Change of ownership or contact information, Lost or stolen plb’s, Section 2 – ACR&Artex MicroFix 406 GPS PLB User Manual
Page 4: Responsible use, Preventing false alerts
Y1-03-0215-1 Rev. C
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If your country has registered with the International Registration Database can apply easily online at
1.6
Change of ownership or contact information
It is the owner’s responsibility to advise the National Authority of any change in the information on the registration
form. If the current owner of the PLB is transferring the PLB to a new owner, the current owner is required to inform
the National Authority by Letter, Fax or telephone, of the name and address of the new owner. The new owner of
the PLB is required to provide the National Authority with all of the information requested on the Registration form.
This obligation transfers to all subsequent owners. Registration forms are available from NOAA, call +1(888) 212-
7283 or visit our website a
1.7
Lost or stolen PLB
’s
In the U.S. contact NOAA immediately at 1-888-212-SAVE (7283), or contact your national authority, that your
beacon has been lost or stolen. They will update your beacon registration information with the appropriate
information.
Things that you need to do if your beacon is stolen:
• Report to your local police department that the PLB has been stolen.
• Contact NOAA (in the U.S. only) at 1-888-212-SAVE (7283), or your national authority as appropriate with
the Police Department Name, Police Phone Number, Police Case Number.
If your PLB were to activate, the information you provide will be forwarded to the appropriate Search and Rescue
Authorities who will ensure that your PLB is returned to you. If someone attempts to register a PLB reported as
stolen, NOAA or your national authority will notify the appropriate Police Department.
Visit the COSPAS-SARSAT website for more detailed information
SECTION 2
– RESPONSIBLE USE
The
MicrOFix™ 406 GPS PLB is a distress signaling device of last resort, for use when all other means of self-
rescue have been exhausted; where the situation is grave and imminent, and the loss of life, limb, eyesight or
valuable property will occur without assistance. Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty.
2.1
Preventing False alerts
Ensure that your PLB is registered. This does not reduce false alerts rates, but does have a dramatic effect on the
impact of a false alert. If the PLB is properly registered, the situation will be resolved with a phone call.
Be careful who you leave your PLB with. Ensure that they how to use it, and the ramifications of causing a false
alert. A lot of false alerts are generated by curious individuals. If you notice the PLB is flashing the red LED and
BEEPING periodically on its own, this likely means it accidentally has been activated and needs to be shut off and
reported.
The COSPAS-SARSAT satellites are very good at detecting distress PLB transmissions. The activation of a 406
MHz PLB for just a few seconds will usually be detected. After a few minutes, it will usually be detected and
located. This is good if you're in distress, but if you're not, you just generated a false alert.
Should there be an inadvertent activation or false alert, it must be reported to the nearest search and rescue
authorities. The information that should be reported includes the PLB Unique Identifier Number (UIN), Date, Time,
duration and cause of activation, as well as location of PLB at the time of activation. Outside the United States
contact your National Authority.
If the ON/OFF button is continuously depressed for longer the 10 minutes, the PLB will go into shut down mode
and will stop transmitting your distress message. Once the ON/OFF button is no longer pressed, the PLB will reset
and can be activated by holding the ON/OFF button for greater then 1 second.
2.2
To report false alerts in the United States contact:
United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)
Tel: 1-800-851-3051
Inadvertent alerts or activations that are rectified must be reported to the AFRCC to let them know that the situation
has been fixed and everything is fine. Responsibly reporting these events to the AFRCC or your proper authority,
will not incur a penalty, deliberate misuse or not notifying the proper authority may incur a severe penalty.