Marine Safety Tutorial

Simple Maintenance For Important Equipment

An ACR EPIRB is one of the most basic pieces of safety equipment on any boat cruising the great lakes, offshore or any large body of water. You are clearly one of the more responsible of boat operators if you own or are considering purchasing an ACR EPIRB. However, you also need to be a responsible EPIRB owner. While ACR's EPIRBs are designed to be highly reliable under the most demanding of circumstances, it is considered wise to test them regularly and to service them per the manufacturers recommendation.

In an emergency, you are relying on your ACR EPIRB to transmit an emergency signal capable of being heard by aircraft, which may be 100 miles or more away, and by satellites orbiting over 500 miles above the earth. There are three things you can do to make sure your ACR EPIRB will put out its life-saving warble when you need it: The first is to read the owners manual when you purchase the EPIRB, the second is to always make sure your batteries are "in date", and the third is to regularly conduct an operational test on the unit to make sure it is actually broadcasting.

Category I & II EPIRBs that transmit over 406.025 MHz and 121.5 MHz are required to have a more thorough self test feature. ACR's Satellite 406 TM EPIRB has a micro processor on board that will fire up the transmitter, oscillator, formulate a test signal, set off the strobe light and finally broadcast a live test transmission. The micro processor checks to see that all the operational elements test positive and then it gives confirming beeps and flashes. The micro processor will not give off the appropriate confirming beep or flash if any element fails to perform and the user should take the beacon to an authorized service station for evaluation.

Class A & B EPIRBs that transmit over 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz are required to have an LED light that will flash when the unit is turned on. Unfortunately, the LED does not tell you with absolute certainty that the unit is actually transmitting a signal capable of being heard by Search And Rescue aircraft and satellites. The only way to be certain is to test the beacon while it is operating.

Operational transmission testing of a Class A or B EPIRB may only be legally executed during the first five (5) minutes of every hour and only for three tone or one operational transmission second. During the first five (5) minutes of every hour you can verify that your EPIRB is actually transmitting by turning it "On" near an FM radio tuned to 99.5 MHz. Placing the EPIRB a few inches from the FM radio will allow it to receive the signal and broadcast the familiar "warble" through its speakers if the EPIRB is transmitting properly. Conduct this test only during the first five (5) minutes of each hour as indicated above!

Being a responsible boat owner includes being prepared for unforeseeable emergencies by carrying an ACR EPIRB on-board and having an emergency plan. Being a responsible EPIRB owner includes knowing how to work your ACR EPIRB and knowing that it will work. Please e-mail ACR for answers to questions or for information on other safety products manufactured by ACR Electronics, Inc.
 

Simple Maintenance For Important Equipment

An ACR EPIRB is one of the most basic pieces of safety equipment on any boat cruising the great lakes, offshore or any large body of water. You are clearly one of the more responsible of boat operators if you own or are considering purchasing an ACR EPIRB. However, you also need to be a responsible EPIRB owner. While ACR's EPIRBs are designed to be highly reliable under the most demanding of circumstances, it is considered wise to test them regularly and to service them per the manufacturers recommendation.

In an emergency, you are relying on your ACR EPIRB to transmit an emergency signal capable of being heard by aircraft, which may be 100 miles or more away, and by satellites orbiting over 500 miles above the earth. There are three things you can do to make sure your ACR EPIRB will put out its life-saving warble when you need it: The first is to read the owners manual when you purchase the EPIRB, the second is to always make sure your batteries are "in date", and the third is to regularly conduct an operational test on the unit to make sure it is actually broadcasting.

Category I & II EPIRBs that transmit over 406.025 MHz and 121.5 MHz are required to have a more thorough self test feature. ACR's Satellite 406 TM EPIRB has a micro processor on board that will fire up the transmitter, oscillator, formulate a test signal, set off the strobe light and finally broadcast a live test transmission. The micro processor checks to see that all the operational elements test positive and then it gives confirming beeps and flashes. The micro processor will not give off the appropriate confirming beep or flash if any element fails to perform and the user should take the beacon to an authorized service station for evaluation.

Class A & B EPIRBs that transmit over 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz are required to have an LED light that will flash when the unit is turned on. Unfortunately, the LED does not tell you with absolute certainty that the unit is actually transmitting a signal capable of being heard by Search And Rescue aircraft and satellites. The only way to be certain is to test the beacon while it is operating.

Operational transmission testing of a Class A or B EPIRB may only be legally executed during the first five (5) minutes of every hour and only for three tone or one operational transmission second. During the first five (5) minutes of every hour you can verify that your EPIRB is actually transmitting by turning it "On" near an FM radio tuned to 99.5 MHz. Placing the EPIRB a few inches from the FM radio will allow it to receive the signal and broadcast the familiar "warble" through its speakers if the EPIRB is transmitting properly. Conduct this test only during the first five (5) minutes of each hour as indicated above!

Being a responsible boat owner includes being prepared for unforeseeable emergencies by carrying an ACR EPIRB on-board and having an emergency plan. Being a responsible EPIRB owner includes knowing how to work your ACR EPIRB and knowing that it will work. Please e-mail ACR for answers to questions or for information on other safety products manufactured by ACR Electronics, Inc.
 

Ship and Aircraft Radio Station Licensing
On February 8, 1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law. This Act gives the FCC discretion to eliminate the individual radio station licensing requirement for ships and aircraft operating domestically which are not required by law to carry a radio. On April 12, 1996, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in WT Docket No. 96-82, FCC 96-145, asking for public comment concerning the elimination of the radio station licensing requirement. Pending a final decision in this matter, the FCC has issued an interim rule temporarily eliminating the individual licensing requirement for recreational ships and private aircraft operating domestically which are not required by law to carry a radio. The paragraphs below describe how the proposed and interim rules affect the public.

DO I NEED A LICENSE TO OPERATE A RADIO IN MY SHIP OR AIRCRAFT?
Until further notice from the FCC, you do not need an individual license to operate certain radio equipment on board recreational ships and private aircraft operating domestically.

WHICH SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT ARE INCLUDED?
The term "recreational ships refers to ships that are not required by law to carry a radio. The following types of ships ARE NOT recreational:

• Cargo ships over 300 gross tons navigating in the open sea;
• Ships certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than 6 passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the U.S.;
• Power driven ships over 20 meters in length on navigable waterways;
• Ships of more than 100 gross tons certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry at least one passenger on navigable waterways;
• Tow boats of more than 7.8 meters in length on navigable waterways; and Commercial fishing industry vessels with galley or berthing facilities operating on the high seas -- required by the Coast Guard to carry emergency radio equipment.

The term "private aircraft refers to aircraft that are not required by law to carry a radio. This includes aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds maximum certified takeoff gross weight which are not operated as air carriers.

WHAT IS DOMESTIC OPERATION?
Ships operating domestically do not travel to foreign ports or transmit radio communications to foreign stations. Aircraft operating domestically do not make international flights or transmit radio communications to foreign stations. Sailing in, or flying over, international waters is permitted so long as the previous conditions are met.

WHAT RADIO EQUIPMENT MAY I USE?
On board ships, you may use marine VHF radios (with or without a digital selective calling capability) any type of emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and any type of radar. Ships that use MFIHF single side-band radio, satellite communications, or telegraphy must continue to be licensed by the FCC. On board aircraft, you may use any aviation-band radio, navigation equipment or emergency alerting equipment.

SHOULD I APPLY FOR A NEW LICENSE OR RENEW MY CURRENT LICENSE?
If you operate a recreational vessel or a private aircraft domestically, you are not required to apply for a new license or renew your current license at this time If the individual licensing requirement is not eliminated. sufficient time will be provided for obtaining a license.

SHOULD I CANCEL MY LICENSE OR ASK FOR A FEE REFUND?
There is no need to cancel your license, return it to the FCC, or request a refund at this time. In the event that the licensing requirement is permanently eliminated, the FCC will issue guidelines concerning license cancellation procedures.

WHAT OPERATING PROCEDURES SHOULD I FOLLOW?
Even though a station license may no longer be required, you must continue to follow the operating procedures for calling other stations, maintaining a safety watch, and relaying distress messages as specified in the FCC Rules. You may identify your ship station over the air using your current FCC issued call sign or the name of your vessel Similarly, you may identify your aircraft station using the "N" number of your aircraft.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COAST GUARD BOARDS MY SHIP?
On April 12, 1996, the FCC asked the U.S. Coast Guard to suspend enforcement activities related to recreational ship radio licensing while the FCC considers the elimination of the licensing requirement.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE FCC'S FINAL DECISION?
Presently, the FCC is receiving hundreds of phone inquiries each day asking for updated information on this topic.
Updated information is available via the Internet on the FCC's World Wide Web homepage at http://www.fcc.gov

United States Coast Guard Approvals

PERSONAL/SIGNALING LIGHTS - APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Model

Product No.

Adult Pfds

Child Pfds

Pet Pfds

Inflatable Pfds

Safety Harness

Float Coats

Work Suits

SOLAS Pfds

Commercial Carriage

Immersion Suits

Crew Overboard Poles

Type IV Throwables

RapidDitch™ Bags

Life Raft

Flight Suits

Firefly2® Doublefly

3999.1

Firefly2® Waterbug

3996.1

Firefly2®

3900.1

C-Strobe™

3959

RapidFire™ Strobe

3961.1

Firefly® Plus

1916

DistresS.O.S.™

1842

NeverDark Spotlight

1812

Hemilight™ Manual

3765

Hemilight™ Automatic

3766

C-Light™

3355

RapidFire™ Light

3365.1

L8-3

3720-0180

L8-7

3762-0180

RLO-43

1905

EPIRB APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Model	Racing	Cruising	Lakes,  Inland Waters, Rivers, Bays	Coastal	Offshore	High Seas	Land Use; Hiking, Mountaineering,  Wilderness, Snowmobile
				USCG/NOAA Definition
				<50 NM	>50NM
				ACR Definition
				<3 NM	3-20 NM	>20 NM
				ORC Category
				2,3,4		0,1
Mini B300™ILS
SATELLITE2 406™ Category I
SATELLITE2 406™ Category II
RapidFix 406™ Category I
RapidFix 406™ Category II
GlobalFix 406™ Category I
GlobalFix 406™ Category II
GyPSI™ 406 PLB			++				++

++ Approved for this use in selected countries.

Which is the Right ACR GPS-EPIRB Product for You?

RapidFix™ 406 - Benefit of speed

GlobalFix™ 406 - Benefit of simplicity

A Choice of Technologies

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