ACR&Artex SATELLITE2 406 - Manual (Page 12)

Y1-03-0148-2 Rev. M 9
5.3 Configuration Overview
Category I beacons are designed to be automatically deployed and activated. The beacon may also be hand held on
the deck of vessels, or floated in water and attached to a raft or life vest with the lanyard provided. Category II beacons
are designed to be manually deployed from the bracket.
The beacon is designed to operate best while floating in water. Hand held operation should be avoided when
possible. Do not operate inside life raft or under any similar cover or canopy. Use the lanyard to attach beacon to life
raft or person after deployment. Caution - Do not attach lanyard to bracket or vessel. Both models of the beacon can
be deployed and activated manually.
Changes in the laws governing beacons have mandated that the beacon be ready at all times. If certain criteria are
met, the beacon will begin transmitting. The beacon is equipped with sensors to determine if it is in water (a
deployment condition). Category I and 2 brackets both contain a magnet that interacts with other sensors in the beacon
to prevent activation if it is wet (also a deployment condition).
Two conditions must be satisfied for the beacon to automatically activate:
1) It must be out of its bracket
2) It must be in the water
NOTE: Either condition by itself will not automatically activate the beacon.
The beacon is designed to allow the user to perform periodic testing while the beacon is in the release bracket.
Category I: Place the beacon into the release bracket with the spooled lanyard inward. The beacon should now be
firmly held in the Category I bracket and ready for automatic deployment. Do not attach lanyard to bracket.
Category II: Place the beacon into the bracket with the spooled lanyard inward. The beacon should now be firmly held
in the Category II bracket and ready for manual deployment. Do not attach lanyard to bracket. Use the strap and
buckle to secure the beacon. The strap should be adjusted tight against the beacon; tight enough so that it is almost
difficult to engage the buckle. This should be checked periodically.
5.4
GPS Acquisition with the RapidFix™ (External GPS)
The RapidFix™ is fitted with an optical interface to connect with an external Global Positioning System receiver that
will determine the latitude and longitude of its position to be transmitted to the emergency system. When the
RapidFix™ is coupled to a working external GPS receiver, it immediately begins downloading data. Once valid position
data has been obtained, the beacon will attempt to update the positional data every 20 minutes. The
RapidFix™ will
always store the last valid positional data it received from the external GPS receiver, even if it is unable to obtain
updated data. It will update this data if and only if it receives new good positional data from the external GPS receiver.
5.5
Automatic Deployment and Activation - Category I Beacons
Automatic deployment and activation occurs if the vessel sinks and the hydrostatic release device frees the beacon
from the bracket allowing it to float to the surface. Built-in sensors detect that the beacon is no longer in its bracket and
is in water. This condition will automatically activate the beacon.
NOTE: Transmissions of the 121.5 mhz and 406 mhz signal will not occur until 50 seconds after activation.
5.6
Manual Deployment and Activation
The Category I beacon can be manually deployed by removing the retaining pin, removing the cover, and then
removing the beacon from the bracket. Once removed, both the Category I and Category II beacons can be activated
by placing the beacon in water OR by lifting the thumb switch to a vertical position, sliding it toward the antenna and
pushing down to the opposite side of the beacon. Activating the beacon in this manner breaks off the Activation
Indicator Plastic Pin and allows the switch to properly seat, showing the " ▌ " symbol (ON).