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2.6 Change of Ownership or Contact Information
It is your responsibility to advise the national authority of any change in the information on the registration
form. If the current owner of the beacon is transferring the beacon to a new owner, the current owner is
required to inform the national authority by using their on line database or by letter, fax or telephone, of the
name and address of the new owner. The new owner of the beacon is required to pro vide the national
authority with all of the information requested on the registration form. This obligation transfers to all
subsequent owners. Registration forms for the United States are a vailable from NOAA by calling
1 (888) 212-7283 or by visiting our website at www.acrelectronics.com.
2.7 Lost or Stolen Beacons
Things you need to do if your beacon is stolen:
Report to your local authorities that the beacon has been lost or stolen.
Contact NOAA at 1-888-212-SAVE (7283), or your national authority, with the following information so
your beacon registration information can be updated with the appropriate remarks:
o Police Department Name
o Police Phone Number
o Police Case Number
If the beacon were to be activated, the information you provided will be forwarded to the appropriate search
and rescue authorities who will ensure that your beacon gets back to you. If someone attempts to register an
beacon reported as stolen, NOAA or your national authority will no tify the appropriate police department. Visit
www.cospas-sarsat.org for more detailed information.
SECTION 3 – RESPONSIBLE USE
The personal locator beacon is a distress signaling device of last resort, for use when all other means of self-
rescue have been exhausted; where the situation is grave and imminent, and the loss of life, limb, eyesight or
valuable property will occur without assistance. Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty.
3.1 Prevention of False Alerts
A false alert is any activation of the beacon, intentional or otherwise, that does not result from a situation of
grave and imminent danger.
Be sure to do the following:
Register your beacon. This does not reduce false alert rates; however, it does have a dramatic effect
on the impact of a false alert. When the beacon is properly registered, the situation can be resolved
with a phone call.
Be careful who you leave your beacon with. Make sure that t hey how to use it, and that they
understand the ramifications of causing a false alert. A lot of false alerts are generated b y curious
individuals. If you notice the beacon is flashing the red or green LED and BEEPING periodically on its
own, this likely means it has accidentally been activated and needs to be shut off and reported.
The COSPAS - SARSAT satellites detect distress beacon transmissions immediately. These satellites will
locate the transmission within a few m inutes of the beacon activation. If you're not in distress, you just
generated a false alert.
NOTE: If you report a false alert and the authorities have not received t he signal, don’t worry. This may mean
the beacon was deactivated before transmitting the signal.
3.2 Reporting of False Alerts
A false alert must be reported to t he nearest search and rescue authorities. The information reported must
include the beacon Unique Identifier Number (UIN), date, time, duration and cause of activation, as well as
location of beacon at the tim e of activation. If the beacon is registered outs ide of the United States, contact
your national authority.
United States Air Force Rescue Tel: 1-800-851-3051
Coordination Center (AFRCC)