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 MicroPLB
TM
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 antenna, 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 operation procedures for 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)