Microwave Monolithics Incorporated MBT-040600 Owner's Manual

MicroPLB

TM

MINIATURE SARSAT PERSONAL

LOCATOR BEACON (PLB)

MODEL

MBT-040600

OWNERS MANUAL

Microwave Monolithics Incorporated

2263 Ward Ave

Simi Valley, CA 93065

Tel: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Introduction...................................................................................................................1

2) Emergency Operating Instructions (Activation)............................................................2

2.1) To activate the MicroPLBTM without GPS receiver:..........................................2

2.2) To activate the MicroPLBTM with External GPS receiver:.................................4

2.3) To activate the MicroPLBTM with ......................................................................6

Attached/Internal GPS receiver:................................................................................6

3) Deactivation ..........................................................................................................8

4) Self-Test Instructions ..................................................................................................10

5) Storage and Maintenance............................................................................................11

6) Service and Repair ......................................................................................................11

7) Warranty......................................................................................................................12

8) Mandatory 406 MHz PLB Registration ......................................................................13

Appendix A) COSPAS-SARSAT* System**...................................................................14

Appendix B) MicroPLBTM Specifications.......................................................................18

C/S Designation Summary for the MicroPLBTM, M o d el N o . M B T - 0 4 0 6 0 0.......................18

Type Summary for the MicroPLBTM...........................................................................18

C/S Designations MBT-040600, MBT-040600-48 .....................................................19

C/S Designations MBT-040600A, MBT-040600A-48................................................20

C/S Designations MBT-040600B, MBT-040600B-48................................................21

C/S Designations MBT-040600C, MBT-040600C-48................................................22

C/S Designations MBT-040600D, MBT-040600D-48................................................23

C/S Designations MBT-040600E, MBT-040600E-48.................................................24

You Must REGISTER YOUR PLB -- See Section 8

© 2003

Use the MicroPLBTM only during situations of grave and imminent danger.

Operation under any other circumstances may lead to sanctions and/or penalties.

Under federal law, 14USC88, knowingly and willfully transmitting a hoax distress
call is a felony. It is punishable by up to six years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and
restitution to the rescue agency for all costs incurred responding to the distress.

1

1) Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of a MicroPLB

TM

, the most advanced

Personal Locator Beacon available. The MicroPLB

TM

is a COSPAS/SARSAT*
transmitter which, when activated, transmits an internationally recognized 406 MHz
distress signal containing your unique ID code to a constellation of internationally
funded and operated satellite receivers which monitor this emergency frequency band.
Your need for assistance, your location anywhere on earth (often accurate to within one
kilometer over all terrain as well as at sea), and your PLB's unique ID code are
automatically deciphered and forwarded to appropriate rescue organizations via well
established international procedures. This proven, fully operational, all weather
SARSAT system operates world wide 24 hours a day. It is operated and maintained by
an international consortium, and the ground stations and notification network are
Government funded and operated without the assessment of user fees. Rescue personnel
are guided directly to the emergency location by the specified position and, optionally,
by a separate 121.5 MHz homing signal transmitted by the beacon. With a MicroPLB

TM

equipped with a GPS option, a single half second burst provides nearly exact position
information (accurate to about a few meters) to rescue personnel, and if you are moving
or drifting at sea, your transmitted position information is updated every 20 minutes as
documented by the COSPAS/SARSAT specifications.

The MicroPLB

TM

could thus be a life-saver for individuals engaged in activities
such as hiking, hunting, mountain climbing, boating, flying, cross country skiing, etc.,
where even a simple accident may rapidly lead to dangerous and/or life threatening
situations unless help is provided in a timely fashion.

The MicroPLB

TM

is truly a pocket sized unit. Due to its advanced NASA
supported transmitter technology, it is the ONLY PLB to use a safe lithium battery
approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation for carriage via all commercial
transportation, including commercial passenger aircraft.

The MicroPLBTM is safe, easy to carry, and can go with you wherever you go.
In the unfortunate event that rescue help is needed, it is easily activated and could save
your life. Simply remove the cover, which automatically deploys the anten na, and pull
out the activator plug. These actions can even be performed by injured individuals
wearing gloves in the dark.

The COSPAS/SARSAT system is described in more detail in Appendix A, and
detailed Specifications for the MicroPLB

TM

are provided in Appendix B.

This manual describes operation and maintenance of the MicroPLB

TM

.

Section 2 describes emergency operati o n pr o cedu res f or the MicroPLB

TM

, Sections 3

and 4 describe deactivation and self-test respectively, while storage, maintenance, and
repair, warranty, and Mandatory Registration are discussed thereafter.

*SARSAT: Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking
COSPAS: Space System for Search of Vessels in Distress
(acronym from the Russian language)

2

2) Emergency Operating Instructions (Activation)

2.1) To activate the MicroPLBTM without GPS receiver:

1) Remove cover

Hold away from Face

Antenna will automatically deploy

2) Pull activator pin
completely out.

Blinking Green = Transmission
Single Red Blink prior to
each 406 MHz Pulse.

3) Place beacon in a clear area.

antenna pointing up

Use the MicroPLBTM only during situations of grave and imminent danger.

Operation under any other circumstances may lead to sanctions and/or penalties.

3

When activated (step 2 above):

Following automatic self-test and a pass/fail indication

green = pass,

red = fail
the distress transmissions will always automatically begin.
The Beacon will attempt transmission even if it failed self-test.

A slowly blinking green LED indicates transmission.

A single red flash will be emitted about 1 second prior to each 406 MHz transmission.

While operating, the MicroPLB

TM

should be placed on its side on a flat surface, away

from obstructions, with the antenna pointing up towards the sky.

4

2.2) To activate the MicroPLBTM with External GPS receiver:

1) Remove cover

Hold away from Face

Antenna will automatically deploy

2) Activate GPS receiver
connect to MicroPLBTM

use supplied cable.

Beacon will also operate without
GPS receiver if necessary.
(with reduced functionality)

3) Pull activator pin completely out.

Blinking Green = Transmission
Single Blink = GPS NOT Acquired
Double Blink = GPS Acquired
Single Red Blink prior to
each 406 MHz Pulse.

4) Place beacon in a clear area.
antenna pointing up

Use the MicroPLBTM only during situations of grave and imminent danger.

Operation under any other circumstances may lead to san

ctions and/or penalties.

5

When activated (step 3 above):

Following automatic self-test and a pass/fail indication

green = pass,

red = fail
the distress transmissions will always automatically begin.
The Beacon will attempt transmission even if it failed self-test.

A slow series of green “double blinks

” indicates a valid GPS position has been acquired

and is being transmitted by the MicroPLB

TM

. If the GPS receiver remains

connected to the MicroPLB

TM

, position information will be updated every
20 minutes as documented by the COSPAS/SARSAT specifications. If the GPS
receiver is disconnected or loses acquisition, your last valid GPS position will
continue to be transmitted.

A slow “single

” blinking green LED indicates that a valid GPS position has not yet been

acquired, and that the default message is being transmitted. The MicroPLB

TM

will continue to monitor the GPS receiver for a valid position, and will begin
transmitting the GPS data when valid position information becomes available.

A single red flash will be emitted about 1 second prior to each 406 MHz transmission.

While operating, the MicroPLB

TM

should be placed on its side on a flat surface, away

from obstructions, with the antenna pointing up towards the sky.

External GPS Receiver Requirements

The MicroPLBTM models with external GPS capability are designed to accept
data from GPS receivers with data output conforming to the electrical characteristics and
data format specified by the NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) 0183
standard, version 2. Standard NMEA sentences accepted by the MicroPLB

TM

include
"GGA": "Global Positioning System Fix Data", "GLL": "Geographic Position, Latitude
and Longitude", and "RMC": "Recommended Minimum Specific GPS/Transit Data".
Most GPS receivers can be programmed to emit a variety of data. Please consult the
appropriate owner's manual to select the output data set which include at least one of
these sentences. The MicroPLB

TM

is also designed to accept data at the (standard
NMEA 0183 v.2) rate of 4800 baud (8 data bits, no parity). The GPS receiver must b e
set to this data rate even though some GPS receivers allow the user to deviate from the
standard. Note that these settings might not be the default setting for your GPS receiver.
If you do not have a GPS receiver, or if the GPS receiver is not functioning
properly, the MicroPLB

TM

will still operate, but will transmit the default message instead
of location information. The LEO (low earth orbiting) satellites can still calculate your
position and report your unique ID code.

6

2.3)

To activate the MicroPLBTM with

Attached/Internal GPS receiver:

1) Remove cover

Hold away from Face

Antenna will automatically deploy

2) Pull activator pin
completely out.

Blinking Green = Transmission
Single Blink = GPS NOT Acquired
Double Blink = GPS Acquired
Single Red Blink prior to
each 406 MHz Pulse.

3) Place beacon in a clear area.

Both antennas pointing up
(GPS “Bulls-eye” and spring)

For best GPS operation, keep beacon
away from obstructions such as tall
buildings, trees, etc.

Use the MicroPLBTM only during situations of grave and imminent danger.

Operation under any other circumstances may lead to sanctions and/or penalties.