V5 AIS EPIRB Category 1 and 2 406MHz EPIRB with AIS and RLS

Product Information

Specifications

• Category: 1 and 2 406MHz EPIRB (With AIS and RLS)
• Biphase L 400 bps
• 9600baud UTC
• Message 1 (Position), Message 14 (Status)
• 8 messages/minute
• Message 14 sent twice every 4 minutes
• High Intensity LED & Infrared (IR)
• White and IR >1 candela 15mW/sr
• 24 per minute (nom.)
• 72 acquisition -167dBm
• -148dBm / -160dBm Microstrip Patch
• Dimensions: 18.5 x 4.3 x 4.36 in. (470 x 109 x 111 mm)
• Weight: 1.78 lbs (810g)
• Depth Rating: 10m for 1 hour
• Maximum Range: 4m
• Expiration Date: 09/11/2022

About Your AIS EPIRB

The AIS EPIRB is a device that is part of the Cospas-Sarsat
System. It includes features such as AIS (Automatic Identification
System) and RLS (Return Link Service).

1.1 COSPAS/SARSAT System

The Cospas-Sarsat System is composed of two types of
satellites:

1. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites: These satellites detect and
   locate distress signals from beacons.

2. Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites: These satellites receive
   distress signals from beacons and relay them to the ground
   segment.

1.2 Return Link Service

The Return Link Service (RLS) allows the beacon to receive
acknowledgement messages from the satellites, confirming that the
distress signal has been received. This provides additional
assurance to the user that their distress signal has been
successfully transmitted.

1.3 AIS System

The AIS system operates on VHF radio bands and is fitted to all
commercial shipping and many recreational vessels globally. When an
AIS EPIRB is activated, it sends a distress signal to all AIS
equipped vessels within VHF range, alerting them to the fact that a
person is in the water and in need of assistance. This allows
nearby vessels to react and initiate a rescue more quickly than
emergency services.

Emergency service craft are also equipped with AIS receivers,
which enable them to locate and rescue a casualty in the water with
greater precision than any other system.

Product Usage Instructions

Beacon Registration

Before operating the beacon, it is the owner’s responsibility to
register it with the appropriate National Authority. Documentation
regarding registration is provided within the packaging.

In Case of Emergency

The beacon should only be used in situations of grave and
imminent danger. To manually activate the beacon, press and hold
the key for 1 to 2 seconds until the green LED (blue if RLS is
enabled) illuminates for 1 second and starts flashing. Release the
key.

After activation, ensure that the antenna is free and the unit
has the best possible view of the sky for optimal performance.

LED Indications

The beacon has LED indicators that provide information about its
status. The LED indications vary depending on whether RLS is
enabled or not. Here are the LED indications:

With RLS Enabled

• The AIS transmissions will show as 8 flashes (1 every 2
  seconds) as a sequence repeated once every minute.

** The 121MHz Homer will not transmit until after the second
406MHz transmission.

For Units Configured with Non-RLS Protocol

FAQ

Q: Do I need to register the beacon before using it?

A: Yes, it is the owner’s responsibility to register the beacon
with the appropriate National Authority before operation.
Documentation regarding registration is provided within the
packaging.

Q: How do I manually activate the beacon in case of an

emergency?

A: Press and hold the key for 1 to 2 seconds until the green LED
(blue if RLS is enabled) illuminates for 1 second and starts
flashing. Release the key.

Q: What should I do after activating the beacon?

A: After activation, ensure that the antenna is free and the
unit has the best possible view of the sky for optimal
performance.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL USER MANUAL www.acrartex.com/products/
globalfix-v5-ais-epirb

GET THE MOBILE APP. TO SEE YOUR
BEACON’S TEST INFORMATION

iOS

Android

Category 1 and 2 406MHz EPIRB (With AIS and RLS)
OWNER DETAILS Name Vessel

CONTACT Tel.
Email
BEACON REGISTRATION
! It is the owner’s responsibility to register this beacon with the appropriate National Authority before operation.
Documentation is provided within the packaging with information regarding registration with the relevant body to comply with the required configuration of the beacon.
ATTACH YOUR BEACON DETAILS HERE

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
USE ONLY IN SITUATIONS OF GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER MANUAL ACTIVATION

·

· Raise the red safety cover breaking the tape seal.

· Press the ON/OFF

key down for 1 to 2 seconds until the green LED (blue if

RLS is enabled) illuminates for 1 second and starts flashing. Release the key.

· Always turn off the GlobalFix V5 immediately after you have been rescued to avoid interfer-

ence with other users.

· To turn off the beacon press and hold the ON/OFF key until the LED flashes red twice,

then release.

! Following activation ensure the antenna is free and the unit has the best possible view of

the sky for optimal performance.

LED Indications with RLS Enabled

LED
(x1) (x3) (x5) (x5) (x8) (x8) (x1) (x1) (x1)

When
Every 5 s Once At transmit At transmit At transmit At transmit Every 2.5 s Every 2.5 s Every 2.5 s

Transmit
406MHz 406MHz AIS AIS 121MHz 121MHz

GNSS
Searching Fix acquired No Fix Fix acquired No Fix Fix acquired

RLS
RLS Request sent RLS Request sent
RLS Reply not received RLS Reply received

LED Indications for units configured with non-RLS Protocol

LED
(x1) (x3) (x5) (x5) (x8) (x8) (x1) (x1)

When
Every 5 s Once At transmit At transmit At transmit At transmit Every 2.5 s** Every 2.5 s

Transmit
406MHz 406MHz AIS AIS 121MHz

GNSS
Searching Fix acquired No Fix Fix acquired No Fix Fix acquired

• The AIS transmissions will show as 8 flashes (1 every 2 seconds) as a sequence repeated once every minute.
  ** The 121MHz Homer will not transmit until after the second 406MHz transmission.

12W 406.031 MHz ±1KHz Phase ±1.1 Radians (16K0G1D)
Biphase L 400 bps
1Watt±3dB 161.975/162.025MHz ±500Hz
9600baud UTC
Message 1 (Position), Message 14 (Status) 8 messages/minute
Message 14 sent twice every 4 minutes
50mW±3dB 121.5 MHz

35% 0.85 to1.00
±50ppm >98%
High Intensity LED & Infrared (IR) White and IR >1 candela 15mW/sr
24 per minute (nom.)
Lithium Iron Disulphide (LiFeS2) >48Hours @ -20°C 10 years
72 acquisition -167dBm
-148dBm / -160dBm Microstrip Patch
18.5 x 4.3 x 4.36 in. (470 x 109 x 111 mm)
1.78 lbs (810g) 6.2 x 15.75 x 5.9 in. (157 x 400 x 150 mm) 1,912grams (4.25lbs)
Portable Class 2 -20C to +55C Class 2 -30C to +70C 10m depth for 1 hour
4m maximum

09/11/2022

1. ABOUT YOUR AIS EPIRB
1.1 COSPAS/SARSAT System
The basic Cospas-Sarsat concept is illustrated in the adjacent figure. The System is composed of:
· distress radio beacons (ELTs for aviation use, EPIRBs for maritime use, and PLBs for personal use) which transmit signals during distress situations
· instruments on board satellites in geostationary and low-altitude Earth orbits which detect the signals transmitted by distress radio beacons
· ground receiving stations, referred to as Local Users Terminals (LUTs), which receive and process the satellite downlink signal to generate distress alerts
· Mission Control Centers (MCCs) which receive alerts produced by LUTs and forward them to Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs), Search and Rescue Points Of Contacts (SPOCs) or other MCCs
The Cospas-Sarsat System includes two types of satellites:
· satellites in low-altitude Earth orbit (LEO) which form the LEOSAR System · satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) which form the GEOSAR System The future Cospas-Sarsat System will include a new type of satellite in the medium-altitude Earth orbit (MEO) which will form the MEOSAR System.
1.2 Return Link Service
The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is a free-of-charge global service available to Cospas-Sarsat RLS compatible beacons. The new functionality, currently offered uniquely by Galileo, enables a communication link that relays Return Link Messages (RLM) back to the originating beacon through the Galileo Navigation Signal in Space. The RLS feature is an indication on the GlobalFix V5 that confirms to the User that the distress signal from the GlobalFix V5 has been localised by the Cospas-Sarsat system and is being sent to the SAR authorities. It does NOT mean that a search and rescue mission has been launched, but only confirms that the distress alert has been received by the Cospas-Sarsat system and is being routed to the appropriate SAR agencies. The RLS aims to send an acknowledgment to the beacon within 30 minutes following activation (the response may not be received by the beacon for significantly longer). RLS is an optional function and may not be permitted in all countries. The full RLS specification can be found here: https://gsc- europa.eu/sites/default/files/sites/all/files/Galileo-SAR-SDD.pdf
1.3 AIS System
AIS systems operate on VHF radio bands and transceivers are fitted to all commercial shipping and an ever growing number of recreational vessels globally. On activation an AIS Man Over Board device will activate an alarm on all AIS equipped vessels within VHF range alerting them to the fact that a person is in the water needing assistance. Often it is a vessel in the close vicinity of an incident that is able to react and effect a rescue quicker than the emergency services.
Emergency service craft are fitted with AIS receivers allowing them to pinpoint a casualty in the water more precisely than any other system.

Specifications

406MHz Transmitter Transmit Power (EIRP) Frequency Modulation Encoding Rate
AIS Transmitter Transmit Power (EIRP) Frequency Baud rate Synchronisation Messages Repetition interval

121.5MHz Transmitter Transmit Power (PERP) Frequency Modulation Duty Cycle Modulation Factor Frequency Stability Duty Cycle
Strobe and Night Vision Lights Light Type Light Colour Average Intensity Visible Average Intensity Night Vision Light Flash Rate
Battery Type Operating Time Battery Replacement Period
GNSS Receiver Satellite Channels Sensitivity Cold Start / Re-acquisition GNSS Antenna
General Dimensions of EPIRB (Inc. antenna)
Weight Dimensions of Auto Release Housing
Weight (Inc. EPIRB) IEC60945 Category Operating Temperature Storage Temperature Waterproof (EPIRB) Auto Release Depth

912S-04073 v01.01

5 .

2. OPERATION

! WARNING: Use only in situations of grave and imminent danger. Deliberate misuse may result in a severe penalty.

Ensure that your beacon is always fitted with an unused battery that is within the marked expiry date. Failure to do so may result in reduced operating time when used in a real emergency. Please observe the recommendations on testing in section 9 of the User Manual.
! Category 1 beacons are designed to be automatically deployed and activated in the event of a vessel sinking. The beacon may also be manually taken out of the Category 1 bracket and activated manually or immersed in water to activate automatically.
! Category 2 beacons are designed to be manually deployed from the Category 2 bracket and then activated manually or placed in the water to activate automatically.
! To prevent loss always secure the beacon to your person or life raft using the attached lanyard.
! When active the beacon is designed to operate while floating in the water. For best operation do not take the beacon into a life raft or obstruct the upper case.

2.1 Optical Indications on activation

· · · ·
2.2

The green LED will illuminate (blue if RLS is enabled) for 1 second.

The strobe light

will start flashing.

Within 1 minute of activation, the indicator LED will flash a quick burst of 5 indicating 406MHz transmission*. AIS transmission will be indicated by the LED flashing 8 times at 2 second intervals (green
if a GNSS fix has been acquired or red if there is no fix). This will not happen until after the first 406MHz transmission,

Deactivation

To deactivate your beacon after use or if it is accidentally activated, press the ON/OFF Key for 1 to 2 seconds until the LED flashes red twice, then release.

2.3 Category 1 Automatic Activation
When correctly installed in the Category 1 housing the beacon will automatically deploy before the housing sinks to a depth of 4m. As the beacon is released from the housing it will float to the surface, activating automatically.
! For installation details see the full User Manual:
www.acrartex.com/products/globalfix-v5-ais-epirb

2.4
· · ·

Category 1 Manual Activation
Rotate the blue knob on the front of the housing counter clockwise Pull the front of the housing free and allow to fall free Pull the beacon with steady pressure from the bracket

· Release the lanyard and attach it securely to yourself or the life raft

! DO NOT ATTACH THE BEACON TO THE VESSEL AS THIS MAY SINK SUBMERGING THE BEACON OR YOU MAY DRIFT AWAY FROM THE VESSEL
· Place the beacon in the water where it will activate automatically

! Should the beacon not activate raise the red

safety cover and press the ON/OFF

key

for 1 to 2 seconds (Until the green LED starts

to flash).

2.5 Category 2 Manual Activation

·

Press the tab marked PUSH and pull the GlobalFix V5 EPIRB

away from the bracket

·

Release the lanyard from under the rubber cover and attach

it securely to yourself or the life raft

!

DO NOT ATTACH THE BEACON TO THE VESSEL AS THIS

MAY SINK SUBMERGING THE BEACON OR YOU MAY DRIFT

AWAY FROM THE VESSEL

·

Place the beacon in the water where it will activate

automatically

! Should the beacon not activate raise the red safety cover and press the ON/OFF

key

for 1 to 2 seconds (Until the green LED starts to flash).

• The first 406MHz transmission is made between 48 and 52 seconds after activation.

!

ENSURE THE ANTENNA IS FULLY RELEASED

!

DO NOT LEAVE THE BEACON IN THE

CATEGORY2 BRACKET IF THE VESSEL IS

IN DANGER OF SINKING

3. TESTING

Routine testing of your beacon once a month is highly recommended to ensure it is in good working order. Follow the guidance notes in the User Manual for the frequency that tests should be carried out. Each test reduces operation time of your beacon in an emergency.

3.1 Functional test

To test your beacon is functioning correctly, press and hold the TEST key for 1 to 2 seconds. The

LED will illuminate red to indicate the key has been pressed, then start flashing. Release the

TEST Key now. After a short pause the strobe

will flash and the indicator LED will produce a

flash sequence.

A passed test flash sequence indicates the total number of hours that the battery has already been in use, up to the time that the test was initiated.

3.1.1 LED Indications with RLS Enabled

No. of Flashes

Functional Test Pass

Fail

1

0 to 1hr 59min

121.5MHz homer

2

2hrs to 3hrs 59min

406MHz power

3

4hrs to 5hrs 59min

AIS signal

4

6hrs to 7hrs 59min

AIS Power

5

8hrs to 9hrs 59min

Battery failure

6

10hrs +

No GNSS

3.1.2 LED Indications for units configured with non-RLS Protocol

No. of Flashes

Functional Test Pass

Fail

1

0 to 1hr 59min

121.5MHz homer

2

2hrs to 3hrs 59min

406MHz power

3

4hrs to 5hrs 59min

AIS signal

4

6hrs to 7hrs 59min

AIS Power

5

8hrs to 9hrs 59min

Battery failure

6

10hrs +

No GNSS

! Because this test transmits a short burst on the aircraft distress frequency of 121.5MHz, please only carry out this test in the first 5 minutes of each hour.

! The battery must be replaced either prior to the expiry date shown on the rear label or after the GlobalFix V5 has been activated.

! If, during a self test, the LED flashes magenta or amber the GlobalFix V5 may not have sufficient energy to operate for the specified 48-hour period. Battery replacement is recommended.

NOTE:

More information regarding test results is available using the Mobile App.

3.2 GNSS Test

! This test should only be performed where the GlobalFix V5 has a clear and unobstructed view of the sky. This is required to allow the GNSS receiver to acquire a signal from sufficient satellites to allow it to determine a position. Ensure the area marked “GNSS Antenna” is not obstructed.

It is recommended that a GNSS test is carried out at least once every six months to ensure correct operation of the GlobalFix V5.

Press and hold the TEST key for 5 seconds. The LED will illuminate red to indicate the key has been pressed, then start flashing. Shortly after, the LED will cease flashing and become a steady red
light. Release the TEST key when the LED is steady.

During the GNSS test the LED will repeat a long red flash followed by a short green either a position fix is obtained or the GNSS test fails.

flash until

A successful test will be indicated by a number of green LED flashes and an unsuccessful test will be indicated by a number of red LED flashes. The number of flashes indicates the number of GNSS tests remaining (e.g. 7 flashes = 7 tests remaining).

The test result flashes will be repeated after 2 seconds.

If there are 10 or more tests remaining then the LED will flash 10 times only (repeated).

The GlobalFix V5 has the capacity to carry out 60 GNSS tests within the lifetime of the battery.

If there are no tests remaining immediately after the current test, the LED will flash green or red rapidly for three seconds (not repeated) depending on whether the GNSS test was successful or
not, respectively.

When there are no tests remaining, the LED will flash red (not repeated).

rapidly for three seconds on key release

The test can be ended at any time by holding the TEST key for 1 to 2 seconds.

For further information regarding Self Test and Self Test history use the ACR Mobile App to connect to your GlobalFix V5 using Near Field Communication (NFC).

4. APPROVALS

In addition to Cospas Sarsat Type Acceptance, the EPIRB3 complies with the following National Approvals:

4.1

European Union

Complies with the requirements of the EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED)

4.2

UK

Complies with MSN 1874 as amended

4.3

USA

Complies with FCC 47 CFR Part 80 and US Coast Guard requirements

4.4

Canada

Compliance with ISED RSS GEN and RSS182

4.5

Australia/New Zealand

Complies with AZ/NZS 4280.1-2017

See “www.acrartex.com/products/globalfix-v5-ais-epirb” for documentation.

References

• GlobalFIX V5 AIS EPIRB

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