ACR&Artex MicroFix 406 GPS PLB - Manual (Page 11)

Y1-03-0215-1 Rev. C 10
Temperature Range
Operating Class 2 -20°C to +55°C (-4°F to +131°F)
Storage Class 2 -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F)
*This device is intended to operate on or above the ground or while attached to your persons above the water line.
This device is not intended to operate while floating.
SECTION 9
– FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION:
Why do I have to register my beacon?
ANSWER:
Registering your PLB is mandatory. Registration is FREE and should be continually maintained. When you register your
beacon you are providing potential search and rescue personnel with valuable information that will expedite a rescue. If
you should be in an emergency and activate your PLB, the MCC will pull up your registration information based on the
satellite signal received from your beacon. With this information in hand, they will now know who the beacon belongs to,
what type of trip you may be on, an who to contact to verify that this is an emergency. You can also add other valuable
information to your registration like any medical conditions that you or someone accompanying you may have. In an
emergency, every piece of information helps. Take the time and properly register this beacon.
QUESTION:
Is their a monthly fee for this service?
ANSWER:
No, Its FREE.
QUESTION:
Why does my PLB say give clear view to sky, will it work inside my house or car if need be?
ANSWER:
Your PLB can work indoors or in a car, but due to the shielding effect on the distress signal your location may be skewed
and take SAR personnel longer to identify your location. To maximize the PLBs potential, it is best to activate it in an
open clearing, with a clear view of the sky. In order for the GPS receiver to work,
it needs to have a clear view of the sky
so that your beacon can acquire GPS data and transmit this information to search and rescue personnel. This will
decrease the time it takes for SAR forces to know exactly where you are.
QUESTION:
Will my PLB work if I cannot download any GPS data?
ANSWER:
YES, the GPS receiver is an added bonus that may shorten response time. If for some reason you are unable to
download GPS data, rest assured that the LEOSAR satellites will pinpoint your location using Doppler Shift. With each
pass of a satellite, your position is recalculated and the search area is narrowed down. SAR forces will then home in on
your location using the 121.5 MHz homing frequency.
QUESTION:
How long does the PLB hold GPS data in memory?
ANSWER:
Four hours. If new GPS data has not been downloaded, the
MicrOFix™ will return to default mode and utilize the
LEOSAR satellites to obtain your position using Doppler shift. PLB does not retain GPS data from self test.
QUESTION:
Why can I only test my GPS once per battery life?
ANSWER:
All ACR beacons that have internal GPS receivers are extensively tested before they leave the factory, to assure that
your GPS receiver is working properly. If you do feel the need to test your GPS receiver, you are consuming some of the
PLB’s battery power. ACR recommends a one time test per battery life cycle because we want to make sure that in an
emergency you have as much battery life as possible in case you are stranded in a remote location that takes search and
rescue forces longer to get to.