Why might my EPIRB fail Self Test ?
If your EPIRB has been activated for more than one hour there may no longer be adequate battery capacity to support activation for more than 48 hours. The Self Test will check remaining battery capacity and will fail if insufficient capacity remains.
If the switch is held in the TEST position for too long a Self Test will not be initiated and a GPS acquisition Test may be triggered instead. To initiate a Self Test, pull the switch to the TEST position for only 1 second (until the red LED illuminates) then release.
It is not possible to conduct a satisfactory Self Test with the antenna folded down. The Self Test checks radio signals being correctly fed to the antenna and for a reliable test result the antenna must be upright. If the antenna is folded down, contacting your hand or positioned close to large metal objects then the transfer of radio signals to the antenna will be compromised and the test may fail
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Why might my EPIRB fail GPS Acquisition Test ?
If the switch is held in the TEST position for too long a GPS Acquisition Test will not be initiated. To initiate a GPS Acquisition Test, pull the switch to the TEST position for only 4 seconds (until the red LED flashes rapidly) then release.
For reliable GPS Acquisition Test results the EPIRB should be outdoors, away from buildings and electrical equipment, with a clear view of the sky. Unlike mobile telephones and other GPS equipment, the GPS in an EPIRB has to achieve a cold fix without any assistance from other networks or recent history. This requires a signal around 50 times better than required after a fix has been established. There can be many sources of electrical interference near buildings including low quality wireless transmitters, switching power supplies, inverters and active electrical wiring. We recommend a minimum distance of 10 metres clearance for GPS Acquisition test.
Under reasonable conditions a position fix can be achieved in around 30 seconds.
In order to preserve battery life the GPS Acquisition Test will time-out after approximately one minute.
Although rare, occasional satellite geometry may be inadequate for a rapid position fix and under these circumstances waiting around twenty minutes before trying again should yield a successful result.
The GPS Acquisition Test draws precious energy from the EPIRB battery and to protect against excess battery drain the number of GPS Acquisition Tests that can be initiated is restricted. If this test has been initiated more than 20 times then a lockout will activate. This will be indicated by three slow flashes of the red LED after the switch is released. Once locked out, no more GPS Acquisition Tests will be possible until the batteries have been replaced and the battery monitor has been reset.
Can I carry my EPIRB on a Passenger Aircraft ?
Guidelines published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulate the carriage of any product containing lithium metal batteries on passenger aircraft. Safety Alert EPIRBs and Sat-Alert EPIRBs contain a larger lithium battery and these are now PROHIBITED for carriage on passenger aircraft.
For transport on cargo-only aircraft these products must be packaged and labelled in accordance with current IATA requirements. If you need to transport an EPIRB via cargo aircraft we recommend engaging the services of a dangerous goods transport agent.
Why might my PLB fail Self Test ?
If your PLB has been activated for more than one hour there may no longer be adequate battery capacity to support activation for more than 24 hours. The Self Test will check remaining battery capacity and will fail if insufficient capacity remains.
If the TEST button is held for too long a Self Test will not be initiated and a GPS acquisition Test may be triggered instead. To initiate a Self Test, press the TEST button for only 1 second (until the red LED illuminates) then release.
It is not possible to conduct a satisfactory Self Test with the antenna wrapped around the beacon. The Self Test checks radio signals being correctly fed to the antenna and for a reliable test result the antenna must be set to a specific position to which the measuring circuitry has been calibrated. If the antenna is wrapped around the PLB, contacting your hand or positioned close to large metal objects then the transfer of radio signals to the antenna will be compromised and the test is likely to fail.
For reliable Self-Test results we recommend testing the PLB as per fig.2 on page 5 of the instruction manual: with the beacon on a flat surface with Test button facing upwards, the antenna unclipped and rotated vertical, more than one metre away from conductive objects and ensuring that your hand and other body parts are not touching or close to the antenna. Press the TEST button for only 1 second (until the red LED illuminates) then release. The beacon will take a few seconds to process the test cycle and should then flash the strobe light and the green LED.
Why might my PLB fail GPS Acquisition Test ?
If the TEST button is held for too long a GPS Acquisition Test will not be initiated. To initiate a GPS Acquisition Test, press the TEST button for only 4 seconds (until the red LED flashes rapidly) then release.
For reliable GPS Acquisition Test results the PLB should be outdoors, away from buildings and electrical equipment, with a clear view of the sky. Unlike mobile telephones and other GPS equipment, the GPS in a PLB has to achieve a cold fix without any assistance from other networks or recent history. This requires a signal around 50 times better than required after a fix has been established. There can be many sources of electrical interference near buildings including low quality wireless transmitters, switching power supplies, inverters and active electrical wiring. We recommend a minimum distance of 10 metres clearance for GPS Acquisition test.
Under reasonable conditions a position fix can be achieved in around 30 seconds.
In order to preserve battery life the GPS Acquisition Test will time-out after approximately one minute.
Although rare, occasional satellite geometry may be inadequate for a rapid position fix and under these circumstances waiting around twenty minutes before trying again should yield a successful result.
The GPS Acquisition Test draws precious energy from the PLB battery and to protect against excess battery drain the number of GPS Acquisition Tests that can be initiated is restricted. If this test has been initiated more than 20 times then a lockout will activate. This will be indicated by three slow flashes of the red LED after the button is released. Once locked out, no more GPS Acquisition Tests will be possible until the batteries have been replaced and the battery monitor has been reset.
Can I carry my PLB on a Passenger Aircraft ?
Safety Alert PLB products contain lithium metal batteries. Guidelines published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulate the carriage of any product containing lithium metal batteries on passenger aircraft. Each airline uses the IATA recommendations to develop and update their own policies and you should always consult with a specific airline prior to your planned travel to confirm their current policy.
As at 1 January 2020 we are unaware of any airline prohibiting carriage of a single Safety Alert PLB in your carry-on luggage provided the lithium content in the battery can be confirmed. We recommend carrying a copy of this letter in case clarification is required at an air terminal.
Products containing lithium metal batteries are not permitted with check-in luggage.
Can I use my Australian Registered Safety Alert PLB in another country ?
Our Safety Alert products have been certified by COSPAS-SARSAT for use with their international satellite-aided system which provides global coverage. More than 40 countries around the world formally participate in the management and operation of the COSPAS SARSAT search and rescue system and many other countries also benefit from their operations. Please refer to the COSPAS-SARSAT website for more information: https://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/about-us/participants. There are international agreements regarding Search and Rescue response at sea. Within the borders of individual countries, each government has its own policies.
If your beacon has been registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) then you do not need to register it in other countries during your travel. AMSA is a member of the global COSPAS-SARSAT network and can share critical information with Search and Rescue authorities in other countries in an emergency. The AMSA beacon registration database provides a mechanism for you to record details of travel plans and we strongly recommended that you make use of this facility prior to travel departure.
Warning.
We understand that some countries charge users for Search and Rescue services and insurance against these costs can usually be purchased. You may wish to determine if your Travel Insurance provides Search and Rescue cover as even a false alarm could be very expensive in some countries. We are also advised that carriage of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) may be illegal in some countries so we encourage customers to research carefully prior to travel.
Note: Safety Alert PLBs contain lithium metal batteries. Carriage of a Safety Alert PLB on a passenger aircraft is generally allowed subject to some conditions. Please refer to our Q&A regarding carriage on passenger aircraft.
How do I make a warranty claim ?
Safety Alert PLBs and EPIRBs are covered by a ten year manufacturer’s warranty against faulty materials or workmanship. This warranty does not cover product damage or abuse. If your product fails Self Test or GPS Acquisition Test you should read our FAQ regarding these tests before presuming the product has a fault. Most apparent problems arise from incorrect testing.
KTI is no longer manufacturing, replacing batteries or providing other services. All warranty claims need to be managed by your retailer. Handling fees may apply. All freight costs are the responsibility of the product owner.
Can I carry my PLB on a Boat ?
The Safety Alert PLB is waterproof and self-buoyant in water however it is not self-righting in water and is not an EPIRB. Whilst a PLB is an ideal personal complement to an EPIRB, a PLB is not an acceptable substitute for an EPIRB in cases where carriage of an EPIRB is required by law.
What is the difference between an EPIRB and a PLB ?
EPIRBs and PLBs must meet stringent performance standards ensuring reliable satellite communications in extreme environmental conditions. Both product types must be waterproof and buoyant. The most significant differences are that EPIRBs must also be self-righting in water and under worst case conditions must be capable of continuous operation for a minimum 48 hours compared to 24 hours for a PLB.
What is the IP rating of Safety Alert products ?
IP ratings are used to categorise products for resistance to dust and fresh water ingress and are not particularly suited to marine products. Safety Alert EPIRBs are designed to be waterproof to a depth exceeding 10 metres in fresh or sea water which significantly exceeds the 1.5 metre IP scale rating of IP68. Safety Alert PLBs are designed to remain waterproof to a depth exceeding 5 metres in fresh or sea water although pressure at depths exceeding 3 metres may cause inadvertent activation of the push-button switch mechanisms. Please note that Safety Alert PLBs are not designed for sustained exposure to high pressure water jets.