Ocean Signal PLB1 User manual

User Manual
www.oceansignal.com
English
Personal Locator
Beacon
PLB1

© 2021 Ocean Signal Ltd
The technical data, information and illustrations contained in this manual were believed to be correct
at the time of print. Ocean Signal Ltd. reserve the right to change specifications and other information
contained in this manual as part of our continual improvement process.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form,
electronic or otherwise, without the prior permission of Ocean Signal Ltd.
No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions in this manual.
Ocean Signal® and rescueME® are registered trademarks of Ocean Signal Ltd.
OWNER DETAILS
Name
Organisation
CONTACT
Tel.
Email

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 3
PLB1 USER MANUAL
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
!USE ONLY IN CASE OF GRAVE OR IMMINENT DANGER
• PULL THE ANTENNA OUT FROM THE
BODY TO ITS FULL EXTENT USING THE
BLACK TAB
• LIFT THE FLAP UP
• PRESS THE ON KEY FOR ONE SECOND
TO ACTIVATE THE BEACON.
THE GREEN LED WILL FLASH TO
INDICATE ACTIVATION
• RELEASE THE ON KEY
• ENSURE THE ANTENNA IS HELD
VERTICALLY WHILE OPERATING THE
PLB
• THE STROBE LIGHT WILL START
FLASHING TO INDICATE IT IS
ACTIVATED
NOTE: Refer to section 3.2 for deactivation instructions.
Hold for 1 sec

PLB1 USER MANUAL
4 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
1. GENERAL 5
1.1 Exposure to Electromagnetic Energy 5
1.2 Warnings 5
1.3 COSPAS/SARSAT System 5
2. PLB1 OVERVIEW 6
3. OPERATION 7
3.1 Activation 7
3.2 Deactivation 8
3.3 False Alerts 8
4. TESTING 9
4.1 Beacon Test 9
4.2 GPS Test 10
4.3 Special note for Commercial and DoD Users 10
5. APPENDIX 11
5.1 Maintenance 11
5.2 Battery 11
5.3 Transport 11
5.4 Disposal 11
5.5 Specifications 12
5.6 Approvals 13
5.7 Registration 13
6. WARRANTY 14
6.1 Global Limited Warranty 14
6.2 Extended Limited Warranty 14
7. BEACON REGISTRATION DETAILS 15

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 5
PLB1 USER MANUAL
1. GENERAL
1.1 Exposure to Electromagnetic Energy
This product complies with EN50371 (EU) and RSS-102 (Canada).
1.2 Warnings
!It is a legal requirement to register your PLB with your National Authority.
!Only use your PLB1 in a situation of grave and imminent danger. Deliberately misusing
your PLB1 or accidental activation may result in prosecution and a fine.
!Your PLB1 contains lithium batteries.
Please see section 5 for information on safe transportation.
!The battery in your PLB1 should be replaced immediately if it has been activated, or if
the test indicator shows the battery as “used”,
or if the expiry date marked on the unit has been exceeded.
!THE PLB1 WILL NOT FLOAT, unless fitted with a flotation pouch.
!The PLB1 is not designed to be operated floating in water.
Hold above the water when activated.
!Read these instructions carefully. Failure to follow the guidance in this manual may
result in incorrect operation and loss of warranty.
!Always refer to the manufacturer for specific instructions before installing this product
directly to your life jacket or other personal flotation device.
1.3 COSPAS/SARSAT System
The COSPAS/SARSAT system uses two satellite arrays to provide distress alert and location data to
search and rescue authorities. The GEOSAR system can provide near immediate alerting within the
coverage of the receiving satellite. The LEOSAR system provides coverage of the polar region beyond
the range of the GEOSAR system.
Ground receiving stations, referred to as Local Users Termi-
nals (LUTs) receive and process the satellite downlink signal
to generate the distress alerts, which are then received by
Mission Control Centres (MCCs) which then forward the alert
to Rescue Co-ordination Centres (RCCs), Search and Rescue
Points of Contacts (SPOCs) and other MCCs. GEOSAR – Geostationary Earth Orbit
LEOSAR – Low-altitude Earth Orbit

PLB1 USER MANUAL
6 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
2. PLB1 OVERVIEW
• Antenna rewind knob
• Antenna pull grip
• Strobe light
• Indicator LED
• ON key (under flap)
• Test key (under flap)
• Lift up flap
• Lanyard fixing (on rear of case)
The unique cradle mounting system allows the PLB to
be easily attached to a belt, clothing or other protec-
tive equipment. Simply fit the rubber strap around the
mounting point and attach to the cradle as shown.
The cradle securely clips to the PLB at the four fixing points.
The PLB can also be carried in the supplied (Australia and
New Zealand units only) flotation pouch. Secure the pouch
to your clothing using the belt loop on the rear of the pouch.
For non AUS/NZ customers the Flotation pouch is available
as an accessory with part number 731S-04078.
!When attaching the PLB1 to a life jacket or other personal flotation device ALWAYS refer
to the manufacturer's instructions for correct installation.
!Secure PLB1 using lanyard attachment
!Once affixed using the cradle or pouch, the PLB should be securely tethered to your
person or clothing using the supplied lanyard. This will guard against accidental loss if
the PLB is unknowingly removed from its housing.
!Following registration (see section 5.7) the PLB is supplied with a clear label to protect
the UIN information on the rear of the product. Fit this before use.

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 7
PLB1 USER MANUAL
3. OPERATION
WARNING: USE ONLY IN SITUATIONS
OF GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER
MISUSE MAY RESULT IN A SEVERE PENALTY
Ensure that your PLB1 is always fitted with an unused battery that is within the marked expiry date.
Failure to do so may result in reduced operation time when used in a real emergency. Please observe
the recommendations on testing in section 4.
3.1 Activation
• Only activate your PLB in situations requiring emergency
assistance from the rescue authorities. Deliberate misuse of
your PLB may result in a fine.
• To activate your PLB in an emergency, pull the black antenna
tab out completely.
• Lift the protective flap and press the key for one second
until the LED flashes green, then release the key.
Do not force the flap through more than 180º,otherwise the
hinge may break.
• During operation the green LED will flash green once every
five seconds while the GPS is obtaining a fix. Once a fix is
obtained, the LED will flash green quickly three times
• Each time a 406MHz transmission is made the LED will flash
quickly five times; green for transmission with a GPS position
and red for a transmission without a position.
• The LED will flash red every 2.5 seconds while the 121.5MHz
homing beacon is active.
• When operating the PLB1 over water, tether the beacon to
your body or the life raft. Keep the PLB1 clear of water when
operating. When operating on land, place the PLB1 flat on the
ground if possible.
• Keep your PLB1 laying flat with the antenna standing
vertically. Keep the area marked “GPS Antenna” free from
obstruction, which can interfere with the GPS
reception.
NOTE: The PLB1 does not transmit an alert until approxi-
mately 50 seconds has elapsed. This allows time to
deactivate the unit if accidentally turned on.

PLB1 USER MANUAL
8 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
3.2 Deactivation
To deactivate your PLB1 after use, or if it is accidentally activated,
press the key for one second until the indicator LED flashes red
twice, then release. Rewind the antenna by turning the knob on the top of
the PLB clockwise.
!Do not push the antenna back into the PLB1
as this may cause it to be damaged.
3.3 False Alerts
False alerts cause the rescue authorities unnecessary time and expense.
To avoid false alerts make sure your PLB1 is safely stowed with the
protective cover closed and the antenna fully wound in. Make sure that
there is no excessive pressure applied to the protective cover. Ensure that
anyone carrying the PLB1 is fully aware that this device is for emergen-
cies and should only be used in situations of grave and imminent danger.
If you accidentally activate your beacon or otherwise set it off when a rescue is not required, contact
your local emergency services as soon as possible and advise them of your beacon’s 15 digit HEX
code (UIN), your current location and the time the beacon was first activated.
The UIN is printed on the label on the rear of the PLB1.
For USA phone: [phone] (USAF Rescue Coordination Center)
For UK phone: [phone] (UKCG)

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 9
PLB1 USER MANUAL
4. TESTING
NOTE: Allow at least 30 seconds between each test and/or activation.
After all indicators have ceased flashing, the unit may still remain active for a
short period of time.
Routine testing of your PLB1 is recommended to ensure it is in good working order when needed.
Ffollow the guidance notes below on the frequency that tests should be carried out. Remember that
each test will reduce the battery capacity slightly and reduce the operation time of your PLB1 during
an emergency.
4.1 Beacon Test
!Pull the antenna out fully before commencing the test.
Retract the antenna after the test.
NOTE: To test your PLB1 is functioning correctly, press and hold the key. The LED
will illuminate red to indicate the switch is depressed, followed by the LED flashing
red rapidly. The key may now be released. After a delay, the strobe light will flash
once and the indicator LED will flash to show the pass or fail status.
Note: This status indication is repeated a second time after a short delay.
The number of green/amber flashes in each group indicates the battery status as shown in the table
below.
Because the test transmits a short burst on
the aircraft distress frequency of 121.5MHz,
please only carry out this test in the first five
minutes of each hour.
It is recommended to test your PLB1 once a
month.
The amber test result is an electronic witness
that indicates the battery has been used
for over one hour or the allowed number of
tests has been exceeded. The PLB1 will still
operate normally in distress, but the battery
should be replaced to ensure the full oper-
ating life when your PLB1 is needed.
Green /Amber
Indicator
Changes to Amber after 1
hour of use
No of
Flashes
No of Hours
Use
1 Flash 0 to
1hr 59min
2 Flashes 2hrs to
3hrs 59min
3 Flashes 4hrs to
5hrs 59min
4 Flashes 6hrs to
7hrs 59min
5 Flashes 8hrs to
9hrs 59min
6 Flashes 10hrs +
Red
Indicator
Type of
Failure
121.5MHz
homer
406MHz
generation
406MHz
power amp
Replace
battery
Other
failure

PLB1 USER MANUAL
10 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
4.2 GPS Test
!As testing the GPS Receiver expends significant amounts of battery energy do not test
the GPS operation more than once year. Testing the GPS receiver is limited to 10 tests
over the lifetime of the battery, after this the GPS test will fail to activate.
!This test must only be performed where the PLB has a clear and unobstructed view of
the sky. This is required to allow the GPS receiver to acquire a signal from sufficient
satellites to allow it to determine a position. Make sure the area marked "GPS Antenna"
is not obstructed.
Press and hold the key. The LED will illuminate red to indicate the key has been pressed, then
start flashing. Shortly after, the LED will cease flashing and become a steady red light. The key can
now be released.
During the GPS test the LED will repeat a long red flash followed by a short green flash until either a
position fix is obtained or the GPS test fails. A successful test will be indicated by the strobe flashing
and the LED flashing green. The number of green flashes indicates one more than the number of GPS
tests remaining (eg. 8 flashes = 7 tests remaining). A failure is indicated by the LED flashing red. The
test can be ended by holding the key for five seconds.
4.3 Special note for Commercial and DoD Users
Should it not be possible to maintain the suggested test schedules, the interval for the two tests
detailed above is:
Recommended:
Section 4.1 Beacon Test: 6 monthly
Required:
Section 4.1 Beacon Test: Annually
Section 4.2 GPS Test: Annually

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 11
PLB1 USER MANUAL
5. APPENDIX
5.1 Maintenance
Your PLB1 requires little maintenance except periodic cleaning, if required. Always use a damp cloth
to clean the case and dry thoroughly. Do not use solvents or other cleaning fluids as this may cause
the plastics to deteriorate. Ensure the antenna is free to unwind.
5.2 Battery
The PLB1 contains Lithium batteries for long operating life. Your battery must be replaced after the expiry
date or after the PLB1 has been activated, even if only for a short period of time.
!Battery replacement must be done at an Ocean Signal authorised battery replacement centre.
5.3 Transport
When shipping your PLB1 the following guidance and regulations should be followed, but you are
advised to contact your nearest battery replacement centre or Ocean Signal prior to shipping as
regulations may have changed. The PLB1 battery contains <2g of lithium.
Always pack the PLB1 securely in a stout cardboard carton. Ocean Signal advises that you keep the
original packaging in case of return for service.
For surface transport the PLB1 may be shipped ‘excepted’ under special provision 188.
For air transport the PLB1 should be shipped as category UN3091 and packed under IATA packing
instruction 970 section II. If you are hand carrying your PLB1 on an aircraft please contact your
airline for advice.
5.4 Disposal
Care should be taken when disposing of your PLB1 should it be no longer required. It is recom-
mended to remove the battery from the PLB1 by removing the case lid. The case screws are covered
by the top label. Dispose of the battery in accordance with local waste regulations. Please note that
the PLB1 is not user serviceable and removing the lid will invalidate the warranty.

PLB1 USER MANUAL
12 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
5.5 Specifications
406Mhz Transmitter
Frequency 406.037 MHz ±1KHz
Output Power 5W Typical
Modulation Phase ±1.1 Radians Pk
(16K0G1D)
Encoding Biphase L
Rate 400 bps
121.5MHz Transmitter
Frequency 121.5 MHz
Output Power 25-100mW PEP
Modulation Swept Tone AM (3K20A3X)
Modulation Depth ~97%
Frequency Stability ±50ppm
Duty Cycle~35%
Low Duty Cycle Strobe
Light Type High Intensity LED
Light Colour White
Intensity 1 candela (typ)
Flash Rate 20-30 per minute
Battery
Type Lithium Manganese Dioxide
(LiMnO2)
Operating >24hrs @-20ºC
Replacement Interval 7 years
GPS Receiver
Satellite Channels 66 (Acquisition)
Sensitivity -148dBm
Cold Start Re-acquisition -163dBm
GPS Antenna Microstrip Patch
General
Height of Body 76mm
Width of Body 52mm
Depth of Body 32mm
Weight 115grams
Environmental
IEC60945 Category Portable
Operating Temperature Class 2 -20C to +55C
Storage Temperature Class 2 -30C to +70C
Waterproof 15m depth

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 13
PLB1 USER MANUAL
Austria Germany Netherlands 
Belgum Greece Poland 
Bulgaria Hungary Portugal 
Cyprus Ireland Romania 
Czech Republic Italy Slovakia 
Denmark Latvia Slovenia 
Estonia Lithuania Spain 
Finland Luxembourg Sweden 
France Malta United Kingdom 
5.6 Approvals
5.6.1 European Declaration of Conformity
Hereby, Ocean Signal Ltd. declares that the radio equipment type rescueME PLB1 is in compliance
with Directive 2014/53/EU.
See http://oceansignal.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/PLB1_RED_DofC.pdf
5.6.2 Country of Intended Use (EU requirement)
5.6.3 Industry Canada Approval
This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
5.7 Registration
To register your beacon, contact you national registration authority via post, email or online. Provide
your 15 digit HEX ID (UIN), 5 digit checksum if required, your contact details and emergency contact
information. Some countries also require additional information such as boat type and identification
or alternative emergency contacts.
For UK registrations go to: www.gov.uk/406beacon
For USA registrations go to: www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/

PLB1 USER MANUAL
14 912S-01260-02.10 11/01/2022
6. WARRANTY
6.1 Global Limited Warranty
The limited warranties in the global limited warranty are exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties
express or implied or statutory, including any liability arising under any warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose, statutory or otherwise. This warranty gives the owner specific
legal rights, which may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In no event shall Ocean Signal Ltd. or its affiliates be liable for any incidental, special, indirect or
consequential damages, whether resulting from the use, misuse, inability to use, improper reliance
on, or from any defects in the product. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion on incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
The Global Limited Warranty does not affect a customer's rights against a retailer arising from a
sales/purchase contract.
Product repaired or replaced under warranty will be warranted only for the remaining balance of the
applicable original warranty period.
Subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the Global Limited Warranty, all Ocean
Signal Products are warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of two
(2) years from the date the Product was purchased by the Original Customer (the “Standard Limited
Warranty Period”). During this period and for the Original Customer only, Ocean Signal will, at its sole
discretion, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use, which, in the absence of any
applicable law to the contrary, shall be the customer’s sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of
warranty.
If the Standard Limited Warranty applies to you, Ocean Signal will not charge you for parts or labour
for warranty repairs or replacements. However, the cost of transporting your warranted Product to
Ocean Signal for repair or replacement is your responsibility and is not covered by Ocean Signal.
6.2 Extended Limited Warranty
Subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the Global Limited Warranty, and
excluding Warranty Replacement Product and Products used for regular commercial, military, law
enforcement or related purposes, all new Products enrolled with Ocean Signal within ninety (90) days
from the date the product was first purchased by the Original Customer are warranted to be free from
defects in material or workmanship for a period of 5 years.
During this period and for the Original Customer, Ocean Signal will, at its sole option, repair or
replace any product components that fail in normal use, which, in the absence of any applicable law
to the contrary, shall be the customer’s sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of warranty.
Upon successful enrolment of the Product, the Extended Limited Warranty replaces Standard Limited
Warranty.
Extend your warranty here: www.oceansignal.com/warranty

11/01/2022 912S-01260-02.10 15
PLB1 USER MANUAL
If the Extended Limited Warranty applies to you, Ocean Signal will not charge you for parts or labour
for warranty repairs or replacements. However, the cost of transporting your warranted Product to
Ocean Signal for repair or replacement is your responsibility and is not covered by Ocean Signal.
For further assistance please contact our Technical Service Department.
Email: [email protected]om
7. BEACON REGISTRATION DETAILS
ATTACH YOUR REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS HERE FOR SAFE KEEPING

Ocean Signal Ltd.
Unit 4, Ocivan Way
Margate
CT9 4NN
United Kingdom
[email protected]om
www.oceansignal.com