mcmurdo Fastfind, Руководство по обслуживанию

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Commercial in confidence 85-909
PLB service manual Issue 4 Page 18
3.9. Programming
Programming is the process of transferring information into the PLB so that when activated it
transmits an identity code unique to the PLB; this code, when checked with the beacon
registry, identifies the owner.
The identity code is stored in non-volatile memory (EEPROM) on the circuit board;
disconnecting the battery will not affect it.
When the PLB leaves the factory it is usually programmed to identify itself by a unique
country-specific serial number. Depending on the regulations of the country of use, this
information may need to be changed (eg to use a personal identification) when the PLB is
sold to a customer.
(It is also possible to obtain a PLB which contains no recognised identity. This is identified by
the absence of an identification label underneath the battery. Such a PLB MUST be
programmed before sale to a customer.)
Fastfind and Fastfind Plus Licensing and Coding
Unlike the situation with EPIRBs, there is no world-wide consensus on the use and regulation
of PLBs. Each national authority determines which protocol should be used. Some
authorities designate the identification numbers to be used in “Serialised” protocols for their
country, while others require the beacon to be programmed with numbers designated by
McMurdo. Several countries which allow PLBs to be classified as non-SOLAS EPIRBs do so
because they do not maintain a national serial number database, and rely on the ITU MMSI
database for ownership and contact details. (MMSI can only be programmed into an EPIRB
protocol, not a PLB one.)
Consequently, although the Fastfind series has COSPAS-SARSAT approval to use location
and non-location PLB and EPIRB message protocols, the product is still subject to individual
national licensing, technical, and registration requirements. This means that it is illegal to
activate a PLB in some countries, while others will permit PLBs to be used as a manual non-
SOLAS EPIRB.
The situation is further complicated by the protocol of the “Land PLB”, which is required to
identify itself by transmitting a Morse “P” once every minute on 121.5 MHz. (As has been
mentioned, it is not possible to convert such PLBs to standard coding, or vice versa.) At
present, this variant is the legal standard only in USA, but this situation may change. This
variant of PLB requires a specific programming kit for the Fastfind and Fastfind Plus.
However for the later Max and MaxG products the Morse coding is programmed using the
standard FPROG software.