ACR Electronics RLB-38 SUPPORT MANUAL

PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL

SATELLITE3 406™

406 MHz EPIRB //

Model No.: RLB-38
Product No.: 2874, 2875
Y1-03-0250 Rev. F

ACR Electronics, Inc. // 5757 Ravenswood Road // Fort Lauderdale // FL // 33312-6645

Tel: [phone] // Fax: [phone] // www.acrartex.com

OWNER
VESSEL
RADIO CALL SIGN
UIN #

CAUTION: Before proceeding to install, test or use your new ACR

Electronics’ product, please read this Product Support Manual in its
entirety.

If you have questions regarding the contents of the manual, please
contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics, Inc.,
Telephone [phone]. 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, please visit our website and access the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section for further information or call
our Technical Service Department. The website address is

www.acrartex.com. If in the future you lose this manual, you may access

and print a replacement on the ACR website.

NOTE re: Applicable products

This manual supports all configurations of Satellite3 406™/ RLB-38
beacons. In addition to the part numbers listed on the cover page, other
configurations of these products are available, thus you may have
purchased a product configuration with a somewhat different part number.
As long as the first four digits are the same as one of the two part numbers
on the cover, this manual is applicable.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 1

PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS,

CAUTIONS AND NOTES CAREFULLY

Table of Contents

STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON ____________________________ 3

STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS _____________________________ 6

STEP THREE - INSTALLING THE BEACON _____________________________ 15

STEP FOUR - MAINTAINING THE BEACON ___________________________ 20

APPENDIX A - USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS _________________ 25

APPENDIX B - THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM _________________________ 27

APPENDIX C - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS __________________________ 28

APPENDIX D - WARRANTY, NOTICES _______________________________ 29

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 2

STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON

Your unique ID code
programmed inside each EPIRB is
transmitted to Search and Rescue
(SAR). SAR forces use this code to pull
up your registration to find out valuable
information about who needs help.

YOUR RESCUE WILL

BE DELAYED IF YOUR

BEACON ISN’T PROPERLY

REGISTERED!

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.

HOW REGISTRATION WORKS:
All 406 MHz beacons transmit a Unique Identifier Number (UIN) when

activated. This UIN is programmed into the beacon based on the country in
which the beacon is registered, thus authorities are able to determine which
country’s database will have your registration information. SAR forces will
have information as to who you are as the owner of the beacon, the name
and type of vessel that you have, your homeport, and who to contact that
might know of your current situation - but only if your beacon has been
properly registered. Valuable search and rescue resources are wasted
every year responding to false alarms, and registering your beacon helps to
resolve false alarms quickly.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 3

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 (Unique Identification
Number) on the back of the unit. Units that do not have a country specified
on the UIN label are programmed for the United States.

3. How do I register?

Registration in the United States
The national authority that accepts registrations in the United States is the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Here are three ways to register:

1. The fastest and easiest way to register is online at

www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/.

2. Faxing a registration is also acceptable. Fax the registration form to the fax
number on the top of the registration form.

NOTE: Do not confuse the registration form with the ACR Electronics
warranty card.

3. If online or fax registration is not available, mail the registration form with the
pre-addressed, postage paid envelope to:

SARSAT Beacon Registration NOAA
NSOF, E/SPO53
4231 Suitland Road
Suitland, MD 20746

All registration forms will be entered in the 406 MHz beacon registration
database within 48 hours of receipt. The information you provide on the
registration form is used for rescue purposes only.

A confirmation letter, a copy of the actual registration and a proof-of­registration decal will be mailed to you within two weeks. When you receive
these documents, please check the information carefully with the
existing label on the unit, and then affix the decal to your beacon in the
area marked “BEACON DECAL HERE.” If you do not receive confirmation
back from NOAA in the expected timeframe, call toll free [phone] for
assistance.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 4

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 programmed for your country, view the UIN
label on the back of the unit. In the event that the beacon is not programmed
for your country, the sales agent (if properly equipped) can reprogram the
unit for the correct country.

4. Do I need a radio license?

In the United States, you may or may not need to obtain or update a radio
station license. Check the FCC’s website at

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations or

call toll-free [phone] (CALLFCC) for the latest information.
Outside of the United States, contact your local authority for the

requirements.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 5

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 satellite system was established by, and continues to be
supported by, its primary benefactors - the USA, Russia, Canada and
France. The Cospas-Sarsat system has saved over 23,500 lives - and
counting - since its inception. See Appendix G or the Cospas-Sarsat website
for more information about the system at www.cospas-sarsat.org.

When a 406 MHz beacon is activated, the digital distress message is sent to
Cospas-Sarsat satellites and, in turn, the distress message is relayed to
SAR. The distress message contains important information about the
beacon and its owner. Additional information about the beacon is accessed
by SAR from the beacon registration database. At the same time the 406
MHz signal is activated, a 121.5 MHz signal is turned on. The 121.5 MHz
signal is used by SAR to home in on the beacon as they approach it.

The 406 MHz signal is detected by multiple satellites and from that
information the location of the beacon can be calculated. This data alone is
sufficient for SAR to find persons or ships in distress in a reasonable
timeframe. However, as a further enhancement, some beacons have a GPS
engine onboard. This feature allows the beacon to acquire current location
coordinates from an internal GPS receiver or download coordinates from an
external GPS receiver. The coordinates are added to the ID of the unit,
which is transmitted with the 406 signal. This enables the SAR authorities to
locate the beacon to an accuracy of 110 yards (100 m).

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 6

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.

// Optional External GPS interface

The external GPS Interface serves as the connection to the ship’s GPS

system. Use of this feature requires the purchase of an Optical GPS
interface Cable.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 7

Top View

Switch Positions

Strobes

Optional GPS

Interface

Antenna

Green

LED

Red
LED

Activation/

Test Switch

OFF/READY

Position

TEST

Position

ON/TRANSMITTING

Position

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 8

GPS Interface
Stowage Port

Category 2 – QuickDraw™ Bracket

Category 1 – SeaShelter™3 Bracket

Spring

Release

Knob

HydroFix™

Hydrostatic

Release Unit

(HRU)

Ejector

Spring

Antenna

Hook

Front cover
hook (detent)

Optional GPS

Interface

Cable

Antenna Hook

Water Sensor
Deactivation Magnet

Release Latch

Y1-03-0250 Rev. F 9