NOAA Approves ACR Portable 406-MHz Beacons

 June 9, 2022

ACR Electronics’ ResQLink 410 and ResQLink View personal locator beacons (PLBs) with Return Link Service (RLS) have been approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for use of the RLS feature in the U.S. The beacons have also received Cospas-Sarsat approval.

RLS provides two-way confirmation to the ResQLink PLB that a distress signal has been received by search-and-rescue (SAR) responders. The ResQLink 410 shows the response via a confirmation light, while the ResQLink View delivers the message on the unit’s display. An advantage of the ResQLink devices is that no subscription is needed; but because they are 406-MHz devices, registration with a country’s national authority is required.

The ResQLink PLBs work on both the GPS and Galileo satellite networks and the three Cospas-Sarsat satellite systems, according to ACR, including the new Meosar network. “Using the next-gen network, anyone activating a ResQLink PLB can expect their beacon to be located within 100 meters (328 feet), 95 percent of the time, within five minutes of the distress signal,” the company said.

Both PLBs are equipped with infrared and ultra-bright strobe lights to aid SAR crew using night-vision goggles. The devices have built-in buoyancy, an operating life of more than 24 hours, and multiple mounting options.