This product is warranted against factory defect in material and workmanship
for a period of 5 (five)* years from date of purchase or receipt as a gift.
During the warranty period ACR Electronics, Inc. will repair or at its option,
replace at no cost to you for labor, materials or return transportation.
Q: What are the differences between the ResQLink 400 and ResQLink View
Personal Locator Beacons?
The primary differences are:
- The ResQLink View includes a digital display which shows live beacon
status and GPS coordinates
- The ResQLink View features 28 hours* operational life versus the 24+
hours* operational life of the ResQLink 400
- When purchased, the ResQLink View includes Exclusive ACR Skins (allows
users to cutomize their beacon and tailor it to their lifestyle or preferred
activities)
*Based on test report from accredited laboratory.
Q: How do I register my beacon?
406 MHz Beacons must be registered with the National Authority of the
country you live in.
Step 1. Visit our Registration database to find the appropriate National
Authority
Step 2. Register with your countries National Authority via Mail, Fax or
for the fastest service register online.
Registration in the United States
The national authority that accepts beacon registrations in the United
States is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Here are
three easy ways to register:
1.) The fastest and easiest way to register is online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov . Recommended
method.
Verify and validate information before submitting.
2.) Mail the registration form with the pre-addressed, postage paid
envelope to:
SARSAT BEACON REGISTRATION
NOAA
NSOF, E/SPO53
1315 East West Hwy
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Please print legibly.
3.) Faxing a registration is also acceptable. Fax the registration form to
the Fax number on the bottom of the registration form. To reduce the
possibility of erroneous entry please verify legibility of information and
validate information on form to UIN on beacon before faxing.
Please
print legibly and in BLACK ink.
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-of-registration decal will be mailed to you within two weeks. When you
receive these documents, please check the information carefully to ensure that
the information provided on the label agrees with the information on the
beacon and then affix the decal to your beacon in the area marked "BEACON
DECAL HERE." If you do not receive confirmation from NOAA in the expected
timeframe, or if the information on the label is incorrect call toll free
1-888-212-7283 for assistance.
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, visit our Registration
database or many countries allow online registration in the International
406MHz 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.
Q: What are my obligations with regard to registering and
re-registering my beacon?
A beacon should be registered at the time of purchase or installation.
The registration of a beacon is valid for 2 (two) years. The owner should
re-register the beacon every two years. If change of ownership occurs, the
original owner must notify the authorities and de-register the beacon before
the new owner can register.
Q: Why is it so important for me to register my beacon?
Registering the EPIRB, ELT or Personal Locator Beacon is required by law in
the United States and in most countries. Registering is very important because
should your beacon ever be activated, it is how Search and Rescue Teams will
know who you are, and contacts provided may be able to supply information
about your specific travel plans. In the absence of this information, it may
take longer for a search-and-rescue operation to begin.
Q: Where do I take/send my unit for battery service?
Visit our Battery / Service Locator. Contact the battery/service
station for instructions on how to send the beacon to them. Please contact the
BRC for the cost for this service.
Q: How do I know when the battery is due for replacement?
There is a battery expiration date label on every beacon.
Example of a Battery Replacement Date is 07/2010
Q: Can I buy a battery from you and replace it myself?
No. The battery cannot be purchased. This is a life saving device and you
need to have the tools, hardware and software to perform a battery
replacement. Full functional testing is done on the unit, after the battery is
replaced, to make sure that the unit will last another 5 years in the field.
The battery of any EPIRB, ELT or Personal Locator Beacon needs to be replaced
by an ACR/Artex Certified Battery Replacement Center (BRC), where trained
technicians will perform this service.
Q: What will happen if I do not replace the battery every five
years?
The chances of surviving a life threatening situation is greatly diminished
if proper care and maintenance is not given to a beacon.
Q: Do I have to replace the battery if the beacon goes off by
mistake and why?
Yes, as this is a lifesaving device it should be diligently maintained to
perform as specified. For this unit to transmit for the full 24 hours it will
need a new battery as any inadvertent activation will deplete the existing
battery.
Q: Where do I dispose of a beacon battery?
For information about disposal of lithium batteries or products with
lithium batteries in them, please contact your local waste management company.
Q: Is there any special instruction for shipping a battery or a
unit with the battery in it?
There may be, depending on the beacon that you have. Due to transportation
regulations changes, some ACR & Artex products that contain lithium batteries
may need to be shipped as Hazmat. Please visit the product page for your
product and review the download tab for the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
Q: How do I know the beacon is working?
Perform a monthly self-test. If the test passes, the beacon is working. If
self- test does not pass, take/send the beacon in for service. If you want to
know that your beacon signal is reaching the satellite system and your signal
is being received back down to earth please check out our advanced testing
service called 406Link.com.
Q: How often should I carry out a Self Test?
The beacon owners' manual usually recommends the frequency of these
tests.
Q: What is a GPS Self Test?
Newer GPS (sometimes referred to as GNSS) equipped beacons may also include
an optional GPS Satellite Acquisition Self Test (not all GPS beacons have this
ability), which tests the operation of the GPS Receiver and its ability to
encode your location into the transmitted distress message. It is not uncommon
for this test to only be permitted to be performed once or twice over the life
of the battery (e.g. every couple of years), as this type of test can
significantly reduce the battery life of the beacon. For beacons installed in
commercial craft there are often regulatory requirements that define how often
these tests should be performed.
Current ACR GlobalFix EPIRBs and older Model Personal Locator Beacons (AeroFix,
TerraFix, AquaFix, MicroFix, ResQFix) have the ability to perform a GPS Test,
however this GPS Test is not transmitted to the satellites, so if you have an
account with 406Link.com your GPS Coordinates will not appear.
New ACR Personal Locator Beacons can perform GPS Self Tests that will
actually transmit to your GPS Coordinates to the satellites and with
406Link.com pin point your location onto a map. These tests are limited to
60 Self-Tests and 20 GPS Self-Tests for the PLB-400 and PLB-425 Models over
the 5 year life of the battery.
Q: What should I do if I get a Self Test failure?
If you get a Self Test failure, first check the instructions in the user
manual supplied with your Beacon, make sure you carried out the test correctly
and that you have followed any instructions provided. If you are sure your
Beacon failed the self test then you should contact the beacon manufacturer or
one of their appointed service agents for further advice and instructions.
Q: Are there any Beacons that I can't test Through the Satellites?
Yes, in particular some older models of Beacons do not transmit a 406 MHz
burst, so they cannot be tested in this way. In addition some current other
manufacturers models of Beacon incorporate features (e.g. a rolled up one time
only use antenna) that reduce their radiated power output during a Self Test
and therefore these beacons do not transmit a signal that is strong enough to
reach the satellites.
Q: How does the GPS Self Test feature work?
A lot of beacons on the market have the capability to do a GPS test, in
which the beacon turns the GPS engine on, acquires GPS data and flashes a
light to signify the test is completed.
New Personal Locator beacon models from ACR have the ability to transmit
this GPS location in a self test burst and pin point your exact location on a
map using 406Link.com to ensure you that (1) your beacon is working perfectly
and can reach the satellite system and (2) that your GPS is working perfectly.
Q: How many Self Tests and GPS Test can I perform?
Tests are limited to 60 Self-Tests and 20 GPS Self-Tests for the PLB-400
and PLB-425 Models over the 5 year life of the battery.
Learn more about advanced satellite testing through the satellite system
at 406Link.com.
Q: What do PLBs do?
Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are distress radio beacons which transmit
location information about individuals directly to Search and Rescue forces
letting them know that the owner is in grave and imminent danger.
Q: Can 406 MHz beacons be used anywhere in the world?
Yes, 406 MHz beacons can be used anywhere in the world, including the
Poles.
Q: Is there a subscription fee for beacon registration or rescue
service?
Beacon registration is free, should you ever have to activate your beacon,
rescue is free in most parts of the world.
Q: When do you use a Beacon?
Most Search-and-Rescue (SAR) organizations instruct that beacons are
satellite signaling devices of last resort, for use when all other means of
self-rescue have been exhausted, where the situation is grave with imminent
danger and the loss of life, limb, eyesight or valuable property will occur
without assistance.
Q: Do I need a radio license?
For the latest information, in the United States you may contact the
Federal Communication Commission at toll-free 1-888-CALLFCC or visit
the website of the FCC. Outside of the United States, contact your local
authority for the requirements.
Q: What is a UIN and where do I find it on the beacon so I can
register my beacon?
A UIN is a Unique Identifier Number that is programmed into each beacon at
the factory. The UIN number consists of 15 digit series of letters and numbers
that make up the unique identity of the beacon. The UIN is on a white label on
the exterior of the beacon. The UIN is also referred to as the Hex ID.
Q: Is it true that certain emergency beacons no longer work?
The 121.5MHz and 243 MHz beacons are no longer satellite detectable. The
beacons may still function but the emergency satellite system will no longer
detect the emergency signals from these frequencies. Please read the
explanation of the phase out of the 121.5/243 MHz frequency from Cospas-Sarsat
at http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/phaseout.html.
If you have a 121.5 MHz or 243 MHz beacon, you should upgrade to a new 406
MHz beacon.
Q: Can I take my beacon with me on an aircraft?
You may wish to check with the airline about any restrictions or
documentation that you may need to carry with the unit. We suggest that you
print a copy of the MSDS and bring it with you. We also recommend that you
carry the Product Support Manual to explain what the unit is (MSDS sheets and
Manuals can be found on the product web page).
Q: What happens if I set off a false alert by mistake?
Don't panic, as long as it was a genuine mistake and not deliberate you
have nothing to worry about, however you must turn off your Beacon and contact
the emergency services as quickly as possible to let them know your
transmissions are a False Alert.
Deliberate misuse or not notifying the proper authority may incur a severe
penalty. When you call be prepared to provide the following information:
The beacon Unique Identifier Number (UIN) (15 Hex ID printed on the
beacon),
- Date
- Time and duration of the false alert
- Location of the beacon at the time of the false alert
- Cause of the false alert
The primary contact point in the United States for the notification of
False Alerts is the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (USAFRCC)
the telephone number is 1-800-851-3051. However if you have an EPIRB you can
contact the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the following areas: Atlantic
Ocean / Gulf of Mexico USCG Atlantic Area Command Center Tel: (757)398-6390
Pacific Ocean Area / USCG Area Command Center Tel: (510) 437-3700 USCG HQ
Command Center Tel: (800) 323-7233. If you have an ELT as well as contacting
the USAFRCC you might also want to contact your local Flight Service Station (FSS)
on 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433).
