Step two - how the beacon works – ACR Electronics PLB-350C User Manual
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Registration in Canada
Canadian residents can register online at:
or contact the Canadian Beacon
Registry by phone at: 877-406-7671 or by fax at: 877-406-3298. Canadian
registration forms can also be mailed to:
Canadian Beacon Registry
CFB Trenton, PO Box 1000 Stn Forces
Astra, Ontario K0K 3W0
Registration in Other Countries
In countries other than the United States and Canada, 406 MHz beacons are
registered with that country’s national authority at the time of purchase. The
sales agent may 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.
STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS
1. How your beacon summons 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 network 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 28,400 lives - and counting - since its inception.
See Appendix 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 the beacon UIN and on some models the GPS
location of the beacon. 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.