A 406MHz beacon is the only distress signaling device that can alert the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC) at CFB Trenton, which is manned seven days a week, 24 hours a day by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel.
Once activated, a 406 MHz beacon sends out a unique, digitally encoded signal. The orbiting COSPAS-SARSAT satellites, which provide global coverage, receive and relay the distress signal to a ground receiving station.
If the beacon is registered, the registry information is forwarded along with all alert information to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), which then assigns tasks to the responders. This entire process takes mere minutes. Did you know that the COSPAS-SARSAT system has helped to save over 50,000 lives around the world?
Why do I have to register my beacon?
It’s January and you are 75 NM (nautical miles) off the coast of Nova Scotia when your vessel catches fire. Or maybe it’s early March when your vessel loses power and begins taking on water very rapidly. You must evacuate your vessel without haste. Is now a good time to wonder if your EPIRB was registered for search and rescue purposes?
In Canada, it is mandatory (in accordance with the Navigation Safety Regulations) that your 406 MHz beacons be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry. The registration process takes mere minutes to complete and can be done by fax, by email or directly on our website at www.cbr-rcb.ca.
Your beacon registration will contain emergency contacts and descriptive details of your vessel. Without this registration information, search and rescue (SAR) responders do not know who you are, how to reach you, or what you are using the beacon for. These questions can cause delays. A delay during a winter at sea can be fatal.
Your EPIRB must be registered before being installed on your vessel. The form must be sent to our office or you must log in to our website to register the beacon as soon as it has been acquired. False alarms on unregistered beacons cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year and divert limited search and rescue resources from a real emergency, putting more lives at risk.
Please ensure you have a minimum of two emergency contacts listed. These contacts should not use the EPIRB directly and should have unique contact phone numbers. Please inform your emergency contacts that if your beacon activates, they will be called at any time of the night or day to assist the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) handling the distress case.
Have your emergency contacts changed? You may have moved and your address is different. Incorrect information is just as damaging as no information at all. It is your responsibility to update and verify your registration information; this will make a significant difference in making our lifesaving work easier, more effective and more efficient when you need it most. Once a year, we ask you to update each section of your registration to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is available when you need it most.
If you are selling a beacon or a vessel equipped with a beacon, please contact the Canadian Beacon Registry to initiate a transfer within 30 days of the transaction.
Have you purchased a new beacon or a vessel equipped with beacons? Please contact the Canadian Beacon Registry and we will help you transfer them to your name for search and rescue operations.
If you’re registering a beacon and need assistance, please feel free to contact us using our contact details. We’ll be happy to help!
What is a hexadecimal code (hexcode) and where can I find it?
The 15-character HEXCODE (often referred to as a UIN — Unique Identification Number) should be on a sticker affixed to your beacon. This HEXCODE uniquely identifies your 406MHz beacon. The HEXCODE, or HEX ID, also contains a country code which will determine what national Beacon Registry your beacon can be registered in. Important note: If the label is not on the beacon but in the box, make sure to affix it to the beacon.
What is the difference between a PLB and an EPIRB?
Small but powerful, most 406MHz personal locator beacons (PLBs) fit in the palm of your hand. Unlike a cell phone or handheld radio, a PLB is designed as a last-resort emergency signaling device.
A PLB is specially designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, to float alone or with a buoyancy pouch, and to withstand moderately rough handling. Designed to be carried by one person, it constitutes personal equipment. All 406Mhz PLBs have multiple GPS channels. Please let us know if you will be using a PLB on your vessel. This information is essential for search and rescue operations.
An EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) is a device designed to operate at sea and installed on a vessel. Some EPIRBs have AIS functionality and others have built-in strobe lights. Most EPIRBs can transmit their position via GPS. They are associated with a vessel rather than a person.
How do I test my 406MHz beacon?
All 406 MHz beacons are designed with self-test capability to evaluate key performance characteristics. EPIRBs and PLBs have separate test buttons. Initializing the beacon’s self-test function will not generate a distress alert in the Cospas-Sarsat system. However, this will use some of the beacon’s limited battery power and should only be used in accordance with the beacon manufacturer’s instructions. If you have questions regarding your beacon’s self-test mode, contact your beacon manufacturer before attempting a self-test.
Please do not dispose of your EPIRB with the batteries still inside.
Beacons must be disposed of carefully, including removing the battery, to avoid false alarms. Too many unnecessary searches were carried out in local landfills due to an emergency beacon that was improperly discarded. These searches cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
When you are decommissioning a beacon, please call the Canadian Beacon Registry to update your file with this information.
Beacon batteries contain chemically aggressive substances, so you must always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding battery removal. Please check with your local municipality to find out where to dispose of your old beacons.
Help us help you.
Register your 406 MHz beacon with the Canadian Beacon Registry.
The Canadian Beacon Registry will soon be getting a much-needed facelift with a new, user-friendly website. Stay tuned for more information.
Contact us at:
Canadian Beacon Registry
CFB Trenton, PO Box 1000, STN Forces
Astra ON K0K 3W0
1-877-406-7671
