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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:
How they work 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 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 Haven't I Heard of this Technology Before?? EPIRBs are basically PLBs that are specific for the Marine Environment. They have been in use for over 20 years and have saved over tens of thousands of 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 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? By COSPAS-SARSAT regulations: 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? 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? 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 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:
List Price: Our Price: $395.00
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