Rhotheta RT-B77 HELB User manual
User Manual
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High Efficiency Locator Beacon
RHOTHETA User Manual Personal Locator Beacon RT-B77 HELB
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Edited by:
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
Kemmelpark
Dr.-Ingeborg-Haeckel-Str. 2
82418 Murnau
Germany
Tel.: +49 8841 4879 - 0
Fax: +49 8841 4879 - 15
Internet: www.rhotheta.de
E-Mail: [email protected]
Copyright
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
All rights reserved
Issue: [2015/01/29] [Rev 1.06.c]
NOTE
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH reserves on making modifications at any time and without pre-
vious information of the here described product.
RHOTHETA User Manual Personal Locator Beacon RT-B77 HELB
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Contents
1USER INFORMATION 5
1.1Legend of Symbols 5
2EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 5
3SECURITY 6
3.1Basic Safety 7
3.2Safety - Batteries 8
4USE, CHARACTERISTICS 8
4.1Use 8
4.2Characteristics and Special Features of the RT-B77 HELB 8
5SHORT DESCRIPTION 10
6OPERATION 12
6.1Short Instruction for Use 12
6.2Arming the Beacon 12
6.3Activation 13
6.3.1Manual Activation 13
6.3.2Pull-Away Activator 14
6.3.3Water Contact 14
6.4Switching OFF 15
6.5Self Test 16
6.6Training Mode 17
6.7Service Mode 17
6.7.1Entering 17
6.7.2Exiting 17
7INTELLIGENT POWER MANAGEMENT 18
7.1RT-B77 Power Management 18
7.2Exact description of the individual transmission cycles 19
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8TECHNICAL DATA 21
9MAINTENANCE 22
9.1Cleaning 22
9.2Battery Change 22
10DISPOSAL WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION 24
10.1Product Disposal 24
10.2Disposal of Batteries 24
11DISPOSAL OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION 24
12NOTES 25
RHOTHETA User Manual Personal Locator Beacon RT-B77 HELB
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1 User Information
1.1 Legend of Symbols
NOTE
This symbol designates tips or additional notes that must be paid attention to and make work
easier.
2 EU Declaration of Conformity
Hereby RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH declares that the product RT-B77 HELB is in compli-
ance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.
The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the following internet address:
http://www.rhotheta.com/products/rt_b77_helb
The personal locator beacon RT-B77 HELB is determined for use in all Member States of the
European Union except Belgium.
ATTENTION
Means that ignoring the instructions may lead to property damage or loss of data.
WARNING
Means that ignoring the instructions, there can be a danger to health or life.
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3 Security
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH is constantly trying to keep the safety standard of the products
up to date and to offer the customers the highest possible level of security.
RHOTHETA products are designed and tested in accordance with the valid safety regula-
tions. The compliance with these standards is continuously monitored by our quality assur-
ance system. This product is manufactured in accordance with the EC Certificate of Conform-
ity, tested and left the factory in perfect technical and safety-relevant condition.
To maintain this condition and to ensure safe operation, the user must pay attention to all
instructions and warnings given. For any questions regarding these safety instructions,
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH can be contacted at any time.
The observance of the safety instructions will help to prevent personal injury or damage
caused by all kinds of dangers. This requires that the following safety instructions must be
read carefully and understood before using the product, as well as observed when using the
product. The additional safety instructions such as for protecting persons appear in relevant
parts of the product documentation and must also be paid attention to.
In addition, it is the responsibility of the user to use the product appropriately. The product
RT-B77 HELB, a professional emergency receiver, is intended for use at the man and may
not be used in any way that a person / thing is injured or damaged.
The use of this product other than its designated purpose or in disregard of the instructions of
the manufacturer is the responsibility of the user. The manufacturer takes no responsibility for
the misuse of the product.
The manufacturer is not liable beyond the scope of legal rules!
This guide is part of the product RT-B77 HELB and is retained throughout the lifetime and to
pass with the product.
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3.1 Basic Safety
At all work, the local or national safety and accident prevention regulations must be
observed.
Use only by RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH prescribed components and recommended
material and do not change this.
Connect only approved accessories kits or additional equipment.
The product may only be opened by authorized service personnel.
The unit voids its type approval on operating with unauthorized modifications on the
device or by not intended use.
ATTENTION
Read and observe the following instructions, warnings and safety instructions!
ATTENTION
Activate the beacon only in case of emergency. Activation by fault may cause an
expensive rescue action, which has to be paid by the causer. Activation on the dis-
tress frequency (121.500 MHz) for test or training purposes without permission of
the regulatory authority of the relevant country is strictly forbidden.
ATTENTION
Activation and transmission on any test frequency can disturb communication on
the air band and occurs on the own risk of the RT-B77 HELB user. When perform-
ing any rescue training or transmissions on a training frequency, the user has to
ask for permission at the appropriate local authority of the country where the bea-
con is used. The manufacturer assumes no liability for any consequences arising
from unlawful use.
WARNING
The RT-B77 HELB is not buoyant. For operation on water the unit has to be fixed
on a buoyant safety equipment, e.g. a life jacket. Combined with the specially de-
signed bag it is buoyant as well.
WARNING
Don’t expose the RT-B77 HELB to extremely strong magnetic fields; these may
cause unwanted activation or deactivation.
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3.2 Safety - Batteries
Use only batteries that are destined for this product.
Keep batteries away from children.
Do not disassemble batteries, and do not insert them in the wrong orientation. Do not
expose batteries to liquids, moisture, fire, or extreme temperatures.
4 Use, Characteristics
4.1 Use
The RT-B77 HELB is a microprocessor-controlled personal locator beacon (PLB) transmitting
on the international civil distress frequency 121.500 MHz. The RT-B77 HELB is designed for
professional use under rough conditions. It is optimised for MOB (man over board) applica-
tions.
4.2 Characteristics and Special Features of the RT-B77 HELB
•The RT-B77 HELB is a light weight device offering high wearing comfort.
•Easy to use and extremely reliable in operation
•It features a self-test to check all important functions.
•Automatic activation by water immersion sensor
•Activation can be coupled to inflating life west with pull-away-contact.
•Very large transmitting range through very high output power (up to 2 W)
•Long-time transmitting endurance through microprocessor-controlled power-
management
•Functional and operating feedback by LED and built-in speaker
•Status messages in clear text via integrated speaker
•Beacon-ID programmable by user (factory setting: serial no.)
•Beacon-ID transmitted as digital code.
•Beacon-ID transmitted as clear voice message (AM).
•Pre-selectable test/training frequency
ATTENTION
The battery replacement should be performed only by RHOTHETA Elektronik
GmbH or an authorized service station. Otherwise the warranty claim will expire.
WARNING
For use on water, the RT-B77 HELB shall be fixed on a life jacket, a survival suit, a
life raft or other qualified personal safety equipment.
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•Waterproof housing
•Comfortable verifiability and maintenance via IrDA interface
•Software update via serial interface
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5 Short Description
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Pos. Designation Function Chapter
1 Monopole Antenna Straight monopole antenna -
1a 90° Antenna 90° angled antenna for use with a life jacket -
2 Function Indication
LED
The WHITE LEDs are blinking when the RT-B77 HELB is
activated or the self test indicates no failure -
3 Water Immersion
Activator
Water sensor for automatic activation if beacon is immersed
into water 6.3.3
4 Status LED LEDs (GREEN, RED) for visual status messages -
5
Activation button for manual activation of the beacon 6.3.1
6 Pull-Away Activator
This clip activates the beacon manually if pulled away by
hand or automatically if the cord is connected to the release
of a life jacket.
6.3.2
7 IrDA Interface
IrDA interface, optical In/Out-port, used for maintenance
and programming of customer specific test/training frequen-
cy and beacon identification
Separate ser-
vice manual
8 Rotary Switch
OFF / ARM
Main switch which is used to
- arm the beacon.
- switch off all working modes of the beacon.
6.2
9 Speaker Output of voice status messages and sweep modulation of
distress signal as acoustic feedback. -
10 Test button used
to activate self test or
to swap into training mode.
6.5
6.6
11 Test LED
The YELLOW LED is blinking
while unit is carrying out a self test.
when unit is switched into the training mode.
6.5
6.6
12 Battery Pack The battery pack contains 2 pieces lithium 9 V blocks
LiMnO2.
13 Short Instruction -
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6 Operation
6.1 Short Instruction for Use
There are three points you should observe when using routinely the beacon RT-B77 HELB.
I. While or after you have fastened your rescue equipment (life west), turn the rotary
switch (8) into position ARM (see below chapter 6.2).
II. Check the beacon →Press the button TEST (10) for about 1 second and wait for the
voice message “Test OK”.
III. When taking off your life west turn the rotary switch (8) into OFF-position in order to
avoid false alarm while storing the rescue equipment.
NOTE
There is no harm to battery life leaving the rotary switch in ARM-position, because the bea-
con doesn’t consume battery power while it’s in standby mode. Switching off will prevent
false alarm.
6.2 Arming the Beacon
Turn rotary switch (8) into position ARM.
The beacon is now standby (armed) and all functions
are available:
a) Activation
b) Self test function
c) Training mode
d) Service mode
NOTE
In this mode the unit does not consume any battery
power.
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6.3 Activation
Before the beacon can be activated, it has to be armed with the rotary switch (see chapter
6.2).
The RT-B77 HELB features 3 different ways of activation (see below chapter 6.3.1; 6.3.2;
6.3.3).
If the RT-B77 HELB is activated, the white function indicating
LEDs (2) in the antenna and the green status LED (4) are
blinking. After activation a sweeping sound can be heard for
about 2 seconds. After 30 seconds the beacon ID will be indi-
cated acoustically. During activation the sweeping tone of the
distress signal modulation is given out every 30 seconds for
duration of 2 seconds.
NOTE
Every activation will be recorded by the microcontroller. Activation on the distress frequency
will break a “software-seal”. This flag is set and will be displayed on the User Config Tool and
can only be reset by RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH or an authorized service partner. The us-
er cannot reset it.
6.3.1 Manual Activation
Press the activation button (5) for minimum 1 second. The RT-
B77 HELB will start transmitting.
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6.3.2 Pull-Away Activator
If the pull-away activator (6) is removed from its place on the housing for more than 3 se-
conds the RT-B77 HELB will start to transmit.
NOTE
We recommend connecting the pull-away contact to the life jacket by the means of a cord in
a way that it will be removed when the life jacket is inflated.
NOTE
On special request the Pull-Away Activator could be disabled and is not removable.
Modified beacons are marked by a label.
6.3.3 Water Contact
If the RT-B77 HELB is immersed into water for more
than 10 seconds the PLB will be activated automati-
cally. For that the water contacts behind the slots
have to be bridged by water.
.
NOTE
On special request the water-contact could be disabled. Modified beacons are marked by a
label.
ATTENTION
The pull-away contact has to be placed in the
right direction. The pointed end of the clip has
to be orientated to the bottom of the housing.
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6.4 Switching OFF
Turn the rotary switch (8) into position OFF. Now the RT-B77
HELB is switched off. The manual activator, the pull-away acti-
vator, the water contact and the test button are disabled. If
there was a function active (standard, service, test) it will stop
with the voice message: “Power OFF”.
If the RT-B77 HELB was just armed you will get no acoustic feedback.
NOTE
Also, in this case the unit did not consume battery power.
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6.5 Self Test
The rotary switch (8) is in position ARM. When pressing the
button TEST (10) for about 1 second,The RT-B77 HELB will
carry out a self-test procedure. It will check internal electronic
parameters and the battery’s condition.
During the test the YELLOW Test LED (11) is blinking. If no failure is detected and not more
than 10% of the battery capacity is lost, the self test finishes with the voice message: “Test
OK”. The green status LED (4) and the white function indicator (2) will blink 3 times.
If a failure is detected or the battery is not in proper condition (less than 90% of its capacity),
the status LED (4) is blinking RED and the speaker will put out a failure description.
Status LED Voice Message Failure Description
Blinks 3 times
GREEN
“Test OK” Beacon is OK, no failure detected
Blinks 2 times
RED1
“Battery Error, Need Service” Battery voltage is low or capacity is less
than 90%, battery has to be replaced
Blinks 3 times
RED
“Low Power Error, Need Service” There is no sufficient RF-Power, beacon
needs service (only advanced self test)
Blinks 5 times
RED
“Transmit Error, Need Service” Failure in RF transmitting circuit detect-
ed (only advanced self test)
Blinks 4 or 6
times RED
“Error, Need Service” Failure in electronics, beacon needs
service
NOTE
The advanced self-test routine (factory setting) activates the complete amplifier circuit of the
transmitter electronics. During this test the RT-B77 HELB will transmit a RF carrier-signal on
the preselected training frequency for about a ¼ second. So the whole electronics can be
checked, making the test more reliable and conform to legal regulations.
1At temperatures below -10°C the battery voltage is so low that an error is indicated although the battery is in
good condition. In this case the error message can be ignored.
ATTENTION
If failures are indicated, the beacon has to be brought to service at an authorized
service station before next use.
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6.6 Training Mode
The RT-B77 HELB features a training mode, e.g. to accomplish a Man-over-Board training, a
check of the receiver or of the direction finder of your MOB system. In this mode the beacon
is working as in standard operating mode, transmitting on the programmable training fre-
quency (factory setting: 121.650 MHz)
Turn rotary switch (8) into position ARM. Press key TEST (10) for more than 3 seconds. The
beacon will shift to training mode. This status is indicated by a flashing YELLOW LED (11).
Now the RT-B77 HELB is armed on the test frequency (factory setting: 121.650 MHz) and
can be activated as described in chapter 6.3. Turn rotary switch (8) into position OFF to exit
the training mode and switch off the beacon if it was activated.
6.7 Service Mode
This mode is used only for service and maintenance purposes and should only be activated
by the manufacturer or by persons who are authorized to maintain the RT-B77 HELB.
6.7.1 Entering
Turn rotary switch (8) into position ARM. Simultaneously press both buttons TEST (10) and
ACTIVATE (5) for more than 3 seconds. The voice message “Service Mode” resounds and
all LEDs are blinking.
6.7.2 Exiting
Turn rotary switch (8) into position OFF. The voice message “Power OFF” resounds.
ATTENTION
Important difference to the standard operating mode:
If the beacon is armed in training mode the batteries are discharged (YELLOW LED
is blinking). After each training exercise the batteries have to be changed.
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7 Intelligent Power Management
It is an important feature of the RT-B77 to use the available power at its best in all possible
scenarios of use. Therefore a complex, intelligent power management is necessary for bat-
tery-driven mobile devices, in order to guarantee in e.g. very cold temperatures as well the
best compromise between high transmitting power (= wide range), long transmission period
and trouble-free use.
Short common technical background:
Each battery depends of its surrounding temperature. The internal battery resistance can rise
in case of very deep temperatures (e.g. -20°C) or at very old batteries (> 5-10 years). In that
case only a restricted quantity of current/power will be available any more. If this fact will not
be considered, the battery voltage can break down, which will cause poor utilization of power
and – worst case – even wrong function.
7.1 RT-B77 Power Management
Therefore all parameters of the RT-B77 are controlled by a very contrived power manage-
ment, in order to guarantee a power at its best at all times. Even during active emergency
transmission the unit reacts continuously to changing surrounding conditions. In a worst case
scenario the RT-B77 is being used e.g. on a ship’s deck at -10°C air temperature and +5°C
water temperature. In case of a Man Over Board emergency, the beacon will be bathed by
water and therefore even “slightly warmed up”, which leads immediately to a higher maxi-
mum top transmission power.
After having activated the RT-B77, it runs through several performance profiles for optimum
use.
There are three different, fully automatically regulated modes of transmission:
High Power Mode with max. 2 Watt max. output power
Endurance Mode with max. 1000 mW output power
Power Save Mode with max. 400 mW output power
Normally (battery change done according to instruction, and temperatures higher than ap-
prox. -10°C) the RT-B77 goes always to the High Power Mode when being activated, in or-
der to guarantee an immediate, safe and reliable alarm. This is very important for an effective
and very fast rescue even under the worst conditions (transmitting antenna completely under
water with the Man Over Board is floating on his front, or cold water). After approx. 4 hours
the RT-B77 changes automatically to the Endurance Mode for a compromise between still
very high transmission power and a long transmission time. This is a very important period if
the own crew can’t do the rescue and if emergency services have to be led. After approx. 12
ATTENTION
The output power and the duration are highly dependent on the current tempera-
tures.
RHOTHETA User Manual Personal Locator Beacon RT-B77 HELB
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hours of permanent operation, the Power Save Mode will be activated. This mode has been
optimized to run the RT-B77 without interruption as long as possible (> 50 hours).
Chart of the three different RT-B77 power modes:
Transmission mode: Max. output power
@ 50Ω(peak)
Average power
consumption
Transmission RF
On / Off
High Power Mode +33 dBm = 2000mW 175 mA 70% On / 30% Off
Endurance Mode +30 dBm = 1000 mW 100 mA 55% On / 45% Off
Power Save Mode +26 dBm = 400 mW 25 mA 25% On / 75 % Off
Typical sample of a complete RT-B77 power management procedure:
(Temperature ≥0°C; Battery capacity > 90% at moment of activation)
4 hours:
High Power Mode 8 hours:
Endurance Mode > 36 hours:
Power Save Mode
7.2 Exact description of the individual transmission cycles
After activation of the RT-B77 beacon, there is first transmitted for approx. 30 sec the typical-
ly ELT modulated sweep tone to trigger the alerting of the crew or any monitoring receiver /
direction finder. After this, depending of the transmission mode, different pulses/signals are
transmitted with a repeating 30..60 sec cycle for the best operation.
High Power Mode:
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Endurance Mode:
Power Save Mode:
(1) Short speaker output of the ELT sweep tone using the internal RT-B77 speaker, getting an audible
feedback for the user of the activated emergency beacon.
(2) Unmodulated RF transmission pulse with high output power optimised for the use with homing
and direction finder units (best bearing accuracy and max. range).
(3) RF transmission of typical modulated ELT sweep tone
(4) Short RF transmission pulse with digital beacon ID
(5) RF voice transmission of the Beacon ID (clear words oft he beacon ID)
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