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8.0 RECOMMNENDED SARFINDER® SEA TRIAL TEST
PROCEDURE
Each SARfinder® is taken through a series of tests before it is signed off ready for despatch: system accuracy, signal strength
check, system function check/alarm activation. These tests are performed as follows:
1. In house test on simulator to simulate different ranges and transmitted power.
2. Outside test over 0.25 mile with 100mW PLB fitted to lifejacket worn by a technician.
3. Outside test over 1 mile with 100mW PLB fitted to lifejacket worn by a technician.
4. Outside test over 2 miles with 500mW PLB fitted to lifejacket worn by a technician.
It is recommended that a "set" test and training procedure, at sea is carried out at regular intervals to familiarise crew members
with the parameters of your system.
Sea Trial Recommended Procedure
1.
Make sure the PLB (Test frequency, Green case) is fitted to a lifejacket or marker buoy and a weight added so that the
lifejacket/buoy allows the antenna to be positioned at an angle of between 45 degrees to 90 degrees. This will give the
preferred angle for the beacon to transmit at optimum power. Also make sure the batteries are in good working order.
2. Switch on the SARfinder®- Press and hold the ON/OFF button.
3.
Press TONE DETECT (this will cancel all background noise).
4.
Select FREQUENCY to match the frequency of the test beacon.
5.
Arm the PLB and throw the lifejacket overboard (the PLB will auto-activate after 2 to 5 seconds depending on the
model). Providing the PLB is fully submerged enabling the water pins make the circuit.
6.
When an SOS Signal is received the MOB alarms will trigger and the LEDs on the display will flash on and off.
7.
Press RESET after the alarm has sounded for few seconds, this will cancel the alarms and put the SARfinder® into
tracking mode. Your unit will now begin displaying the direction of the SOS signal, it will take a few seconds to calculate
the bearing correctly. However if you are too close the Sarfinder receiver may be swamped and a little distance may be
required.
8.
Bring the vessel around so the SOS direction
bearing is unstable press the RESET button to clear any bearing error. To completely reset the system press the TONE
DETECT button so the unit re-arms and reactivates when a SOS signal is received. Then press the RESET button to put
the unit back into tracking mode.
9.
Check the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) this will tell you the approximate range of the PLB, the further away
you move from the PLB the fewer green lights will illuminate.
10. Repeat this process at ranges 0.5 mile, 1 mile, 1.5 miles, 2 miles and continue until you lose the signal. This will allow
you to determine the parameters of your system; this will vary according to placement of the antenna and weather
conditions.
11. When you are ready to affect recovery move towards the target checking the RSSI. When the target is very close all four
GREEN
RSSI LEDs will be illuminated.
12. Slow the vessel down to a couple of knots.
13. The ahead bearing LED is
14. When the central
will be within approx. 100-200m of the target.
15. Steer around and past the target by 15° (1 bearing LED) this means you will not collide with the target in the water.
Prepare your crew for recovery of the target.
16. The target LED on the relative bearing display will now move quickly around the display as the vessel moves alongside
and past the target. Turn the vessel back around towards the target at very low speed.
17. Recover the target from the water and switch off the PLB.
ORANGE
to indicate you are aiming straight towards the target
RED
RSI light (the head of the little red man in the middle of the SARfinder logo) begins to flash you
ORANGE
LED is ahead, check the direction bearing in relation to PLB. If the
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