•Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Programming and Battery Replacement Center

Training Presentation
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Two Powerful Brands – One Great

Company

Our Company
– ACR Electronics, Inc.
Our Brands
– Marine, Aviation, Outdoor and Military
• Established in 1956 Markets
• 55,000 Sq.ft Manufacturing – EPIRBs, Personal Locator Beacons,
Facility located in Fort SARTs, Searchlights, Strobe lights,
Lauderdale, FL USA Ditch bags
• Employees: 180+
• AS91000 Quality Certification – Aviation and Military Markets
– Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT),
Antennas, Remote Switches
 Company History
ACR Electronics, Inc.
5757 Ravenswood Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
www.acrartex.com
•Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Made In The U.S.A

Engineering Capabilities
– 3D Computer Aided Design
– Rapid Prototyping
– Complete Electrical, Software, Mechanical,
Quality, Manufacturing and Testing Disciplines
Port Evergldes

Testing Capabilities FORT

LAUDERDALE
– G-Force Shock / Impact Testing INT’L AIRPORT
– Random Harmonic Vibration
– Satellite Verification Testing
– Decompression/Altitude
– Waterproof/Immersion
– ACR/ARTEX
Humidity/Salt Fog / UV
– GPS Simulation
– Extreme Temperature Cycling
15 MINS NORTH
OF MIAMI
Manufacturing Capabilities
– Surface Mount Technology (SMT, Lead Free)
– Inbound Inspection
– Conformal Coating
– Lean Manufacturing Cells
– In-House Battery Assembly
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

AS91000C Quality Certification

AS9100C / ISO 9001:2008

Quality Management System (QMS)
Certified By TUV USA

We build quality products knowing that

they are used to save lives. We are
committed to continuous improvement and
excellence in customer satisfaction
through monitoring quality objectives that
enhance performance.
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Our References

®
•Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

COSPAS-SARSAT
SYSTEM OVERVIEW

7
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

COSPAS-SARSAT

COSPAS = Cosmicheskaya Systyema Poiska Aariynyich Sudov

Which loosely translates from Russian as:
“The Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress”

SARSAT = Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking

8
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Cospas-Sarsat

• Services are provided world-wide

and free of charge for the user in
distress

• Alerts are provided using satellite

systems to detect, ground stations
to process and relay the
transmissions of emergency
beacons operating on 406 MHz to
the appropriate SAR forces.

9
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Beacon Comparison
121.5 / 243 MHz Beacons 406 MHz Beacons
• Older, outdated technology • Latest technology
• Not designed for satellite • Designed for satellite
processing, no store & forward processing, will store &
capability forward information
• Analog signal only, no • Digital signal, encoded
identification information information in transmitted
message
• Does not have global coverage
• Global coverage
• Low transmitting power:
0.1 - 0.2 watts • Increased transmitting power:
5+ watts
• Poor location accuracy,
Usually no better than 20 km • Unique Identification Number
• US Mission Control Center • Increased Accuracy, 3-5 km
handled 300 - 400 ‘hits’ per search radius.
day. 99% were false.
With integral GPS units, down
Not detected by satellites to 100 meter search radius
after February 1, 2009
10
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Beacon Search Areas

Comparison of non GPS vs GPS

406 MHz without GPS 406 MHz with GPS

Search Time =
Search Time = 2 - 3 hours, If clear to the sky, position
After waiting +/_ 60 minutes is known within 3
for the location data. minutes
11
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Cospas-Sarsat Satellite Constellations

 Geostationary Search & Rescue (GEOSAR)

 5 fixed satellites, positioned on the equator around the Earth
 Performs instantaneous alerts, cannot triangulate (provide)
location
 Low Earth Orbiting Search & Rescue (LEOSAR)
 6 continuously Polar-orbiting satellites
 Will triangulate location using Doppler Location Processing
 Each satellite completes a full orbit every 100 minutes
 Stores and forwards alerts continuously for 48 hours to ground
stations

•12
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Programming – The Basics – Cospas-Sarsat

•13
 •Confidential - Not to be Reproduced without Authorization

Training Agenda

•Welcome

• Brief introduction of yourself, your company and

function

• Service of beacons, the importance and responsibilities

 General

• BRC Training Manual - on the BRC

Website

• GPS vs. non-GPS beacons

Page 10, training manual

• The 121.5 MHz system phase out

General

• Activation Switch replacement and

service.
Page 31, training manual

• Beacons (406 MHz) phased out

General

• BRC website and procedures

Page 8, training manual

• How to test a beacon when it is

received
General

• When must a beacon be sent to ACR

and HOW (with/without battery)
Page 20, training manual

• Beacon self-activated ?
Page 20, training manual

• Hazardous vs. Non-Hazardous

batteries
Page 51, training manual
General

• MSDS sheets
Page 52, training manual

• Feedback to ACR on products and

support needed

• Testing/Activation of a
beacon….50/100 seconds
Battery Replacement

• RLB 2754, 56, 58 and 59 family of

EPIRBS (Satellite 406)
Obsolete, no repair or service available
• RLB 32, Sat 2, Rapidfix
Discontinued, still supported
• RLB 33, Thunderbird
Discontinued, still supported
Battery Replacement

• RLB 35, GlobalFix) / 35 MC, SVDR

Discontinued, still supported
• RLB 36, Globalfix iPro/ RLB 37,
Globalfix Pro/RLB 38, Satellite 3 and
RLB 40, ResQmate (AUS)
• PLB 350B / 350C, Aqualink, Sarlink /
Aqualink View, SarLink View
• PLB 375, ResQlink, ResQlink+
• PLB 300, Micro- and ResQFix
Discontinued, still supported
• PLB 200, Aqua-, Terra- and AeroFix
Discontinued, still supported
Battery Witness reset

• RLB 36/38/40, Globalfix iPro,

Globalfix Pro, ResQMate (AUS)

• PLB 200/201, Terra-, Aero- and

Aquafix
• PLB 300, Micro- and RescueFix
Battery Witness reset

• PLB 350B/350C, Sarlink, Aqualink /

Sarlink View and Aqualink View

• PLB 375, ResQlink, ResQlink+

Programming beacons

• UIN / ID number of beacons.

• TAC (C/S Type Approval Certificate)

• Memory of an ACR beacon

ACR- content xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 02/02
POS- content xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 03/05
Programming beacons

• How is the UIN generated?

• Why must a beacon be programmed?

• Countries and their preferences.

Programming beacons

• Registration database and the value

of registering.

• FPR 300

• Verifying a beacon ID.

Programming beacons

• Programming a beacon back to the

USA Country Code

• Making an ID label
Programming different
model beacons

• RLB 32/33/33s

• RLB 35/35MC

• RLB 36/37/38/40
Programming different
model beacons

• RLB 36A/37A/38A/39A/40A

• PLB 200/201

• PLB 300
Programming different
model beacons

• PLB 350B/C

• PLB 375
Making new labels.