, including the distance from stereo speakers. 3. Category I bracket The SeaShelter ™ Category I bracket has five pre-drilled screw holes to use 3 for securing the bracket to a flat surface. Remove the SeaShelter ™ lid by 3 turning the spring loaded knob on the lid 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull. The lid will lift away from the top of the base and disengage at the bottom o
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4. Category II bracket Category II brackets are designed to hold the beacon securely in place. The beacon must be manually deployed. The bracket can be mounted on a vertical flat surface with beacon antenna up or on a horizontal flat surface facing skyward. This location must be easily accessible in order to manually deploy the beacon or to perform the required maintenance and functionality tests. Typical locations include near the helm station or just inside the companionway door. The
