User's Manual

17
Y1-03-0233 Rev. T2
Always refer all long life battery replacement and other beacon service to a factory autho-
rized service center. Battery replacement includes servicing the beacon by replacing all
o-rings, testing the water seal and the electrical properties.
NOTE: There are no user serviceable items inside the beacon. DO NOT OPEN THE BEA-
CON UNLESS TO DISABLE IN CASE OF FAULTY ACTIVATION.
For the nearest location of a Battery Replacement Center, visit our website at www.acrelec-
tronics.com
The beacon may or may not require special shipping instructions due to the lithium batteries
and changes in shipping regulations. Please refer to ACR’s website www.acrelectronics.com
for proper shipping instructions.
7.3 Shore based maintenance for SOLAS Vessels
SBM) IMO MSC/Circ. 1039
The Maritime Safety Committee approved guidelines for shore-based maintenance of satel-
lite beacons, for the purpose of establishing standardized procedures and minimum levels of
service for the testing and maintenance of satellite beacons. First Shore Based Maintenance
on all ACR EPIRBs is due at the date of the rst battery replacement.
7.4 Annual testing for SOLAS vessels, IMO MSC/Circ. 1040
SOLAS regulation IV/15.9 dictates annual testing of 406 MHz satellite EPIRBs. Testing
should be carried out using suitable test equipment capable of performing the relevant mea-
surements. All checks of electrical parameters should be performed in the self-test mode,
if possible.
SECTION 8 – THE SEARCH AND RESCUE SYSTEM
8.1 General overview
Beacons provide distress alerts via radio transmission on 406 MHz to the LEOSAR satellites
of the COSPAS-SARSAT network. The beacon can also transmit a distress alert (acquired
by the internal or external GPS) to the GEOSAR network that includes GPS latitude and
longitude coordinates.
The message transmitted is unique for each beacon, which provides identication of the
transmitter through computer access of registration les maintained by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration or other national authority*. Remember, SAR forces will
know who you are, what type of vessel you have, your home port, and who to contact that
might know of your current situation ONLY if your beacon has been properly registered. This
will help expedite the launch of a rescue operation. 406 MHz beacons are required to have
their registration updated every two years.
*The national authority is the governmental body responsible for EPIRB registration data-
base administration for the country for which the EPIRB is programmed.
Once the 406 MHz signal is relayed
through the LEOSAR and/or GEO-
SAR network, SAR forces determine
who is closest, and then proceed to
the beacon using the 121.5 MHz
homing frequency.
8.2 Satellite detection
EPIRBs transmit to the satellite por-
tion of the COSPAS-SARSAT system.
COSPAS-SARSAT is an international
Figure 9 - Satellite Coverage