ACR Electronics ResQMate RLB-40 Product Support Manual

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ACR Electronics ResQMate RLB-40 Product Support Manual Manual pdf 18 page image

Y1-03-0240A 17APPENDIX A - THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEMEPIRBs transmit to the satellite portion of the Cospas-Sarsat system.Cospas-Sarast satellites are an international system that utilizes RussianFederation and United States’ low altitude, near-polar orbiting satellites(LEOSAR). These satellites assist in detecting and locating activated 406MHz satellite beacons.Cospas-Sarsat satellites receive distresssignals from EPIRBs transmitting on thefrequency of 406 MHz. The Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz beacon signal consists ofa transmission of non-modulated carriersfollowed by a digital message format thatprovides identification data. The 406 MHzsystem uses satellite-borne equipment tomeasure and store the Doppler-shiftedfrequency along with the beacon’s digitaldata message and time of measurement.This information is transmitted in real time to an earth station called the LocalUser Terminal (LUT), which may be within the view of the satellite, as well asbeing stored for later transmission to other LUTs.The LUT processes the Doppler-shifted signal from the LEOSAR anddetermines the location of the beacon, then the LUT relays the position of thedistress to a Mission Control Center (MCC) where the distress alert andlocation information is immediately forwarded to an appropriate RescueCoordination Center (RCC). The RCC dispatches Search and Rescue (SAR)forces.The addition of the GEOSAR satellite system greatly improves the reactiontime for a SAR event. This satellite system has no Doppler capabilities at 406MHz, but will relay the distress alert to any of the LUT stations. When there isGPS data included in the distress message, SAR authorities instantly knowyour location to within 110 yards (100 m). This speeds up the reaction time bynot having to wait for one of the LEOSAR satellite to pass overhead. Becausemost of the search and rescue forces presently are not equipped to home inon the 406 MHz Satellite beacons signal, homing must be accomplished at121.5 MHz.Once the 406 MHz signal is relayed through the LEOSAR and/or GEOSARnetwork, SAR forces determine who is closest, and then proceed to thebeacon using the 121.5 MHz homing frequency.

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