GME MT410AUS User Manual

PLB

MT410 & MT410G
EMERGENCY PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACONS

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

CONTENTS

WARNING .......................... 2

FEATURES .......................... 2

INTRODUCTION ..................... 2

General ........................ 2

ABOUT THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM ..... 3

ABOUT 406 MHz BEACONS ............ 3

REGISTRATION & TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP 3

Registration Contacts .............. 3

PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION ... 4

Contacts for Reporting Activations .... 4

BATTERIES & MAINTENANCE ........... 4

TESTING THE PLB .................... 5

WAR NI NG

EMERGENCY BEACONS SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN SITUATIONS

OF GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER.

It is important that you read this manual thoroughly.

GPS SATELLITE ACQUISITION TEST ........ 5

SAFETY SEAL ....................... 5

TRANSPORTATION ................... 5

ACTIVATION IN AN EMERGENCY ......... 5

Location for deployment ............ 6

ACTIVATING THE MT410/410G .......... 6

DEACTIVATING THE MT410/410G ........ 7

DISPOSAL .......................... 7

SPECIFICATIONS ..................... 8

SC WARRANTY AGAINST DEFECTS ...... 10

NATIONAL AUTHORITY INFO ........... 11

CONTACTS ................. BACK PAGE

FE ATURES

• Suitable for marine, aviation and land applications.

GPS model available - Accusat Pocket Pro+

•

(MT410G).

• 7 year Battery life, 7 year Warranty.

Typical accuracy - MT410G: <45 m

•

High visibility flashing light.

•

Unique patented technology - no warm up period.

•

Featherweight, compact and robust construction.

•

Digital 406 MHz, 5 watt transmission plus 121.5

•

MHz homing signal.

• COSPAS-SARSAT worldwide operation.

• National and International Approvals.

Buoyant and waterproof design (exceeds IP67).

•

• Simple 2-step activation.

Complete with retention strap and protective

•

carry pouch.

For Approval Certificates please visit:

www.gme.net.au/support/brochures

MT410: <5 km.

INTR ODUCTI ON

Congratulations on purchasing your new Accusat Pocket
Series Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). The GME Accusat
Pocket MT410 and GPS equipped Accusat Pocket Pro+
MT410G are the most advanced 406 MHz digital satellite
beacons available today. Using new digital frequency
generation technology, GME have developed and approved
world wide, a new family of affordable high performance
406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons.

General

The GME MT410 and MT410G PLBs are designed for use
when life is endangered and you have no other means of
communication. The PLB can save your life and the lives of
others by leading an air, land or sea rescue to your precise
location.

PLBs are an excellent choice to provide added safety while
participating in just about any outdoor or remote area
activity. The MT410/410G beacons are fully sealed units
and will not sink if dropped into water, making them
equally suitable for use on land and many marine and
aviation applications.

A PLB is distinctively different to an EPIRB and the
requirement for either is determined by personal situation and
intended usage. Note than unlike an EPIRB, the MT410/G
PLB when activated in a maritime environment, requires
assistance to keep its antenna clear of the waters surface.

PAGE 2 INSTRUCTION MA NUAL 406 M HZ PLB

In the past, using the analogue system, (which became
obsolete in February 2009) extensive and lengthy searches
have been carried out for missing persons, sometimes to
no avail. Your GME PLB is a self contained 406 MHz digital
radio transmitter that emits an internationally-recognized
distress signal on a frequency monitored by the COSPAS­SARSAT satellite system. The MT410 and MT410G contain
a unique identity code which can be cross referenced
to a database of registered 406 MHz beacons, allowing
the beacon’s owner to be immediately identified in the
event of an emergency. Both PLB models include a high
performance solid state light and 121.5 MHz VHF homing
signal to assist in leading rescuers to your precise location.

The MT410G also features an integrated 50 Channel GPS
Receiver which when activated, will automatically acquire a
position and relay the latitude and longitude of the beacon
along with the personal identifier and emergency signal.

AB OUT T HE COSPAS -SARSAT

SYSTEM

The COSPAS-SARSAT system is a complete global search
and rescue service using geostationary and polar orbiting
satellites. Many countries provide ground facilities known
as Local User Terminals (LUTs). Polar orbiting satellites
provide complete, although non-continuous, coverage of
the earth (due to fact that these satellites can only view a
portion of the earth at any given time) and can accurately
resolve an active beacons’ location. Additionally,
geostationary satellites can give an immediate alerting
function in many regions of the world.

The basic COSPAS-SARSAT concept is illustrated in the
following diagram

AB OU T 406 MHZ BEA CONS

406 MHz beacons provide more accurate and reliable
alert data to search and rescue agencies than the older,
phased out, 121.5/243 MHz systems. The older 121.5
MHz analogue system required that the satellite be within
view of both the beacon and the LUT before it could
transmit the beacons’ position. This limited the coverage

PAGE 3 INSTRUCTION MA NUAL 406 M HZ PLB

to an area immediately surrounding the
the digital nature of the 406 MHz system means
the satellites are able to store the beacons’ position
and

digital message, no matter where in the world it is
received. These details are then relayed to the next LUT
that comes
global coverage.

into range, giving the 406 MHz system true

LUT.

However,

that

REGISTRATION & TRANSFER

OF OWNERSHIP

Registration of your 406 MHz satellite PLB
with the Registration Section of your National
Authority is important and now mandatory in
most countries because of the global alerting
nature of the COSPAS-SARSAT system.

Owner Registration Forms for registering your beacon may
be supplied within the packaging, otherwise, your National
Authority will be able to provide the correct forms. Up to
date forms are often available online.

The information provided in the registration is used only
for search and rescue purposes. Promptly fill in the owner
registration form upon completion of the sales transaction,
then mail, fax or email it to your National Authority. If the
PLB is to enter service immediately, complete the
registration form and fax or email the information.
Australian Registration can also be done online at:

www.amsa.gov.au/beacons

Should the PLB be transferred to a new owner, as
the previous owner you are obligated to inform your
National Authority by email, fax, letter, telephone or
online of the name and address of the new owner. The
new owner of the beacon is also required to provide
their National Authority with the information as shown
on the registration form. This obligation transfers to all
subsequent owners.

NOTE: Your MT410/MT410G has been programmed

with a unique identifying code which will be
transmitted by the beacon in an emergency.
Registering your beacon provides the authorities with
immediate access to your details when the beacon
is detected. This means they will know who you are
and who your emergency contacts are. In situations
of accidental activation they can also immediately
eliminate your beacon as an emergency situation by
contacting you when activation is detected.

Registration contacts

Australian users

Beacon Registration Section,
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181, Canberra ACT 2601
Online: www.beacons.amsa.gov.au
Email: [e-mail]

Fax Local: 1800 406 329
International: [phone]
Phone Local: 1800 406 406
International: [phone].

New Zealand users –
Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand

PO Box 30050, Lower Hutt 5040
Online: www.beacons.org.nz
Email: [e-mail]
Fax: [phone]
Phone, Local: 0800 406 111
International: [phone]

Ensure information is current. Notify the appropriate
authority if ownership of the beacon is transferred.

Other areas – Please contact your Country Distributor as
shown on page 11 of this manual. If you have a beacon
coded with a foreign country code, or if you do not know
what country code has been used, then you will need
advice, please contact the relevant authority on one of the
numbers shown above or visit:
www.cospas-sarsat.org

PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ACTI VATION

The signal from a PLB is regarded by authorities as an
indication of distress and is given an appropriate response.
It is the responsibility of every owner of a PLB to ensure
that it is not activated unintentionally or in situations that
do not justify its use.

Most cases of accidental transmission result from poor or
inappropriate storage or failure to totally disable an old
model beacon before disposal.

The need to treat emergency beacons responsibly cannot
be too highly emphasised.

The MT410/410G will not commence transmitting until
approximately 60 seconds after activation, providing a
period of audible and visual warning. If you hear the
beacon beeping while it is being carried or stowed, you
may still be able to deactivate it during this time period
without actually transmitting a distress signal. If in doubt,
report the incident to your local authorities just in case.

To minimise the possibility of accidental activation, PLB
owners are urged to pay careful attention to the
following points:

1. Follow the self-testing procedures

2. Educate your travelling companions on how and when
to correctly operate your PLB

3. Avoid stowing the PLB where it will be subjected
to continuous direct sunlight. This could cause the
beacon’s internal temperature to exceed the maximum
storage temperature of +70°C. Long term stowage

PAGE 4 INSTRUCTION MA NUAL 406 M HZ PLB

under these conditions could result in reduced battery
life, poor performance or degradation of the plastics
due to excessive UV light.

4. Do not allow children to interfere with the PLB.

Contacts for reporting activations

If you suspect that a PLB has been activated inadvertently,
you MUST turn it off and report it immediately to your
National Authority‘s Rescue Co-ordination Centre to
prevent an unnecessary search.

When reporting you should include the following:

1. Your PLB’s 15 character Unique Identifier Number
(UIN), which is marked on the unit body.

2. Date, time and duration of activation.

3. Cause of activation.

4. Location at time of activation.

Search and Rescue authorities will not penalize an
EPIRB owner or operator in cases of genuine accidental
activation.

Contact numbers:

Australia: 1800 641 792
New Zealand: 0508 472 269
United States of America: 1800 851 3051
United Kingdom: 01326 211 569

BATTE RIES & MAINTENA NCE

The MT410 and MT410G PLBs are fitted with the very
latest in high capacity battery technology. These batteries
are able to operate within a temperature range of -20°C
to +55°C.

The full operational capability of your beacon may not
be available if the batteries fitted have exceeded their
replacement date, as shown on the body of the unit.
Prior to reaching this date, make arrangements to have
your MT410/MT410G returned for service.

NOTE: PLB maintenance operations, including battery

replacement, require that the beacon be returned to a
manufacturer approved service facility.
A list of authorised Service Centres can be found at:
www.gme.net.au.
The replacement of batteries due to expiry or usage is
not covered by the product‘s Warranty.

NOTE: MT410/MT410G batteries are not user

replaceable.

Although the MT410/410G are otherwise maintenance
free, routinely following these few simple steps will help
ensure that your beacon will be operationally ready if
called upon:

1. Test the PLB at the recommended interval.