ACR RLB-12 Class B EPIRB = OBSOLETE

[Ken Coit]

Those of you carrying around the subject EPIRB might want to reconsider. Here is a legally unofficial word I received from someone there:

"The RLB-12 is obsolete It went out of production in 1988 and no longer meets USCG standards I recomend replacing it with another B class or with a 406 MHZ EPIRB."

All I wanted was a battery, but I guess I have a bit of history instead.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC



parfait@nc.rr.com

[John R.]

Those of you carrying around the subject EPIRB might want to reconsider. Here is a legally unofficial word I received from someone there:

"The RLB-12 is obsolete It went out of production in 1988 and no longer meets USCG standards I recomend replacing it with another B class or with a 406 MHZ EPIRB."

All I wanted was a battery, but I guess I have a bit of history instead.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

I've got one. Why did they say it doesn't still meet USCG standards? Would they still sell you the battery? It may no longer be approved but that doesn't mean the beacon can't be received. I don't think it makes a wit of difference, maybe a call to the USCG is in order. Perhaps ACR has some new units stacking up in the warehouse and you stumbled across a marketing ploy. Got any more details?

[Ken Coit]

John,

ACR sent me a fairly long email that was mostly a legal disclaimer and the usual "destroy before reading" message lawyers tend to put on anything they fax out just in case it is inadvertently sent to the wrong fax machine. After reading it, I felt a little aprehensive about sharing what I did, but thought it would be disservice not to do that.

In their email, they suggested that I purchase a modern EPIRB; we all know they have a stock and many models at large prices. They still sell a Class B model or two and, since they are being phased out of service by the Coast Guard, I'm sure they want to get rid of them. Clearly the 406 MHz EPIRBs are better products, but for coastal cruising, do I really want to spend that kind of money? A good DSC VHF and GPS would be more helpful.

They did not offer to sell me a battery, so I assume they went out of production in 1988 as well and that the stock has been depleted. Maybe there is one on a shelf in some chandlery somewhere. The battery must be something special as it is listed in the manual as being "magnesium." Maybe the old battery has the voltage printed on it and I can ressurect my obsolete EPIRB with an outlaw battery. I have a similar vintage strobe light that uses a 6 volt lantern battery.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the CG; I will check with them as well.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NV

Those of you carrying around the subject EPIRB might want to reconsider. Here is a legally unofficial word I received from someone there:

"The RLB-12 is obsolete It went out of production in 1988 and no longer meets USCG standards I recomend replacing it with another B class or with a 406 MHZ EPIRB."

All I wanted was a battery, but I guess I have a bit of history instead.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

I've got one. Why did they say it doesn't still meet USCG standards? Would they still sell you the battery? It may no longer be approved but that doesn't mean the beacon can't be received. I don't think it makes a wit of difference, maybe a call to the USCG is in order. Perhaps ACR has some new units stacking up in the warehouse and you stumbled across a marketing ploy. Got any more details?

parfait@nc.rr.com

[John R.]

John,

ACR sent me a fairly long email that was mostly a legal disclaimer and the usual "destroy before reading" message lawyers tend to put on anything they fax out just in case it is inadvertently sent to the wrong fax machine. After reading it, I felt a little aprehensive about sharing what I did, but thought it would be disservice not to do that.

In their email, they suggested that I purchase a modern EPIRB; we all know they have a stock and many models at large prices. They still sell a Class B model or two and, since they are being phased out of service by the Coast Guard, I'm sure they want to get rid of them. Clearly the 406 MHz EPIRBs are better products, but for coastal cruising, do I really want to spend that kind of money? A good DSC VHF and GPS would be more helpful.

They did not offer to sell me a battery, so I assume they went out of production in 1988 as well and that the stock has been depleted. Maybe there is one on a shelf in some chandlery somewhere. The battery must be something special as it is listed in the manual as being "magnesium." Maybe the old battery has the voltage printed on it and I can ressurect my obsolete EPIRB with an outlaw battery. I have a similar vintage strobe light that uses a 6 volt lantern battery.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the CG; I will check with them as well.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NV

Those of you carrying around the subject EPIRB might want to reconsider. Here is a legally unofficial word I received from someone there:

"The RLB-12 is obsolete It went out of production in 1988 and no longer meets USCG standards I recomend replacing it with another B class or with a 406 MHZ EPIRB."

All I wanted was a battery, but I guess I have a bit of history instead.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

I've got one. Why did they say it doesn't still meet USCG standards? Would they still sell you the battery? It may no longer be approved but that doesn't mean the beacon can't be received. I don't think it makes a wit of difference, maybe a call to the USCG is in order. Perhaps ACR has some new units stacking up in the warehouse and you stumbled across a marketing ploy. Got any more details?

Ken,
Thanks for the additional points. I still am not sure what they mean when they say " no longer meets USCG standards", that's rather ambiguous I think. Basically an epirb is an epirb except some are received differently and easier than others. It doesn't mean they can't receive a class B or even an older class C. I think we need to hear what the USCG has to say on this matter. My ACR is still working but the battery is out of date and needs replacing. I think the USCG would have no concerns on such matters unless the boat is a charter, commercial fishing or commercial passenger carrying vessel. An epirb is not USCG required equipment on a recreational vessel and so I do not understand ACR's comments to you. Naturally we all would love a 406 on board but lets face it those things are very expensive. That's why I think there is a big market for a basic class B.

When I get some time I'm going to check around to see if that battery pack can't be had from another source. If I come up with anything I'll be sure to make a post to the board.

FWIW, I'd be more comfortable on board with the class B over a DSC and GPS primarily because of the latters dependency on ships power.

[Ken Coit]

John,

Thanks for the note. I made an inquiry of the CG via email after searching their lists of accepted devices. The manual clearly states on the front cover that the RFB-12 was FCC Type Accepted (Part 83.144 as a Class "B" EPIRB, but I see no reference to USCG acceptance even though the ACR/SM-2 Man Overboard Light is listed as approved by the Coast Guard (161.010/6/0). Did they approve EPIRBs back then? The revision dates for the manual range from 1/30/76 to 9/15/81; if they went out of production in 1988, it may well be that there are no replacement parts available. Like you, I'd like to keep this one humming until the system is taken out of service, but ACR is being no help.

I'll let you know what I hear from the Coast Guard.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

John,

ACR sent me a fairly long email that was mostly a legal disclaimer and the usual "destroy before reading" message lawyers tend to put on anything they fax out just in case it is inadvertently sent to the wrong fax machine. After reading it, I felt a little aprehensive about sharing what I did, but thought it would be disservice not to do that.

In their email, they suggested that I purchase a modern EPIRB; we all know they have a stock and many models at large prices. They still sell a Class B model or two and, since they are being phased out of service by the Coast Guard, I'm sure they want to get rid of them. Clearly the 406 MHz EPIRBs are better products, but for coastal cruising, do I really want to spend that kind of money? A good DSC VHF and GPS would be more helpful.

They did not offer to sell me a battery, so I assume they went out of production in 1988 as well and that the stock has been depleted. Maybe there is one on a shelf in some chandlery somewhere. The battery must be something special as it is listed in the manual as being "magnesium." Maybe the old battery has the voltage printed on it and I can ressurect my obsolete EPIRB with an outlaw battery. I have a similar vintage strobe light that uses a 6 volt lantern battery.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the CG; I will check with them as well.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NV

I've got one. Why did they say it doesn't still meet USCG standards? Would they still sell you the battery? It may no longer be approved but that doesn't mean the beacon can't be received. I don't think it makes a wit of difference, maybe a call to the USCG is in order. Perhaps ACR has some new units stacking up in the warehouse and you stumbled across a marketing ploy. Got any more details?

Ken,
Thanks for the additional points. I still am not sure what they mean when they say " no longer meets USCG standards", that's rather ambiguous I think. Basically an epirb is an epirb except some are received differently and easier than others. It doesn't mean they can't receive a class B or even an older class C. I think we need to hear what the USCG has to say on this matter. My ACR is still working but the battery is out of date and needs replacing. I think the USCG would have no concerns on such matters unless the boat is a charter, commercial fishing or commercial passenger carrying vessel. An epirb is not USCG required equipment on a recreational vessel and so I do not understand ACR's comments to you. Naturally we all would love a 406 on board but lets face it those things are very expensive. That's why I think there is a big market for a basic class B.

When I get some time I'm going to check around to see if that battery pack can't be had from another source. If I come up with anything I'll be sure to make a post to the board.

FWIW, I'd be more comfortable on board with the class B over a DSC and GPS primarily because of the latters dependency on ships power.

parfait@nc.rr.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

121.5 MHz Satellite Processing Phase-out

<a href="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/SARSAT ... HZ.html</a>

See the <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/sar.htm">USCG's Search & Rescue</a> web site for more info.


catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

John,

Thanks for the note. I made an inquiry of the CG via email after searching their lists of accepted devices. The manual clearly states on the front cover that the RFB-12 was FCC Type Accepted (Part 83.144 as a Class "B" EPIRB, but I see no reference to USCG acceptance even though the ACR/SM-2 Man Overboard Light is listed as approved by the Coast Guard (161.010/6/0). Did they approve EPIRBs back then? The revision dates for the manual range from 1/30/76 to 9/15/81; if they went out of production in 1988, it may well be that there are no replacement parts available. Like you, I'd like to keep this one humming until the system is taken out of service, but ACR is being no help.

I'll let you know what I hear from the Coast Guard.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

John,

ACR sent me a fairly long email that was mostly a legal disclaimer and the usual "destroy before reading" message lawyers tend to put on anything they fax out just in case it is inadvertently sent to the wrong fax machine. After reading it, I felt a little aprehensive about sharing what I did, but thought it would be disservice not to do that.

In their email, they suggested that I purchase a modern EPIRB; we all know they have a stock and many models at large prices. They still sell a Class B model or two and, since they are being phased out of service by the Coast Guard, I'm sure they want to get rid of them. Clearly the 406 MHz EPIRBs are better products, but for coastal cruising, do I really want to spend that kind of money? A good DSC VHF and GPS would be more helpful.

They did not offer to sell me a battery, so I assume they went out of production in 1988 as well and that the stock has been depleted. Maybe there is one on a shelf in some chandlery somewhere. The battery must be something special as it is listed in the manual as being "magnesium." Maybe the old battery has the voltage printed on it and I can ressurect my obsolete EPIRB with an outlaw battery. I have a similar vintage strobe light that uses a 6 volt lantern battery.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the CG; I will check with them as well.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NV

Ken,
Thanks for the additional points. I still am not sure what they mean when they say " no longer meets USCG standards", that's rather ambiguous I think. Basically an epirb is an epirb except some are received differently and easier than others. It doesn't mean they can't receive a class B or even an older class C. I think we need to hear what the USCG has to say on this matter. My ACR is still working but the battery is out of date and needs replacing. I think the USCG would have no concerns on such matters unless the boat is a charter, commercial fishing or commercial passenger carrying vessel. An epirb is not USCG required equipment on a recreational vessel and so I do not understand ACR's comments to you. Naturally we all would love a 406 on board but lets face it those things are very expensive. That's why I think there is a big market for a basic class B.

When I get some time I'm going to check around to see if that battery pack can't be had from another source. If I come up with anything I'll be sure to make a post to the board.

FWIW, I'd be more comfortable on board with the class B over a DSC and GPS primarily because of the latters dependency on ships power.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Ken Coit]

Don't panic, the date is Feb. 1, 2009. However, the CG isn't the authority any longer, if it ever was. I got a reply from them about the ACR RLB-12 EPIRB which essentially said to call NOAA. When I called NOAA, someone answered with a few words about the FAA, but then they didn't know anything about EPIRBs. After several misdirects, I gave up and went to NOAA's web site where I learned a lot. At the foot of this message are several links you might find interesting.

In summary, the Search and Rescue system operates on NOAA satellites.
Some old EPIRBs, nautical Emergency Location Transmitters (ELTs), seem to either not work when needed or leak when immersed in water. I think we can assume that ACR's RLB-12 falls into this category since no one wants to talk about it and the communique from them to me came from either the Legal Dept. or someone who certainly had Legal Dept. backing.

New Class B EPIRBs are subject to all the interference and anonymity of the old ones, they just happen not to leak and probably work more often when needed. You can buy a new one for around $250. Used units probably come on the market from time-to-time. Unfortunately, more than 90% of the alarms in the 121.5 MHz / 243 MHz service they use are false. In other words, no matter if you have a good Class B EPIRB, it is not going to be as effective a 406 MHz EPIRB; it will not be recognized as early, and it will not report your ID. It would be a great service to our government if we would all trash our Class B EPIRBs and the ELTs used in aircraft. Unfortunately, there are some 140,000 of these and less than 1000 of the newer units. The newer units run from about $500 for a manual personal locator beacon to over $2000 for an automatic EPIRB.

Anyway, it is a dilemma if you want an EPIRB or have one you thought would help. Below are some NOAA and USCG links that will add to your knowledge. There might be a big market for a handheld VHF with DSC and GPS capability once the CG is equipped to handle it. By then, it ought to be on one chip and cost about $25 to manufacture.

The main link to the NOAA Search and Rescue site is provided in the link at the end of the message.

USCG on EPIRBs:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirb.htm

NOAA Comparison of EPIRB types
http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/406-121.html

Download Phaseout Announcement of 121.5 MHz Satellite Alerting (Feb. 1, 2009)
http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/121phaseout.pdf

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

121.5 MHz Satellite Processing Phase-out

<a href="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/SARSAT ... HZ.html</a>

See the <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/sar.htm">USCG's Search & Rescue</a> web site for more info.


catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

John,

Thanks for the note. I made an inquiry of the CG via email after searching their lists of accepted devices. The manual clearly states on the front cover that the RFB-12 was FCC Type Accepted (Part 83.144 as a Class "B" EPIRB, but I see no reference to USCG acceptance even though the ACR/SM-2 Man Overboard Light is listed as approved by the Coast Guard (161.010/6/0). Did they approve EPIRBs back then? The revision dates for the manual range from 1/30/76 to 9/15/81; if they went out of production in 1988, it may well be that there are no replacement parts available. Like you, I'd like to keep this one humming until the system is taken out of service, but ACR is being no help.

I'll let you know what I hear from the Coast Guard.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

Ken,
Thanks for the additional points. I still am not sure what they mean when they say " no longer meets USCG standards", that's rather ambiguous I think. Basically an epirb is an epirb except some are received differently and easier than others. It doesn't mean they can't receive a class B or even an older class C. I think we need to hear what the USCG has to say on this matter. My ACR is still working but the battery is out of date and needs replacing. I think the USCG would have no concerns on such matters unless the boat is a charter, commercial fishing or commercial passenger carrying vessel. An epirb is not USCG required equipment on a recreational vessel and so I do not understand ACR's comments to you. Naturally we all would love a 406 on board but lets face it those things are very expensive. That's why I think there is a big market for a basic class B.

When I get some time I'm going to check around to see if that battery pack can't be had from another source. If I come up with anything I'll be sure to make a post to the board.

FWIW, I'd be more comfortable on board with the class B over a DSC and GPS primarily because of the latters dependency on ships power.

parfait@nc.rr.com