ACR Terrafix 406 GPS I PLB

I am the ACR rep for Colorado. I just called my contact at ACR about your question. When you register it for Europe it will go through whatever system that France has setup with the EU. Now if you where to ever us it in the US I would re register here in the US. Or I would refill out the register form and under the notes section mention that you are going to be in the US during these dates. You can do this as many times as you want. Anytime that you have a MAJOR trip I would do this no matter what country you are going to. It does help with the speed at which they can deploy SAR. Hope this helps.

This is the international registration site: www.406registration.com

I actually think I have found the answer to my question: the "I" model DOES NOT have an on-board GPS receiver, and the "I/O" model does. I got this from pages 5 and 6 of the owner's manual, paras 4.2.2 and 4.2.3. If anyone reads this differently, I'd like to know what their interpretation is.

The ACR Terrafix and Microfix will work in any country on earth without the user having to do anything. The signal is monitored by the US SAR Coordination Center which has 60 unmanned ground stations positioned around the world. There is no place on earth that this PLB will not work. Because it uses the COSPAS SARSAT Satellite System (owned by 4 countries; US, France, Soviet Union, and Canada) which has a series of 10 satellites and the GPS satellite system you are assured that you will be found. The only concern should be the SAR organization in the particular country you will be visiting. Anywhere in Europe you will be more than ok in this regard.

Yes. Go to www.acrplb.com and click on the link entitled "Register your PLB" It's super easy!

yes-------The "I" version uses the COSPAS SARSAT system exclusively which means you will be located in about an hour within a 2 mile radius. This unit also emits a 121.5 signal which allows the ground crews to find you very quickly once they know where you generally are. This system is almost 100% reliable (unlike the GPS system) and will assure you will be rescued. The "I/O" unit utilizes the GPS system to allow for a quicker and more accurate location (5 minute acquisition within a 100 meter radius). However this is only the case if you can acquire a GPS signal. Otherwise it will default to the COPSAS SARSAT system as well.

No, this is the GPS Interface model ("GPS I", means "GPS Interface", not Roman numeral 1). If you look at the other ACR TerraFix on this site, it's listed as the GPS I/O for "Interface/Onboard."