Becker MR 109 Operation Manual

Becker Electronics Taiwan Ltd.

81, Li Kung Street, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

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Issue: a / December 2005

IMPORTANT : Please take time to read this manual carefully. Understanding of the
contents will facilitate maintenance of the PLB, and correct operation in case of an
emergency.

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MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 2

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MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 3

Revision/Change Record

Issue Date Affected pa-

ges

Description

a 2005/12/13 all First Issue

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 4

Table of Contents

Revision/Change Record.....................................................................................................................................3

Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................................4

1. FOREWORD .............................................................................................................................................5

2. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM........................................................................................................5

3. SAFETY INFORMATION and RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................6

4. REGISTRATION OF YOUR PLB..............................................................................................................7

5. COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM....................................................................................................................8

5.1. Cospas-Sarsat system (http://www.cospas-sa rsat.org)........................................................................8

5.2. System Concept (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org)..................................................................................8

5.3. Satellite Configuration (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org).......................................................................10

5.3.1. LEOSAR Satellite constellation....................................................................................................10

5.3.2. GEOSAR Satellite constellation...................................................................................................11

5.4. LUTs (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org)..................................................................................................12

5.4.1. LEOLUTs......................................................................................................................................12

5.4.2. GEOLUTs (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org)...................................................................................14

5.5. MCCs (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org).................................................................................................15

5.6. RCCs and SPOCs (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org).............................................................................15

6. BEACON OVERVIEW and OPERATION...............................................................................................16

6.1. VERY IMPORTANT.............................................................................................................................16

6.2. General Description.............................................................................................................................16

6.3. PLB Operating Modes.........................................................................................................................16

6.4. Operating Mode Monitoring.................................................................................................................17

6.5. Controls and indicators description and theory of operation...............................................................17

6.5.1. Self test ........................................................................................................................................18

6.5.2. Activation (Emergency Operation)...............................................................................................19

6.5.3. De-Activation (Switching OFF).....................................................................................................21

6.5.4. Beacon Storage............................................................................................................................21

6.6. Beacon Autonomy...............................................................................................................................22

6.7. Integral GPS receiver..........................................................................................................................22

7. SPECIFICATION.....................................................................................................................................23

7.1. Approvals and Standards....................................................................................................................23

7.2. Battery.................................................................................................................................................23

7.3. Storage temperature range.................................................................................................................23

7.4. Operating temperature range..............................................................................................................23

7.5. Minimum Operating time.....................................................................................................................23

7.6. Transmitter 406 MHz...........................................................................................................................23

7.7. Transmitter 121.5 MHz........................................................................................................................24

7.8. Transmitter antenna............................................................................................................................24

7.9. Built In Navigation device....................................................................................................................24

7.10. IR communication Interface.............................................................................................................24

7.11. Software...........................................................................................................................................24

7.12. Physical characteristics:...................................................................................................................25

8. ENVIRONMENTAL DATA.......................................................................................................................26

8.1. Summary of the tests and performance..............................................................................................26

9. FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.........................................................................................27

9.1. What indication is provided by the LED flashing RED after the self test ?..........................................27

9.2. What indication is provided by the LED flashing Green after the self test ?.......................................27

9.3. What indication is provided by the LED flashing Yellow in Active mode ?..........................................27

9.4. What indication is provided by 3 “beeps” of the BUZZER ?...............................................................27

9.5. What indication is provided by the LED flashing Green in Active mode ?..........................................27

9.6. When do I need to send back my PLB to the maintenance center ?..................................................27

9.7. How do I know if my PLB is ready for use ?........................................................................................27

9.8. False alarms........................................................................................................................................27

9.9. In Case of an Emergency....................................................................................................................28

9.10. Final Recommendation....................................................................................................................28

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 5

1. FOREWORD

The MR 109-( ) Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is an emergency radio transmitter for use only in
situations of grave and imminent danger. The MR 109-( ) uses the COSPAS-SARSAT organization
satellite network to alert Search and Rescue Services.

Further details of the COSPAS-SARSAT system may be obtained at:

Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat
700 de la Gauchetière West
Suite 2450
Montreal, (Quebec) H3B 5M2
Canada

Tel:

[phone]

Fax Number:

[phone]

Email: [e-mail]

http://www.cospas-sarsat.org

2. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Becker Electronics Taiwan Ltd. Quality Management System is certified according to DIN EN ISO
9001:2000. Certificate Reg. No: 01 100 81253

Contact Information:

Becker Electronics Taiwan Ltd.

81, Li Kung Street, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 6

3. SAFETY INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• The MR 109-( ) PLB may be used only in real emergency situations, misuse is strenuously
prosecuted and can incur severe penalty for damages. False alarms cause expensive disrup­tion to Search and Rescue services and may endanger lives.

• Always keep the PLB out of reach of children.

• In case of accidental activation of the PLB, the user should immediately de-activate the PLB

and notify the appropriate Search and Rescue authority (national authority) at the earliest
possible time.

• Make sure that the instructions contained in this manual have been read and understood. You
should know how to activate/de-activate, or perform a self test of the PLB, in the correct way
and without the necessity of carrying this manual with the PLB.

• Make sure that the PLB is registered with your national authority immediately after receipt,
especially if the beacon is to enter service immediately.

• Unregistered PLB ‘s will not be subject to Search and Rescue missions, and owners may be
prosecuted.

• Do not try to open, tamper, incinerate, puncture or throw away the PLB.

• The battery pack contains lithium and battery replacement shall be carried out by a Becker

authorised maintenance center. Do not expose your PLB to temperatures above 70°C as this
can result in battery seal loss, leakage, and/or cell explosion.

Dispose of in accordance with

appropriate local environmental regulations.

• It is

preferable not store your PLB for long periods (months/years) at temperatures above

25°C. Increased temperature will increase the battery self discharge rate.

• Verify the battery replacement/expiry date indicated on the top of the device.

• Perform self test before taking the PLB on a trip. Do not perform more than one self test per

month.

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

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4. REGISTRATION OF YOUR PLB

The PLB is programmed with a unique identification code (15 digit hexadecimal number) which pro­vides identification through the Cospas-Sarsat system to the national authority in charge of SAR
(search and rescue) activity.

It is the user’s (owner) responsibility to register with the national authority of the country under which
the PLB will be used. This registration is mandatory.

It is very simple to register your PLB, fill out and mail the registration form included in the PLB pack.
Be sure that contact information is accurate, especially the telephone number as this will be used to

validate any beacon alarm.
If the PLB is transferred to a new owner,

you must contact your national authority and follow the ap-

plicable procedure to complete the ownership transfer.

• For the United States users, the registration form must be forwarded to NOAA:
By mail to: NOAA/ SARSAT Beacon Registration

E/SP3, RM 3330, FB-4
5200 Auth Road
Suitland, Md 20746-4304

By fax to: 301-568-8649
On-line: at http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov you can register your PLB, download the registration

form, or update your personal information, if your PLB is already registered.

• For other countries you may find the information on the Cospas-Sarsat web site, in the bea-

con regulation manual C/S S.007 :

http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/Documents/handbookOfBeaconRegs.htm

If this link is not working, please try the home page: http://www.cospas-sarsat.org

15HEX ID No: PLB Unique Identification Number: each PLB in the world has a different number.

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 8

5. COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM.

For the latest information on the status of the Cospas-Sarsat System, please see www.cospas-

sasrat.org

5.1. Cospas-Sarsat system (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org)

Cospas-Sarsat is a satellite system designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist
search and rescue (SAR) operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the
signals of distress beacons operating on 406 Megahertz (MHz) or 121.5 MHz. The position of distress
and other related information is forwarded to the appropriate Search and Rescue Point of Contact
(SPOC) through the Cospas-Sarsat

Mission Control Center (MCC) network. The goal of the System is
to support all organizations in the world with responsibility for SAR operations, whether at sea, land or
in the air.

The Cospas-Sarsat System provides distress alert and location data to Rescue Coordination Centers
(RCCs), for 121.5 MHz beacons within the coverage area of Cospas-Sarsat ground stations (Local
User Terminals - LUTs), and for 406 MHz beacons activated anywhere in the world. A brief descrip­tion of the concept of operation is provided here. A more detailed description of the Cospas-Sarsat
System is provided in the System document entitled "Introduction to the Cospas-Sarsat System, C/S
G.003", which is available for downloading from Cospas-Sarsat web site

http://www.cospas-

sarsat.org.

5.2. System Concept (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org)

The System is composed of:

• distress radio beacons (ELTs for aviation use, EPIRBs for maritime use, and PLBs for per­sonal use) which transmit signals during distress situations;

• instruments on board satellites in

geostationary and low-altitude Earth orbits which detect the

signals transmitted by distress radio beacons;

• ground receiving stations, referred to as Local Users Terminals (LUTs), which receive and
process the satellite downlink signal to generate distress alerts; and

• Mission Control Centers (MCCs) which receive alerts produced by LUTs and forward them to
Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs), Search and Rescue Points Of Contacts (SPOCs) or
other MCCs.

Image provided courtesy of Cospas-Sarsat

The basic Cospas-Sarsat concept is illustrated in the figure above.

MR 109–( ) OPERATION MANUAL

T01008-MRR-0000 / Issue: a Page 9

Image provided courtesy of Cospas-Sarsat

The Cospas-Sarsat System includes two types of satellites:

• satellites in low-altitude Earth orbit (LEO) which form the

LEOSAR System

• satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) which form the

GEOSAR System

Cospas-Sarsat has demonstrated that the GEOSAR and LEOSAR system capabilities are comple­mentary. For example the GEOSAR system can provide almost immediate alerting in the footprint of
the GEOSAR satellite, whereas the LEOSAR system:

• provides coverage of the polar regions (which are beyond the coverage of geostationary sat­ellites);

• can calculate the location of distress events using Doppler processing techniques; and

• is less susceptible to obstructions, which may block a beacon signal in a given direction be-

cause the satellite is continuously moving with respect to the beacon.

LEOSAR and GEOSAR Capabilities

Channel
rocessing

P

LEOSAR GEOSAR

406 MHz

• Beacon identification information and
location information provided
Global coverage, but not insta

• ntane-
ous

• Beacon identification provided, and
location information available if en­coded in beacon message (location
protocol beacon)
Near instantaneou

• s alerting in the
GEOSAR coverage area

121.5 MHz

• Beacon location information available

• Beacon identification not provided

• Local mode coverage only

• Not supported