NSS-PLB 06
NATIONAL SEARCH AND
RESCUE SECRETARIAT PERFORMANCE STANDARD
FOR 406 MHZ PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB)
4.0 TEST REQUIREMENTS
4.1 COSPAS-SARSAT Requirements
The COSPAS-SARSAT requirements shall be tested in accordance with C/S T.007 and the results must be approved by the NSS. The operational temperature range in the temperature test is -40°C to +55°C for Class 1 PLBs and -20°C to +55°C for Class 2 PLBs. All COSPAS-SARSAT specifications shall be met for 24 hours of continuous operation at the minimum temperatures (-40°C or -20°C) and maximum temperature of +55°C.
4.2 Industry Canada Requirements
The IC requirements are detailed in documents TRC-75 and RSS 287. All applicable tests are to be performed and the results be approved by IC.
4.3 Battery Life Test
This test is designed to verify the operating life of the PLB battery:
4.3.1 Procedures
The PLB shall be equipped with batteries which have the capacity expected at the end of the manufacturer's maximum recommended storage time, including any discharge due to self tests based on test rate of one per month. The PLB, depending upon its Class, is then operated in a test chamber maintained at a temperature of -20°C or -40°C ± 1°C. The power output into a 50 ohm dummy load is measured at the beginning of the test, and after 24 hours. The test shall be repeated at +55°C.
4.3.2 Power
The measured power outputs shall be 5 W ± 2 dB, for the 406 MHz transmitter, and 25 mW -0dB to +6dB for the 121.5 MHz transmitter (if so equipped).
4.4 Environmental Requirements
The environmental requirements are tested according to the procedures described in Appendix A.
4.5 Minimum Radiated Power
The minimum radiated power, for 90 percent of PLB antenna's spherical radiation area between elevation angles of 5 to 60 degrees and azimuth angles of 0 to 360 degrees, shall not be less than l.5 watts peak effective radiated power (PERP), when measured in accordance with the procedure described in Appendix B.
4.6 Satellite Reception
An operational test shall be performed to determine that the PLB can be detected with favourable ambiguity resolution and its message content received correctly by a COSPAS-SARSAT satellite and ground station. The procedure is described at Appendix B.
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