BEACON Tester 406 02

Progressive Technology to Ensure Maritime Safety

BEACON TESTER 406 02

BEACON TESTER enables professional checking of all types of maritime emergency radio beacons that operate in COSPAS-SARSAT system, such as EPIRBs, PLBs.

Use BEACON TESTER to carry out accurate, independent measurements of the COSPAS-SARSAT distress beacon parameters in a volume of:

annual testing under IMO Resolution MSC/Circ.1040 (MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.1);
shore-based maintenance under IMO Resolution MSC/Circ.1039;
fast check after beacon’s encoding or installation.

Product Overview

TESTER for ANY COSPAS-SARSAT BEACON

EPIRB Tester is a specified service equipment and reliable test solution for ship surveyors, beacon suppliers, classification societies and administrative authorities. It checks the operation of all types of distress beacons (EPIRBs, PLBs) of any manufacturer, and any other device (SSAS, SVDR, VDR) operating within the COSPAS-SARSAT system.

The Tester is intended to determine that the EPIRB is operational as defined in the appropriate performance standards:

IMO Resolution A.810(19) Performance standards for floatfree satellite emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) operating on 406 MHz
IEC 61097-2: Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) – Part 2: COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRB – Satellite emergency position indicating radio beacon operating on 406 MHz – Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results
RTCM 11000.3 – Standard for 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons, required by U.S. Federal Communications Commission and defines performance requirements for EPIRBs used on U.S.-registered vessels.

Dimensions

BEACON Tester (or EPIRB Tester) is lightweight, handheld and easy to use thanks to its intuitive interface.

The device has a 10-button keyboard and a backlit LCD display.

The Tester can be supplied in a watertight and crushproof plastic case. Standard set is shipped in the carton box.

Dimensions of main unit: 195 x 101 x 43 mm

Weight of main unit: 0.55 kg

Dimensions of plastic case: 280 x 250 x 110 mm

Total weight in case: 1.5 kg

Product Features

Beacon Tester is a very convenient tool to check the 406MHz Cospas Sarsat Beacon operation

Testing Procedure For Beacon

The Beacon Tester receives the signal, measures the frequency values, power level in all channels, signal duration, calculates and compares the BCH code and finally decodes all emergency information automatically.

The tester measures the parameters of the beacon using a standard external antenna (from 3 to 15 meters), as well as using a high-frequency cable and an attenuator connection.

Note: an attenuator is required to measure the power level, otherwise the power level will only be estimated.

Features:

All 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT protocols will be decoded;
Reception of the signal within the range of 406.020…406.040 MHz frequencies;
Easy and quick audio-control of the sweep signal presence on 121.5 MHz frequency;
Internal database of received data with possibility to save up to 10 test results
Easy connection to PC, laptop, notebook to process the stored data
Windows and MAC OS user friendly desktop application for storing databases and viewing, processing, and printing test reports;
Long life batteries, easy to replace
2 years warranty

All test procedures could be provided in accordance with international standards::

IMO Resolution MSC/Circ.1040 (MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.1);
IMO Resolution MSC/Circ.1039;

All data can be viewed on the tester’s LCD, saved or transmitted to PC for report creation.

The tester is powered by 4 AA batteries 1.5V, as well as by external DC source with voltage 4.5…7V and load current no less than 500mA.

Technical Specification:

The BEACON tester allows to perform:

reception, demodulation and decoding of the emergency information transmitted on channel 406MHz;
frequency measurement of 406MHz signal in range of 406.020…406.040MHz, with accuracy to ±500Hz;
audio-control of the sweep 121.5MHz signal presence in range of 121500 ±10kHz;
power level measurement on 406MHz channel within the range 19 – 43dBm or 0.08W – 20W, with accuracy to ±3.0dB by means of antenna and ±0.5dB by means of attenuator;
power level measurement on 121.5MHz channel within the range 13 – 20dBm or 20-100mW, with accuracy to ±3.0dB by means of antenna and ±0.5dB by means of attenuator;
estimation of the positive/negative phase deviation of modulated signal, with accuracy to ±2.8о;
measurement of total transmission time of 406MHz signal, with accuracy to ±0.2%;
measurement of unmodulated carrier duration of 406MHz signal;
estimation of the equivalent radiated power of 406MHz signal through broadcast.

The tester is designed to operate at the temperature range from 0°С to + 45°С and relative air humidity should be no more than 95%, which is determined by used LCD.

The tester power supply is performed by 4 AA batteries 1.5V, as well as by external DC source with voltage 4.5…7V and load current no less than 300мА. The tester is power supplied by USB cable when connected to computer or net USB adapter.

Approximate continuous operation time of the tester from the internal power supply elements is about 6 hours.

BEACON Tester 406 02