CETC VPL8 User Manual

Personal location beacons

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REV1.2 @201505

Personal Location Beacons

VPL8

USER MANUAL

CETC Ningbo Maritime Electronics Research Institute Co., Ltd

www.cetcmaritime.com

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Page 1 REV1.2 @201505 Personal Location Beacons VPL8 USER MANUAL CETC Ningbo Maritime Electronics Research Institute Co., Ltd www.cetcmaritime.com...
Page 2: Before You Begin
Within the country, the cost of shipping the product to CETC shall pay by the customer, but the cost of returning it will be on CETC. However, foreign customer shall pay all the cost, including shipping cost to and from China, custom duties, and other fees and charges.
Page 3: In Case Of Emergency
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Attention A PLB should only be activated in situations of grave and imminent danger  to life. Misuse or false activation is unlawful and could result in a penalty. Personal Location Beacons (PLB) must be registered with appropriate ...
Page 4: Table Of Contents
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Table of Contents 1. Safety Cautions....................5 2. General........................6 3. Registering Your Beacon...................7 3.1 Why should I register.................7 3.2 What country should I register in............7 3.3 How do I register..................7 3.4 Affix beacon decal..................8 4. Product Specifications..................9 5.
Page 5: Safety Cautions
 support representative for change of batteries and other service. The VPL8 will transmit RF signal once it is turned on, but the radiation will not be  harmful to human beings. However it is advisable not to handle the antenna while the unit is transmitting.
Page 6: General
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 2. General The VPL8 is a portable unit designed for land activities such as hiking, camping, climbing, it transmits 406MHz emergency signal and 121.5MHz homing signal. Once activated, the PLB transmits a unique identification signal via the COSPAS SARSAT satellite system.
Page 7: Registering Your Beacon
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 3. Registering Your Beacon 3.1 Why should I register Registration of your 406 MHz satellite PLB with the Registration Section of your National Authority is important and mandatory in most countries because of the global alerting nature of the COSPAS-SARSAT system.
Page 8: Affix Beacon Decal
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Online registration: http://www.amsa.gov.au/beacons Email: ausbeacon@amsa.gov.au I am in New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand Tel: +64 4 577 8033 Fax: +64 4 577 8041 Online registration: http://www.beacons.org.nz/Home.aspx Email: 406registry@maritimenz.govt.nz Registration in Other Countries In countries 406 MHz beacons are registered with that country’s national authority at the time of purchase.
Page 9: Product Specifications
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 4. Product Specifications 4.1 General Beacon divide Category 1 (Buoyant), Class 2 (-20℃ to +55℃) Beacon activation Manual Transmit antenna Manual deploy, flexible vertical tape monopole Battery pack Li-MnO2, 3 * CR17335 series Battery replacement Period 8 years, by authorized agency or factory Battery operating life Minimum 24 hours in -20℃...
Page 10 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Receive antenna Ceramic patch, RHCP Location accuracy 100m 4.5 Physical characteristics Waterproof 5 m, 5 min Dimension 92 mm * 51 mm * 31 mm Weight 120 g (4.23 oz) Operating temperature -20℃ to +55℃/ -4℉ to +131℉...
Page 11: Operation
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 5. Operation 5.1 Get the best from GPS PLBs Once activated, position the PLB where the antenna is pointing straight up towards the sky to have the best all-around view of the sky. The position of the COSPAS- SARSAT satellites can affect when an alert signal is received.
Page 12: Operation Scenario
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 5.2 Operation scenario Using the PLB afloat The PLB is totally waterproof but is not designed to operate when floating on water surface. It is buoyant and will not sink if dropped into water. If possible keep it out of the water when using it, and place it high up on your life jacket, or chest and clear of any wave wash.
Page 13: Emergency Mode
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 5.3 Emergency mode Warning This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger. Deliberate misuse may incur severe penalty. Overview Personal Locator Beacons are designed to be manually activated. They are only to be activated when where are no other means of self-rescue.
Page 14 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Test results display Welcome display Power off Auto Auto Operation process Auto Auto Countdown Auto Main page 1 Main page 2 Auto Distress data 2 Distress data 1 Auto Compass display Compass calibration LCD display during emergency mode...
Page 15 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL ：没有开机前 LCD 像图 A 那样什么都没有。：There is nothing on LCD before starting,like Figure A. ：连续 3 秒长按进入紧急模式，进度条显示完全时，开机过程结束。：Press button for more than 3 seconds to go into Emergency mode, and the boot process end until the progress bar displayed entirely.
Page 16 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL ：This page is different from page H. It displays the the accurate time of first distress. Refer to the note in the ‘LCD display during emergency mode’. ：小光标显示了 PLB 所指的方向，右上角数据显示了准确的方向度数。：The small cursor displays the indicating direction of the PLB, and data at the upper right corner is the accurate direction and degree.
Page 17: Self-Test
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 1、数字罗经只有在 Emergency mode 下才能手动开启使用。 1. Digital compass can only be used manually in the Emergency mode. 2、使用过程中若发现方向指示不准确，可以随时选择再次校准。 2.Calibrating can be operated at any time when the indicating direction is not accurate. 3、数字罗经指示精确与否，与校准的方式有关。 3.The digital compass’ accuracy is based on the method of calibration.
Page 18 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Auto Power off Auto LCD display during Self-test mode...
Page 19 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL ：没有开机前 LCD 像图 A 那样什么都没有。：There is nothing on LCD before starting, like Figure A. ：连续 2 秒长按进入 TEST 模式，进度条显示完全时，开机过程结束。：Press button for more than 2 seconds to go into Test mode, and the boot process end until the progress bar displayed entirely.
Page 20: Gnss-Test (Gps-Test)
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 5.5 GNSS-test (GPS-test) This test is NOT required as all GPS receivers have been tested by CETC to ensure they perform properly. However, if you would like to make sure your GPS receiver is working, please follow these instructions very closely.
Page 21 If fault is detected GPS location fail Auto Power off Auto Auto LCD display during GPS-test mode If GPS-test fail, repeat self-test, If the failure persists, contact CETC for service.  Err code refers to APPENDIX B in this USER MANUAL. ...
Page 22 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL ：没有开机前 LCD 像图 A 那样什么都没有。：There is nothing on LCD before starting, like Figure A. ：连续 2 秒长按进入 TEST 模式，进度条显示完全时，开机过程结束。：Press button for more than 2 seconds to go into Test mode, and the boot process end until the progress bar displayed entirely.
Page 23: Stop Transmission
Once the beacon is deactivated, all blinking LED will stop, indicating that the beacon is no longer sending your distress message. Shutting down display If deactivation should fail, remove the 4 screws that hold the unit together and move the battery to disable the unit. Return the beacon to CETC for service. Note...
Page 24 VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Leave beacon on until rescued. Turning beacon off will prolong or prevent rescue. Repeated activations could be considered as a hoax.
Page 25: Guard Against False Alarm
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 5.7 Guard against false alarm A false alert is any activation of the beacon, intentional or accidental, that does not facing the situation of grave and imminent danger. False alerts will cause the rescue authorities unnecessary time and expense. To help minimize false alerts please carry out the following procedures: Register your beacon.
Page 26: Product Maintenance
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 6. Product Maintenance 6.1 Routine maintenance Check whether the exterior is damaged and whether water has got in. Clean the outer case with fresh water, wipe dry and examine for any damage. Store in a cool dry place until next needed.
Page 27: Battery Replacement
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 6.3 Battery replacement Warning The battery should be replaced by an approved service agent. Lithium batteries require specialist methods for disposal. Do not charge the battery or short circuit. If the expiry date marked on the battery pack has been reached then it must be ...
Page 28: About The Cospas-Sarsat System
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL 7. About the COSPAS-SARSAT system 7.1 COSPAS-SARSAT explained COSPAS-SARSAT system is a satellite system that provides alarming and location data to assist searching and rescuing actions. It detects 406MHz signal from position indicating radio beacons through air- or ground-based equipment to identify the coordinates of position of accident.
Page 29: Global Positioning System (Gps)
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL Beacons signal processing procedures: Turning on of beacon. Beacon transmits signal that carries user identification code or serial number, with the interval of about 50s. The satellite receives signal from the beacon, and retransmits the signal to usable LUT within its visual angle.
Page 30: Transportation
1 (one) year from date of purchase or receipt as a gift. During the warranty period CETC will repair or, at your option, replace the unit with no cost to you for labor, materials and return transportation from CETC.
Page 31: End Of Life Statement
(BFRs), both in the housing material and circuit boards. In keeping with the directive, CETC strongly recommends that this PLB product and its battery pack be disposed of in a sensible and considerate manner. For example, do not simply discard the product in the domestic waste.
Page 32: Appendix A - User Interface: Special Icons
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL APPENDIX A - USER INTERFACE: SPECIAL ICONS Battery gauge  The gauge illustrates the remaining charge in the battery as a percent of the total possible charge. 406MHz or 121MHz output power is ok   406MHz or 121MHz waiting for transmit ...
Page 33: Appendix B - Status Of Beacon Indicator
VPL8 PLB USER MANUAL APPENDIX B - STATUS OF BEACON INDICATOR Strobe BEACON STATE TX121 TX406 STATE Light display Flash Flash Flash Self-test pass Pass once once once Self-test fault Fault Flash Flash GNSS Self-test pass Pass once once GNSS Self-test fault...