THE SCIENCE OF SURVIVAL

March 5, 2015

Federal Communications Commission 1270 Fairfield Road Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245

WAIVER-EXPEDITED ACTION REQUESTED

Request for waiver of rules for the certification and use of equipment pursuant to CFR 49, Section §95.1402 (b).

Equipment Name: ACR SAR Link, Combined 2 Way Communicator Personal Locator Beacon.

Attention:

Copy:

Melissa Hower, Program Analyst

Scot Stone, Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, WIB Jeffrey Tobias, Attorney Advisor (Special Council), Mobility Division, WTB James Shaffer, Telecomrnunications Analyst, Mobility Division, WTB

Dear Ms. Hower:

ACR Electronics, Inc. is developing an emergency alerting device that is intended to provide individuals in remote areas a means to alert others of an emergency situation and to aid search and rescue personnel locate those in distress. This device will be called the SARUnk and will have a transmitter compatible with the 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat satellite system, and a separate transceiver that is compatible with the Iridium satellite system. The SARUnk will also have an internal Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver capable of determining its location. It will also have a user intetface consisting of a graphical display with an integrated touch screen. The combination of the GPS receiver, user interface and Iridium transceiver wHI provide for features such as mapping, 2-way text messaging, and the ability to transmit the current location.

The SARLink 406 MHz transmitter will comply with all appllcable Cospas-Sarsat requirements, and will be certified by Cospas-Sarsat. This 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat transmitter will provide both distress alerting and locating assistance to Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel. The 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat satellite system consists of two satellite constellations (LEOSAR and GEOSAR) which provide for both global coverage and near instantaneous alerting; it also has a dedicated backend communication channel directly to SAR personnel. Locating assistance will be provided by the SARUnk 406 MHz transmitter in two ways: the location derived by the internal GPS receiver will be encoded in the Cospas-Sarsat message, and the Cospas-Sarsat system will determine the location based on Doppler processing of the 406 MHz signal. The Cospas-Sarsat system has proven its effectiveness for over 30 years by helping rescue over 35,000 lives worldwide.

The SARLink will provide additiona! distress alerting and locating assistance to SAR personnel through the Iridium system. Because the Iridium system allows text messages to be sent to

ACR Electronics Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 USA

T: +1 (954) 981-3333 F: + 1 (954) 983-5087

www.acrartex.com

any phone with messaging capability, distress alerts can be sent to loved ones and directly to SAR personnel. The SARUnk will be able to include the GPS-derived location in text messages to provide locating assistance, SARLink users will even be able to text SAR personnel directly involved with the search. This capability will allow SARLink users to provide additional locating information such as physical features. SARLink users will also be able to provide any important details of the emergency requested by the SAR personnelI including the number of people involved, the number of injured, and the nature of any injuries. This information is invaluable for SAR personnel to provide the proper response.

While the SARUnk will meet the requirements in 47 CFR 95 Subpart K (Personal Locator Beacons), lt does not have a 121.5 MHz homing transmitter. Thus, ACR Electronics, Inc. hereby requests that the United States Federal Communication Commission (the Commission) grant a waiver to the specific requirements of 47 CFR 95 Subpart K-Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), "Special requirements for 406 MHz PLBs", §95.1402 (b). The Iridium transceiver would also meet all applicable requirements of 47 CFR Part 25 "Satellite communications" and 47 CFR Part 15 "Electro-Magnetic Compatibility".

According to 47 CFR § 1.925, the Commission may grant a request for waiver if it is shown that the underlying purpose of the rule(s) would not be served or would or would be frustrated by application to the instant and that a grant of the requested waiver would be in the public interest. The underlying purpose of 47 CFR 95 Subpart K ls provided in § 95.1400: to provide individuals in remote areas a means to alert others of an emergency situation and to aid search and rescue personnel locate those in distress.

The ACR SARUnk combination of a 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat transmitter and an Iridium transceiver will improve remote emergency alerting capabilities relative to the Commission's requirements for a Personal Locator Beacon, Since satellite monitoring of 121.5 MHz was discontinued in 2009, the 121.S MHz homer provides little to no ability to alert others of an emergency situation. However, the Iridium transceiver on the SARUnk will allow Individuals in remote areas to alert others of emergency situations. The two remote emergency alerting systems on the SARLink are complementary: the Cospas-Sarsat system provides a reliable dedicated communication channel to appropriate SAR forces, while the Iridium provides a reliable communication channel to almost anyone, including those in the area who may provide assistance before dedicated SAR personnel arrive.

The SARLink will also provide improved locating aid to SAR personnel. As described above, location data is provided by the Cospas-Sarsat system through both GPS location encoded in the message and the Doppler-derived location. The Iridium transceiver in the SARLink will provide an improvement in the locating assistance given to SAR personnel in emergency situations. The 121.5 MHz homer required by 47 CFR 95 Subpart K is intended to provide locating assistance to SAR personnel, but has limitations. First and foremost, the SAR personnel must have special equipment (a direction finder) to get any locating assistance at all. The range of the 121.5 MHz homer is limited to less than 1 mile. Effectively using a direction finder can be difficult (due to reflections in the signal, etc.) and requires training and practice. Many of the limitations of the 121.5 MHz homer wilf be alleviated in the SARUnk by the Iridium transceiver. GPS derived location information can be provided to SAR personnel without special equipment, just a radio which most will have anyway. Further, the Iridium system provides global communication capabilities and SAR personnel could receive the location information easfly without any special training. The Iridium system can also derive the locatfon using Doppler techniques as a secondal)' means of location. The SARLink also allows the user to

ACR Electronics Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 USA

T: +1 (954) 981~3333 F: +1 (951) 983~5087

www.acrartex.com

provide additional information (such as physical landmarks, obstacles, etc.) ta SAR personnel that just a location cannot; this information can save invaluable time during a rescue.

Granting the requested waiver would be in the best interest of the public because of the improvements in remote emergency alerting and SAR locating assistance capabilities provided by the SARUnk as described in the previous paragraphs. These improved capabilities will allow for improved (and possibly earlier) alerting, and quicker, more effective rescues; this will result in more lives saved and less costly rescues, two things that are clearly in the public's interest.

The ACR SARUnk can and will save lives and reduce the cost of rescues, but only if it is made available to the public through equipment authorization. Therefore we respectfully request that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) review our waiver request application to it rules and allow this product for certification and use.

Our REMITTANCE ADVICE Form 159 is enclosed. We appreciate your advice and approval of this request.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Pack Vice President, Engineering ACR/ Artex - ACR Electronics, Inc.

ACR Electronics Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 USA

T: +1 (954) 981-3333 F: +1(954)983-5087

www.acrartex.com

SARLink™ Dual-Band Device

Product Overview: SAR Link™ is the integration of the ACR Electronics, Inc. (ACR) Cospas-Sarsat ResQLinkr" PLB technology with NAL Research Corporation's Iridium Shout TS™ tracking and communications capability to form this single, ergonomic, user friendly, environmentally hardened, handheld device. SARLink delivers simultaneous and redundant emergency notification through both the Cospas-Sarsat and Iridium satellite networks.

SARLink™ is a dual-band device that performs three (3) distinct operational functions: 1) Distress Alerting: A personal locator beacon (PLB} transmitting 406 MHz distress alerting signals

with embedded GPS position data via the global Cospas-Sarsat satellite network, with redundant emergency notification via the Iridium satellite network;

2) Two-way Communications: Two-way data communications in both normal mode and emergency mode via the Iridium Satellite Data Network; and

3) Tracking: User-settable tracking capability in both normal mode and emergency mode via the Iridium Satellite Data Network.

Technical Overview:

SARLinkr" operates within the Iridium 1616-1626 MHz network, and the Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz network (operates across both National Protocol and Standard Protocol environments). Within the Iridium network, SARLink™ provides two-way data communications and tracking functionality (operates in both commercial and DoD gateway environments) and supports 10, 30 Byte and PECOS format. Upon activation of the combined distress function, SARLink™ operates on both the Iridium and Cospas-Sarsat networks simultaneously. The user also has the ability to engage the Iridium only distress function independently.

The SARLinkr" device and 406 MHz/Iridium combined antenna has passed Iridium certification and is qualified for use on the Iridium network. The SARLinkr" device is compatible with the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) 11010.2 PLB Standard and the 12800.0 Satellite Emergency Notification Device (SEND) Standard. In Addition, the SARLink™ device is compatible with the Cospas­Sarsat T.001 and T.007 Technical Specifications associated with the use of satellite distress alerting beacons in the 406 MHz frequency band. ACR's core 406 MHz satellite distress alerting technology in combination with a GPS receiver and the Iridium 9603 Short Data Burst (SOB) modem is integrated to enable the user to send and receive short, canned and or free text messages to enhance the SARLink™ tracking and location capabilities.

SARLinkr" is designed for use as an ergonomic hand-held device with the following dimensions: Length-5.500"; Width -3.125"; and Thickness -1.500". Its weight is 11.8 ounces or 335 grams. SARLink™ is an environmentally hardened device with a high performance-engineered polymer casing and a waterproof rating of !P-67 allowing immersion to l meter depth I pressure. The operating temperature range is -20°C to +55°C, with a storage temperature range of -20°C to + 75°C. It has a fully functional 3-inch diagonal touch screen display. SARLink™ has an integral SO-channel GPS receiver that provides position information to both the Cospas-Sarsat and Iridium segments of this dual-band device.

SARLink™ contains two (2) independent integral battery packs: a) The Cospas-Sarsat operating subsystem has a dedicated lithium battery for distress alerting.

This battery pack is non-rechargeable and is designed to transmit the distress alerting message

for a minimum of 24 hours within the temperature range of -20°C to +55°C. This battery pack requires replacement every six (6) years or upon operational use; and

b) The Iridium operating subsystem uses the rechargeable Li-Ion battery allowing for the autonomous transmission of position reports every hour for up to two months (approx. 1500 reports). The battery can be recharged via a USB connector using AC or DC current.

Operational Overview: The Cospas-Sarsat operating subsystem of the SARLink"'' device transmits on 406.040 MHz wlth a power output of 5 Watts (+/- 2dB). The Cospas-Sarsat operating subsystem has a full Self-Test function, activated via a dedicated button on the face of the SARLink"1 device. Depressing the dedicated SOS Button on the upper face of the device concurrently activates the Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz and Iridium distress alerting functions. The SOS Button has a protective cover to avoid inadvertent activation. Both alerting functions make use of the integral GPS receiver to embed the SARLink1

"' position into the transmitted alert messages. This activation procedure provides the user with a redundant alerting capability in emergency situations.

The Iridium operating subsystem of the SARLink'"' device uses the Iridium 9603 two-way satellite data transceiver that operates within the 1617 to 1626.5 MHz frequency band. Pressing the Iridium distress button on the touchscreen keyboard activates the "Iridium only" distress capability. The two-way communication function enables Iridium SOB two-way messaging via mobile phone SMS, e-mail, and SARLink'"' to SARLink"' communications. Communication can consist of either pre-formatted canned messages or free-text custom messages using the touchscreen keyboard. The tracking function allows the user to send and/or save GPS waypoints1 with user-selected GPS tracking intervals of selectable frequency from once per minute to once per day.

406 MHz & lridium Antenna

GPS Receiver Location

406 MHz Seif-Test Button/

LED Status Display

USB Power Connection Port

Cospas-Sarsat Lithium Battery P

Iridium Button/ LED Status Display

Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Pack

Touch Screen

This document contains commercial proprietary information and is supplies solely for the purposes of evaluating this ACR presentation. It is not to be used for an1· other purpose or divulged or passes to any third party without prior written approval from ACR Electronics, rnc. This device hu3 not been uuthorizcd us required by the Rules of \he FCC. This device is not. and m;;y not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or ieased, until authorization is obtained. This equipment may not be marketed or put Into service in the EU until it is in compliance with the R&TIE Directive.

SARlink Combined Iridium 2 Way Communicator/Tracker and 406 MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon

Why choose between a Personal Locator BP..acon and a SEND devlce when you can have botl1?

The new ACR SARLink is the most advanced survival ccmmunkation toe/ ever created. SARLink uses 3 .satellite networks (Iridium, Cosp.:is Sarsat GEOSAT and Cosp)s Sarsat lEOSAT/ for Improved communication and detection. \'flth the proven reliability of the 406 MHz search and rescue network to detennine on lnitla loca!ioo, the ability to submit text '""-'"'9"' vfa an Irtdium SEND device ran provide first re.sp:rnde.r.s with real-time infonnaLion tliat c;in bett~ prepare them for your clrcurn•tances upon arrival.

Communicate like never before. !n addition to th~ 2 survival <ignals, you can also stay in touch and communicate back and fortl1 wlU1 friends, family or collegues via SMS or email while also providing trip upjates and tracl<ing information abo>Jt your journey. The easy lo use toudlscrwo display rna~.es sending n>~ssages a brwze using the full touchscreen keyboard to st<>y in contact.

Built to withstand !!le rough and tough life of an outdoorsrnan, the SARUnk makes being out cf touch obsolete.

SURVIVAL 2.0 Touchscreen Digital Display Vlhars ~er than sending an emergency dist-ess message wMn }11B!' lifiP. i~ nn thA lin.P.7 ~mfi1'f9 nut 7 .i;pp;ir;itp. rll¢r~

messages.

The SARLink"s three loch t:>uchscreen display and <tpp--h::l~ cY:>~iQn ;11~ Y"1' to n:lvip.tr: th~l)!):h all or its capabilftles and settings.

406 MHz eersooa! I orator Bearort (PLBl - Ol<pas-Sarsat

Two-Way Messaging

Fully compliant with the stringent Cospas-Sarsat beacon requirements to bmadcast 406 MHz distress signals to the global satellite networl< directly linking you to $('lltCh and reS<Ue forces worldwide.

Uke no beacon before, the SARLink can communicate With multiple types of del/lces Including: cell phones, SAT phones, and other SARLink beacons. Yoo can 5'100 and receive emails from your onfine beacon management system. Not to mention WY.I direct message< to our 24{7 search and rescue monltod.ng center,

Satellite Emeroency Notification DevicP ISEND) - lrtdj11m Dual Power Supplies Broadcasts an emergency SOS signal through the Irklium satellite network to emergency r1!5pome mcnltoring centers. Ability to comrnunirate tack and forth l'<ith SAR personnel pro'Jk!ing adO.fonal details of the emergency situation.

The Innovative 2-battery design allow:; for recharging N the dedicated Iridrum SHID functions, while the 405 MHz distress signal has a self·contained tattery pack to ensure. the unit always has enough stored battery GJpabllity to send your distress message continuously for 24 hours. Tracking and Check-In's

Share your adventure With family and friends hy providing them with IOGJtlon and progress status at your ootermlned Intervals. Tracking intervals are programmable from onO; per day to up to once per minute or ooe button check in •

Beacon Management Syste!TI . ~asy rt>O!iltormg and tracking or all your SAI<Lmk be&oli>. Additional tools Include: > Request lOC<ltions

2890 2890.1 2890.2 2891 2891.1

Dimensions Weight Waterproof Rating

Operating Temperature

Storage Tempt>rature

Material

Color DisplayTFT Wide QVGA

Display Dimensions

GPS Receiver

Iridium Module Unk Margin Downlink

Link Marin Upfink

Averaee Power Transmission

Iridium Frequency

Battery Type

Uatterv Voltage

1/0 Interface GPS Tracking

GPS Tracking Intervals

5M5Texting SMS Commuolcation SOS Emergency Activation

Buttery Rcplar.emcnt Power Output

Frequencies 405 Emergency Activation Testing

> View liacking P.ecords

AChartruse Black OD Green AChartruse Black

~-'"- --'~~'--'···'•"• S"x 3"x 1.5"

13 oz/ 369g IP· 67 -20· to +ss·c -20· to+ 1s·c

(Configurcable) (Configureable) (Conf\gureabte)

'";~:~~.,~ ", :: ,;}~~"'!>::,,

High Performance Engineered Polymer Touchscreen 262 K Cofars

3" (diagonal)

Iridiums 9603 13 dB average 7dE.laveiaee

<=1.0W 1617 to 1626.S MHz

Rechargeable Lithium Ion 3.6 voe to4.2 voe USS Adapter Send and/or save waypaints

Up to once per minute or as for apart as once per day Preset/Canned or Custom Messages i Way {Satellite to Cell)

Manual Activation· lift SOS Door, Press SOS Button

6 Yeor>

5W+/-2dB(405MHz)

406.010MHz Manual Activation· Lift SOS Door, Press SOS Button

SelfTest

This document contains commercial proprietary information and is supplied solely for the purposes of evaluating this JICR presentation. It Is not to be used for any other purpose or divulged or passed to any third party without prior written approval From ACR Electronics, rnc.

For further information please contact; ACR Electronics,Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

This device has not been authorized as required by the Rules of the FCC. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained. 111ls equipment may not be marketed or put Into service in the EU until it is in compliance with the R& TIE Directive.

Tel: (954) 981.3333 Fax: (954) 983.5087 Email: sa!es@acrartex.com

-------~-,----------------,---------------------------------~--~

© 2013 ACR Electronics, tnc. 07113 www.ACRARTEX,com

~ . .

Link Combined Iridium Two-Way Communicator/Tracker and 406 MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon Why choose between a Perscnal Lo:alcr Beacon and a Satellite Emergency Notification Device (salD) when yoo r<1n have Wh?

~MW A':R SAFJJnk I> ~ 11\M advanced SUlVival communication tocl ever crei!led. Now uSlr>] 3 satellite netv:OO<s (Iridium, CO;p;!s·Sarsat GEO, CO'!J"S·Sarsat LEO) for increase<! 'c<nrnunicaUon and detection, yoo no( Ol1ly get the proven reliability of the 405 MHz Search ard Rescue network to tell f'eS!X)rdet:S where you are, but with the added Indium functionality of a SENO device, you can also pcOVide them v.ith i!dditiooal ra"\Je lnforrnatloo 'Via ~message.

CO!l111lunicate lir.e no other. In addition to the two .wMval Sl9nals, you can also stay in communication wfth colleagues, co-1...:rters, and command conter personnel 'Via SMS er e·mall. Additionally, automated or manual petition reports can be 5e11t to operation centers or to web-based servers fer personnel trad:1ng and asset ;lsoallwtioo, The C<>sy to use touchscreen dlsplay maf:es sending messages and na;igating throoQh the available device options a breeze.

Ruggedized to withstand the harsh e1wi1011ment and qieraUonal requirements or military and government operators, SARL!nk makes being oot cf cemmunication OOS-Olete.

Product Number 2890 2890.1 2890.2 2891 2891.1 2891.2

SURVIVAL 2.0- Critical Redundancy Wtiat's bett<r than ~Ing out an e!T\ef9eoc( diltreu message •men yo-Jr 6fe Is w the fioe? Sending out 2 separate distress mes"95.

406 MHz Personal Locator Ile.aeon (PLB) • Co$pas-Sarsat Fully compliant witti stringent O:lsJl;s-Sarsat beo<on requirements to broadoast 406 MHz distress via elfner Nat:looal Locallon Protoccl c.- the Standan:I Location Protocol directly ~nki"l to applicable search and Resole fcr<;es w:irlclwide.

Sate!llte Emergency Notlflcatlon Dev!a? (SEND)­Irldlum Transmit an emerger.<y SOS message tnroogh the Iridium satellite network to pre-de~nated cooimand or emergency resp:JOSe centers. Qiafify the nature of ttie distress tllre<Jilh two-way tm c:ommunicaticn to enhance the response.

Dual Independent Power Supplies n1c lnnQ'iatlvc 2 batter; design o'lom ror re·charging of the dOOicated lrictium SEND functions, while the 406 MHz distress PLB hos a dedicated lithium battery for distress alerting. This oottery pack is non·rechargeable and is dt?signed to transmit the distress alerting message for a minimum of 24 hours within the temperature range of ·20°C to +ss•c.

ACRtruese Black OD Green ACRtruese (256-Sit AES) Black (256·Bit AES) OD Green (256-Bit AES)

-----------·-----------Features

SEND Features

Dimensions Weight Waterproof Rating Operating Temperature Storage Temperature Materlal Display Display Dimensions GPS Receiver

Iridium Madu!·~ Link Margin Downlink Link Ma1in Uplink Average Power Transmission Iridium Frequency Battery Type Battery Voltage l/0 Interface GPS Tracking GPS Tracking ntervals SMS Texting SMS Communication SOS Emergency Activation

3.2" x 5.5" x 1.5" (7.93 >: 13.97 x 3.Bl an) 11.8 oz (335g) !P·67 -20° to +SS°C (-4° to + 131°F) -20° to +75°C (-4° to +l67°F) High Performance Engineered Polymer Touch Screen 3 inch (diagonal) 50 Channel GPS Receiver

Iridium's 9603 13 dB average 7 dB average 1.6 watts 1617 to 1625.S MHz Rechargeable Lithium Ion 3.6 voe to 4.2 voe Gold Plated USB Adapter Send and/or save waypoints Between once per minute and once per day. canned or Custom Mess;iges Two-Way (Satellite to Cell) Manual Activation - Lift SOS Door, Press SOS Button

Two-Way Text Messaging SARUnk enables \\;;\I to "'11municate your situiltroo u!iUzi"9 t:wcrway data aimm1H1ici!tions and tracl:!r>,J functionality (operates in botll oc<nmerdal and 000 ~~Y ~~Jarid supports io am 30 aw,,, and PECOS formats. Comnunlcatlon can be SMS Te>:t to~ phones, SAT Phones, M2M (SARUnk$), e-mail, and messages to and fro«, your ac Maw,iement System.

Tracking Global traddr>], ch«k-io, •nd waypcint marl41l!l, with adjust<ible ~ng rates from 1 per minute to 1 per day provldiflg opmtioml coo!ld and ove!>ight.

SARUnk C2C Management System S/\RUnk is supf)<Jrted by Corp Ten International's gloooily recognized COMMAND and CONTROL (C2) Unjfjed Tradong Platto<rn,. unrrrac & AutoFind Web. The Unlfie<l Tracking Platform gives you the abinly to make "act now" decisions in real time, offering unparalleled situational awareness, and a dynamic ability to remotely commond glcOOlly deployed assets.

406 Features Battery Battery Rep!a~mcnt Power Output F1eque11cies

Dedicated Lithium Battery for Distress Alerting 6 Years

This document contains commercial proprietary information and Is supplied solely for the purpose of evaluating this ACR presentation. It is not to be used for any other purpose or cMilged or passeo to any third party v~thout prior written approval l'<>m ACR Ek>:troo'<:s, Inc. Thi~ d'!Vlce has not been authorized as required by the Rules o( the fCC. This device ;s not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization Is obtained. This

406 Emergency Activation

Testing

© 2015 ACR Electronics, Inc.

SW +/· 2dB ( 406 MHz) •!06.0•!0 MHL Manual ActlvaUon ·lift S!'.>S Door, Press SOS Button SelfTest

~~~rgi~lu~~fifi~\~·~~~1J:,1~~h the R& ITE Directil·e.

Registration REGISTERING YOUR BEACON As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon, it is a requirement that you register it with the National Authority of your country. Please note that in· many countries all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every two years by the owner. Please check the requirements for your country of registration.

HOW REGISTRATION WORKS: All 406 MHz beacons transmit a Unique Identifier Number (UIN) when activated. This UIN is programmed into the beacon based on the country in which the beacon is registered, thus authorities are able to determine which country's database will have your registration information. Search and Rescue (SAR) forces will have information as to who you are asJheowner of the beacon, the name and type of ve~sel that you have (if applicable), your

~

address, and who to contact that might know of your current situation - but only if your beacon has been properly registered.

Valuable search and rescue resources are wasted every year responding to false alerts, and registering your beacon helps to resolve this quickly.

The beacon must be registered in the country of the owner's residence. If the beacon is not programmed to that country's code and protocol, and the residence is outside of the USA, the beacon needs to be reprogrammed.

For a complete list of all countries with online registration links visit www.acrartex.com/support/registrations[

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The fastest and easiest . way to register is online

at www: beaconregistration. noaa.gov/

Or Mail To:

Department of Commerce NOAA SARSAT Beacon Registration NSOF E/SP053 1315 East West Hwy Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282

Or Fax To:

Faxing a registration is also acceptable. Fax the registration form to 301-817-4565

2

Anatomy Of A Rescue

HOW THE BEACON WORKS 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 netvvork 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 ave( 30,500 lives - and counting - since its inception. To learn more about the system visit www.cospas-sarsat.org.

When a 406 MHz beacon is cictivated, the digital distress message is sent to Cospas-Sarsat satellites and, in turn, the distress message is relayed to SAR forces. 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 forces 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 forces to home in on the beacon as they approach it.

The 406 MHz signal is detected by multiple satellites and from that information the location of the beacon can be calculated. This data alone is sufficient for SAR to find persons or ships in distress in a reasonable timeframe. However, as a further enhancement, some beacons have a GPS engine onboard. This feature allows the beacon to acquire current location coordinates from an internal GPS receiver. The purpose of this feature is to send an even more precise location of the beacon to the satellites, i.e., latitude and longitude data. This helps SAR to reach the location even faster.

Learn more about the Cospas-Sarsat

satellite system: www .cospas-sarsat.org

3

Getting to know SARLink

406 ~.~~ &jriqium · Antenna > .·, . • · Db ·nbt tibi'ci

GPS:R~CeiVer.» ~>:' ·.~~·<··:::>' Locatiori.::};. >> ;. :.· :··

bo· NotobstructVie.;;r.•· To sky

USB Pow~r. ,',' connection.Port.· ·. • Clip supplied USB

cable here to recharge the battery

406 MHz Jest Button / LED s,tatus.[)i~pl.ay·. • P~e5s fen' :i. S~~()nd}o ..

activate 406 MHz test· signal · .

Pass = 1 Greeh flash Fail·= 2 Rec:! Flashes

Dedicated 406 MHz Battery . .. . .

Non:;Rechargecible · battery . •• · . . ForEm~rgency , . •• ~%·9a~iqri Sit4a~i~n~: ·;~

Accessories

USB Power Connector Lanyard

. -',,;/";~: .· ·i· - <· .. :· _;. :: . . ,··:< -, ..

>4o6:r.11i~Adiv~tiah'ifotton ~:'LHtcd'vef(· :? / .··.·· < :Press fcif.2 seconds to · · · + ~&ivai:Eii4o6 rviHZ:Cliitr~Ss

,. ; ~?~'r~{~'s~~6nait~-~ance1 .. th§ dio/r;:ss. a.lert s,i9h.aI ·

.·- .. ··.; . '

Iridi~'r11 Button '1 LED s~atus Display ··.·· .... · • Press for2 Seconds to Turn . ·ON.: · /./• . ' ...... ·. ·. »: ·

~•Lise :a~·tll~ 1B~d(Eiuti:on during · ::·.U~e.t9J)~vl9a~~ scree8s . ·

. Press for3 seconds to Turn Of:F < • :• . ' . . . . .. • r·'•/ ·:< \(~~:: .. ·~~'.'._. /

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4 USB Wall Charger

Status Bar Symbols Symbol

r ..• 1

Symbol Meaning

denotes: (1) the Iridium transceiver is on with real-time signal strength represented by the number of vertical bars and (2) SBD message transmission is in progress. The signal strength can range from the lowest of zero to the highest of five bars. During transmission, the antenna must have a clear view of the sky. The SARLink cannot send messages or reports from inside a building. The signal strength indicator turns green upon successful transmission (Acknowledgement) of a message to the Iridium gateway. The indicator will return to white after 10 seconds.

denotes the GPS receiver is on with real-time satellite acquisition status represented by the number of vertical bars. One bar represents valid time and date fix, two bars represent dead reckoning, three bars represent 2-D fix, and four bars represent 3-D fix. Although the SARLink GPS receiver can often obtain a location fix when the antenna is partially blocked (near buildings, in a room next to a window, etc.), it is recommended that the antenna must have a clear view of the sky to minimize acquisition time and better position accuracy. The indicator turns green as long as the last acquired 3-D fix is not more than one hour old.

denotes tracking mode is off when the tracking symbol is dimmed gray.

denotes audio alert is on.

denotes message(s) is in the Outbox ready to be sent or message(s) in queue failed to send.

derlOtes the battery is being charged by an external power source.

5

Emergency Activation

1 : Lift Cover 2: Press For 2 Second

To activate the distress signal (Simultaneous 406 MHz and Iridium distress alert)

' .,

'Iii 1. Lift SOS cover that protects the SOS : t button ! 1 eeeoep;vu

2. Press the SOS Button for 2 Seconds 1111 3. The left LED will flash red once per I I . l

second until a valid GPS fix is attained, I J "' ;:44 ~ ;;.,_; . !

then it will start to flash green. The right LED will turn solid red when the 'II' ' l display is on, when unit is in sleep

l [ ! !

mode it will flash red every 5 l ! i . :z}

seconds.

4. The top section of the display will turn !Iii red during an emergency. It turns ! 'J. f

back to black when the device is taken l f l l

-·; - "·;

out of Emergency mode.

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Emergency Mode Once the emergency activation button is pressed th~ screen will initiate an emergency confirmation screen. If Yes or No are not pressed, the emergency message by default will commence sending after 30 seconds.

If No is selected, a screen will appear alerting you to press the SOS button for 3 - 4 seconds to cancel the emergency; emergency 911 can only be canceled by pressing the SOS button.

If Yes is selected, a screen will appear with a drop down list of canned messages to describe the nature of your emergency situation.

7

Personal Locator Beacon Menus There are two menu items when the 406 PLB icon is pressed.

, . PLB Self Test The Self Test Detail screen provides the results of the monthly diagnostic test.

If the unit passes self test the text remains black. If the text in this screen appears red, the unit has failed self test.

The second row (once decoded) provides the individual tests that passed or failed. The test provides the actual values of key transmitter performance measurements.

PLB Configuration • This screen provides the end-user useful

information about the device: • The Software revision level, serial~number and

country of registration • Battery date code information and the amount of

elapsed time the battery used for monthly self tests.

8

Textin The SARLink provides the ability to send and receive SMS/Text messages to cell phones, email addresses and other SARLink devices. By accessing the texting menu, you can easily compose, save and manage all of your incoming and out-going mail.

Icons Textlng menu allows user to compose, save, view, and send canned or free-text messages.

9

Texting - Compose a message

~-Iridium )( -~ ..,.,,, .+. ~--GPS - .,..,,.

. When Compose is selected, a screen will appear with two distinct regions-"To: Server" and "Canned Message:". User can hold a finger down with moderate pressure and slide between "To: Server" and "Canned Message:" regions.

Texting - Compose a message

The keyboards are used to enter text inside the text box. The location of the cursor in the text box is displayed as a flashing block.

Cursor

Keyboard

The block turns red when the maximum limit is reached (Remaining: 0). The entire text box can be erased with the Clear button. Unclear reverses the process. Tap the Done button to accept entered text and return to the previous screen. Pressing the back key to return to the previous screen without all the changes-all the changes will be lost.

Entered text can be edited by tapping anywhere inside the text box. It is much easier to use a fingernail or a stylus to accurately position the cursor over the letter to be edited. Holding and sliding a finger inside the text box will prompt the device to display a segment of the text in the header bar as shown in the figure below. Theipositi9n of the cursor is displayed in re·d letter. ·.

Finger position is highlighted in red letter

11

Texting - Compose a message

Selecting Contacts After Choose Contact is selected and if email addresses were entered online, a list of contacts will appear in alphabetical order. Select a single contact or multiple contacts on the list and tap "Add" to accept. A contact(s) can be removed by going back to Choose Contact, unselect a contact(s) and tap "Add" to remove. Hitting the back key instead of Add after select or unselect a contact will cancel the choice(s).

After Enter Emails is selected a keyboard will appear. Multiple email addresses of up to 255 characters can be entered separated by a coma. The SARLink keeps track of the limit and will prevent user from entering email addresses longer than allowed. Email addresses and free-text message share the same memory space with a maximum allowable length of 309 characters. Long e-mail addresses or multiple e-mail addresses will reduce the number of characters available for free-text message. User is reminded that the SARLink sends a short code representing the email address listed under To; however, the'SARLink sends the actual email addresses listed under Emails:· Any email addresses selected under Choose Contact can be removed by going back to Choose Contact option or by using the keyboard under the Enter Emails popup menu.

12

Texting - Compose a message

Sending Message After finish selecting a canned message and/or composing a free-text message, user can either Send the message or Save as Draft.

If Send is selected, a Success screen will appear to indicate that the message has been added to the Outbox. The SARLink must then be held with the antennas having full view of the sky. If the Settings/Include GPS option is turned on then GPS location will be added to the message. Messages with GPS location takes longer tD complete since the SARLink has to acquire a GPS f~x.

Give Clear View To Sky

If you would like to save the message so that you can send it at a later time, simply select "Save As Draft." To retrieve the message later, select the Texting Icon and select "Drafts"

13

Tracking

The tracking menu allows user to: • enable the SARLink tracking

• disable tracking • set the reporting rate • set the position report format • view the unit reporting data .

.. '

14

Tracking

15

Battery Charging

• Connect the supplied USB cable to your PC.

• Attach the custom cable end to the SARLin.k from the back case to the front in the location indicated by the USB Symbol.

16 .