The ARX-50 has three large, circular push buttons and seven LEDs that indicate settings. The push buttons switch between alternate modes. Each button is assigned a set of functions. See Figure 1. Each button “beeps” when depressed. The LED indicators are either red or green to signify the system mode. Green LEDs signify that the system is in a normal state and red LEDs signify that the system is in an atypical state.
Turn on the ARX-50
The red OFF LED will be illuminated while the system is turned off, yet is still connected to a power supply. To turn on the ARX-50, depress the On/Off button. The LEDs will blink on and off, and the green On LED will illuminate. Set to default at the factory, the alarm mode is active on channel
121.5MHz. Some signal level indicators may flicker while the unit searches for a signal.
Choose Alarm mode or Monitor mode
Alarm mode
The Alarm mode for the ARX-50 is the system’s default mode. In this mode, the radio beacon signal detector circuitry is activated, i.e., The system is ready to detect 121.5 MHz signals.
In Alarm mode, the speaker is silenced until a 121.5 MHz beacon signal is detected, at which time a loud audible siren and a flashing bright red LED are activated.
The ARX-50 detects an activated Mini B™300 beacon, and other activated beacons that transmit 121.5 MHz signals.
The ARX-50 is designed to only detect an alarm on 121.5 MHz signals that originate from an activated beacon.
The signal strength meter is always active in this mode. If there is a strong signal that is not from a beacon, the signal strength will still be displayed on the signal strength meter, but the ARX-50 will not alarm.
Monitor High mode
This mode is intended for advanced users to obtain more information about a received signal.
NOTE: The ARX-50 reverts back to Alarm mode after 15 minutes in Monitor High mode.
In the monitor modes, the ARX-50 detector circuitry is deactivated. The demodulated 121.5 MHz audio signal is annunciated at all times. If there is not any signal on the 121.5 MHz carrier, whether activated beacon or other source, static will be audible. The speaker volume is high, and the signal strength meter is active.
