ACR Electronics RLB-38 Installation instructions

PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL
SATELLITE3406™
406 MHz EPIRB //
Model No.: RLB-38
Product No.: 2874, 2875
Y1-03-0250 Rev. C
OWNER
VESSEL
RADIO CALL SIGN
UIN #

Y1-03-0250 Rev. C 1
NOTE re: Applicable products
This manual supports all configurations of Satellite3406™/ 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.
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.acrelectronics.com. If in the future you lose this manual, you may
access and print a replacement on the ACR website.

Y1-03-0250 Rev. C 2
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
PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS,
CAUTIONS AND NOTES CAREFULLY

Y1-03-0250 Rev. C 3
STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON
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.
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!

Y1-03-0250 Rev. C 4
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/SP053
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-of-
registration 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. C 5
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. C 6
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. C 7
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. C 8
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. C 9
GPS Interface
Stowage Port
Category 2 –QuickDraw™ Bracket
Category 1 –SeaShelter™3Bracket
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