ACR AeroFix 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon w/GPS Interface (2799.2)

PLBs are Emergency Life Saving devices to be used when all else fails. Advances in PLB Technology have made transmission, location and rescue faster than ever before. A PLB is a small transmitter that sends out a personalized emergency distress signal to your nearest rescue services. For pilots, boaters, hikers, campers, etc. a PLB is a highly effective and internationally recognized way to summon help.  A PLB should be used only in situations of Grave and Imminent Danger or "life threatening situations".

The AeroFix 406 features:

• Transmits on 406 MHz via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system with your registered unique, digitally coded distress signal and 121.5 MHz (SAR homing frequency).
• Smallest and most functional P-ELT available; can be easily carried in a pack or pocket; small enough to be worn by pilots, hikers, hunters, kayakers or any outdoor enthusiast.
• Full functional self test of internal circuitry, battery power, 406 MHz transmission, and GPS acquisition (P/N 2799.4 only).
• Flat, stainless steel antenna wraps compactly around the unit for easy stowage; and is ready for rapid deployment.
• Floats to avoid loss if dropped in water, exceeds 1 meter (3.3ft) requirement, tested to 5 meters (16.5ft)
• GPS interface (NMER 0183) allows you to download GPS coordinates prior to activation; once activated, your LAT/LON transmits on the first burst insuring your distress message reaches search and rescue near instantaneously.
• Onboard GPS (PN 2799.4 only) acquires LAT/LON when the unit is activated, your LAT/LON are transmitted as soon as acquired providing rescue agencies with your exact position to within 100 meters (110 yards), within 3 minutes of satellite reception.
• Removable holster provides functionality, style and protection for your P-ELT; allows for multiple mounting options to back packs, belts, webbing and life vests.
   

How they work
PLBs transmit signals on internationally recognized distress frequencies. The 406MHz signal is monitored by NOAA ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the AFRCC ( Air Force Rescue Coordination Center) in the United States.

The Global satellite tracking system is a collection of Russian, Canadian , American, and French satellites know as COSPAS-SARSAT , SARSAT being an English acronym for "Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking". The network is made up of 4 polar orbiting LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Satellites and 3 GOES ( Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites).

Once a signal is received, these satellites can "fix" on the signal using a Doppler Shift location method, or, when a PLB is hooked up to a GPS, the GPS coordinates can be Instantly transmitted without waiting for an orbiting satellite. The signal is then relayed to a LUT ( Local User Terminal). These small satellite tracking stations are located all over the world and provide the link between the satellites and the MCC ( Mission Control Center) , which in the USA, is NOAA. This signal is then passed on to the Air Force to begin the Search and Rescue procedures.

More reliable than typical safety devices such as emergency two-way radios, cellular phones, or GPS units, PLBs are manufactured by only a handful of companies meeting stringent FCC requirements. ACR's PLB, for example, is a compact (1.74 x 5.71 x 3.03 inch) and lightweight (12 oz) beacon, sold and used for years in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and now with the U.S. approval, will be available at fine retailers across the country.

Remember, a GPS can tell YOU where you are, but it can't tell anyone else where you are. A GPS is a receiver of data. The PLB is a transmitter of data.

Personalized Signal
Each PLB is equipped with a UIN (Unique Identifying Number) This number is a 15 digit alpha-numeric code. This code is what is transmitted in the electronic burst to the satellites.

The UIN is linked to a computer database. The electronic burst provides Search and Rescue with your location, while the UIN links to the database and provides your name, address, phone number and any pertinent information such as medical problems, of which Search and Rescue should be aware.

When you buy a PLB, it is imperative that you register it with NOAA. In doing so, they will tie all your personal information into the 15 digit UIN. That way, when your PLB is activated any where on the Planet, Search and Rescue will know, who you are, where you are and how to handle any pre-existing medical problems when they reach you.

The PLB can take the "search" out of 'Search and Rescue".

Why Hasn't Anyone Every Heard of this Technology Before??
Well, if you have a marine background and are familiar with EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) then you know exactly what this product is and how it works.

EPIRBs are basically PLBs that are specific for the Marine Environment. They have been in use for over 20 years and have saved over 15,000 lives.However, the EPIRB/PLB technology was not legal for use in land based applications in the United States. The technology is governed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and was just legalized for terrestrial use by backpackers, campers, hikers, etc. on July 1, 2003.

The reason it was not available is because there was not one unified overseeing body for land based rescues, using one type of Search and rescue software. Each state has different organizations handling different types of rescues and no one agency acted as the point of contact for NOAA. In a marine environment, there is only one rescuing agency, the US Coast Guard. So coordinating rescues and responses has been a relatively easy task.

Now, the FCC, NOAA and the US Air Force have gotten together to make the AFRCC (Air Force Rescue Coordination Center) the point of contact for land based rescues. The AFRCC, in turn has established relationships and points of contact in each state. Each state is upgrading their Search and Rescue software to make it compatible with that of the AFRCC's.

So, whenever a land based PLB is set off, the AFRCC will know exactly who to contact for a rescue response.

Two Types of PLB signals
These two different signals are 406 MHz which, which carries the UIN# and GPS data to the satellites, and 121.5 MHz which is a homing frequency.  If you are using a PLB without a GPS, the 406 MHz signal from the satellite will get rescuers to within a 2 mile radius of you. At the same time SAR will be monitoring with a tracking device to home in on the 121.5 MHz frequency put out by the PLB. The average notification time to Search and Rescue with this type of PLB is 45 minutes in the continental U.S.

If you are using a PLB with a GPS interface, the 406 Mhz signal will guide rescuers to an area less than 100 meters from your position. At the same time SAR will be monitoring with a tracking device to home in on the 121.5 MHz frequency put out by the PLB. The average notification time to Search and Rescue with this type of PLB is 5 minutes!

In either situation, you can be found, and found much quicker than any existing method.

It is always a good idea to have a visual and audible distress signal such as a signal mirror ( daytime) a signal whistle, or a strobe light (nighttime) to make sure that you are seen or heard easily, once Search and Rescue gets close.

How Long Will a PLB Transmit?
A PLB is equipped with a Lithium battery. This battery has an 11 year life span, and lays dormant until you flip the switch to activate the PLB.

By COSPAS-SARSAT regulations:
a Class 1 heavy duty battery must be able to transmit at -40° F (-40° C) for 24 hours
a Class 2 battery must be able to transmit at -20° F (-20° C) for 24 hours

Since the functionality of a battery is negatively affected by cold, this operational tolerance, is a worst case scenario. If the average temperature is 70° F, the battery will be able to operate for approximately twice as long.

It is recommended that your battery be changed every 5 years by an authorized BRC (Battery Replacement Center). The Battery IS NOT able to be changed or replaced by the consumer.

Every time your battery is changed, each PLB gets a complete overhaul of new gaskets, seals and a tolerance check to make sure that it will absolutely function, when you need it!

What Is The Monthly Subscription Fee for this Product?
There is no fee. The satellites are already in orbit, Search and Rescue is already in place.

The efficiency of a Search and Rescue operation is greatly increased when a lost boater or hiker has a PLB.

Instead of needing to organize a massive search party and have helicopters scouring areas, burning fuel, the Search and Rescue Teams know exactly where the lost individual is located, taking the "search" out of Search and Rescue.

How are PLBs Different from ELTs transmitting on 121.5?
ELTs have proven to to be highly prone to false alerts.  Because of the huge number of false alerts transmitted by ELTs on 121.5, SAR organizations must wait for additional alert information before dispatching a search party.   A PLB is much less likely to signal a false alert making rescue crews quicker to respond to an alert - once they have a location detection they will start dispatching a SAR team.    Studies show that less than 2 out of every 1000 ELT alerts are actual alerts.  With a PLB about 1 out of every 12 alerts are for an actual emergency.

A PLB without a GPS will allow authorities to pinpoint your position within a one to three miles .  A PLB with a GPS will show your almost exact position - within 300 feet!  With an ELT, the search party will have up to a 500 square mile area in which they will need to search making it much harder and lengthier for them to locate you.

An ELT does not have the ability to follow-up with authorities after a false alert, whereas the PLB allows you to follow-up if a false alert has been transmitted. 

An ELT is completely anonymous - no contact data is sent.  With a PLB, authorities will immediately know the identity and contact information based on the transmission.

ELTs run on 0.1 Watts of power which make them hard for satellites to detect.  A PLB has a full 5 Watts of power output making it much easier to detect and improves the accuracy.

In Summary
This exciting technology is now available as a global safety net and insurance policy for those involved in any outdoor activity that takes them far away from civilization.

Anything can happen out there, and too many people have been lost injured or even died while waiting to be found or rescued. Timing is the key to being rescued. A PLB can take rescue times from days to minutes.

Specifications:

• Size: 1.74 x 5.71 x 3.03 in (4.4 x 14.5 x 7.7 cm)
• Weight: 12 oz. (343 g) w/o holster; 13.3 oz. (378 g) with holster
• Batteries: Two Lithium battery packs with 2,500mAmp Hours @ -20oC;
• 5 year replacement life (11 year storage)
• Storage: -40oC to +70oC (-58oF to +158oF)
• Accessories: P-ELT Holster, Bulkhead Mounting bracket; GPS Interface Cable with LED
• Certification: FCC Approved
• Limited Warranty: 5 years
• Operational Life: In excess of 24 hours @ -20ºC (-4º F), longer in higher ambient temperatures

Our Price:  $460.00

Related Shopping Areas:
Aircraft Supplies >  Aircraft Fuel Testers, Pitot Covers, Tie-Downs, and more
Aircraft Supplies >  PLBs, ELTs, and TCAS
GPS >  Aviation GPS Units
GPS >  GPS Accessories

Lowest Price Guaranteed: If you find a better price elsewhere on this product we will match that price and beat it by 10% of the difference. Buy With Confidence!  Purchase today and you can return it in the original condition through Monday, August 04, 2008!  Our return policy. Have a question about ACR AeroFix 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon w/GPS Interface (2799.2)?  Ask your question and see previous Q & A about this product.

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Previous Customer Questions For ACR AeroFix 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon w/GPS Interface (2799.2): Ask Your Own Question

On Monday, May 19, 2008 a customer asked: Q: The 121.5 ELT also activates with excessive G forces. Does the PLB has this feature as well? A: No, there is no such feature on these PLBs.  They are manually activated only. On Saturday, September 08, 2007 a customer asked: Q: When the unit is turn will it automacticly give my GPS loction to rescuers or do i have to plug the GPS numbers? With the batteries, what kind of batteries is it. Is it batteries that i can buy from the store or special type. A: This unit requires an external GPS to be connected in order to give authority your position. If you want a unit with a built-in GPS receiver, take a look at the ACR AeroFix 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon w/Onboard GPS (2799.4) On Friday, February 02, 2007 a customer asked: Q: will they work in Canada and is there a monthly or yearly fee? A: Yes, it will work in Canada (worldwide actually). There is no additional fee for monitoring. On Friday, January 19, 2007 a customer asked: Q: I assume you are an American Company. Can we buy a PLB from you then register it in Canada?? Or how does this work? A: Yes, we are an American company. However, if you buy it from us you can certainly register it in Canada by visiting either http://beacons.nss.gc.ca or by filling out the form found at http://www.acrelectronics.com/forms/PLBcanform.pdf On Thursday, January 04, 2007 a customer asked: Q: How will I know my emergency transmission was received by a satelite. Is there a signal transmitted back to my PLB with an indicator light to show this? What if I am in a deep narrow canyon and am not sure the emergency transmission was completed successfully? If there is no feedback signal indicating "ok", what are the guidelines for locating the PLB during sending, related to openness of surroundings, canyon walls etc to optimize the chances of providing a successful transmission? A: When the AeroFix™ 406 GPS I/O is turned ON, the GPS Onboard receiver is also immediately turned ON and will immediately begin acquiring data. As soon as the GPS receiver acquires good positioning data the red LED will stop blinking and the green LED will begin flashing once every 2 seconds. Once good global positioning data has been obtained, the GPS receiver waits for 20 minutes before looking for new positioning data again. If for any reason a time period of 4 hours passes without the GPS receiver being able to update the last good set of GPS coordinates, the message transmitted by the AeroFix™ 406 GPS I/O will revert to default data. At this point the green LED will stop blinking and the red LED will flash once every 2 seconds. If at any time after this, good GPS data is obtained, this data will be transmitted, the red LED will stop blinking and the green LED will begin flashing again.