User Manual

ARTEX PLB
Configuration Kit
Contents

Contents.......................................................................................... 2
Introduction ..................................................................................... 3
Installation ...................................................................................... 3
Programming Software ................................................................... 3
Brother PT-P750W Printer ............................................................... 4
Installing the USB Programming Adaptor .......................................... 4
ARTEX PLB Programming ................................................................... 7
Using National Protocol ................................................................. 10
Clearing an Existing Configuration for Reprogramming ..................... 11
Printing forms.............................................................................. 11

2
Introduction
The ARTEX PLB Configuration Kit provides the software to program the
ARTEX PLB.
Where allowed, the ARTEX PLB will be shipped pre-configured with the
Cospas-Sarsat serialized protocol and the MID of the country that the PLB
is being shipped to. Distributors and authorised dealers will be able to
configure or reconfigure beacons to change the country code or the
protocol where alternatives are allowed. The following document
describes the process.
The ARTEX PLB Configuration kit can be ordered from ACR Electronics
using the following part number:

9620

The ARTEX PLB programming software operates with a low-cost label

printer, the Brother PT-P750W, to allow printing out new UIN labels for
the ARTEX PLB. The label cartridge that should be utilized with this
Brother printer is as follows:

• Brother 24mm (0.94”) Black on White Flexible ID Tape, 8m (26.2

ft). The Brother model number for this tape cartridge is TZEFX251

Installation

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not connect the printer until the ARTEX PLB
programming software installation is completed.

Programming Software
The Configuration Kit is supplied with the programming adaptor with USB
cable and information on how to download the programming instructions
and the programming software from the ACR web site.
To download the ARTEX PLB programming software, go to
www.acrartex.com, click on “SUPPORT,” click on “Technical Support,” and
then click on the “Downloads” dropdown menu which can be found in the
ARTEX Technical Support section. Click on “ARTEX PLB Programming
Software and Beacon Configuration Instructions” and then select the files
you wish to download. You can choose to download the Windows 10
version or the Windows XP version of the ARTEX PLB Programming
Software. After selecting the applicable programming software version,

3
click on “Download” on the right side of your screen. A Beacon Config zip
file will download to your computer. Open the zip file and then open the
Beacon Config folder located within the zip file. You are now ready to
install the Beacon Configuration Software 1. Open the “BeaconConfig.msi”
file and then follow the prompts that take you through the BeaconConfig
Setup Wizard.

Brother PT-P750W Printer

Install the printer drivers found in the “Printer Drivers” folder. The Printer
Drivers folder is located in the “BeaconConfig” folder which is created on
your PC when the ARTEX PLB Programming Software is installed.

DO NOT CONNECT THE PRINTER UNTIL THE DRIVERS ARE

INSTALLED.

Installing the USB Programming Adaptor

On completion of the programming software installation and the Brother
PT-P750 printer drivers installation, the programming adaptor should be
plugged in to a USB port on the computer.
Windows will detect the USB device and complete the driver installation
automatically. However, the installation process may vary depending on
the version of Windows installed. If prompted, follow the instructions
below which will enable you to manually choose where the driver files are
located. If you receive no prompts and the programming adaptor drivers
are automatically installed, the installation process is now complete. Skip
to the next section on ARTEX PLB Programming.
Ensure Windows only looks in the chosen location by selecting ‘No, not
this time’ from the options.

1
If an older version of the configuration software is already installed, the old version of
the software will need to be removed first. You will need to Uninstall the old version in
the Control Panel to fully remove the program. Do not just delete the existing files.

4
Then select ‘ Install from a list or specific location’

When prompted to select the location, browse for the driver files in the
Beacon Config directory chosen during the programming software
installation. (The default location is shown below)

The driver installation process will continue and on completion the

following will show.
5
Windows will now install the serial port for this USB device as follows.
Make the same selections as above.

6
ARTEX PLB Programming
The beacon should be placed in the programming mode.
To enter the programming mode, press and hold the ON
and TEST keys simultaneously. The Indicator LED will
show amber. Wait until the LED starts flashing. Release
both keys. The LED will change to green. Press the Test
key. The LED will flash red once and the strobe will flash.
The PLB is now in programming mode.
Place the aperture on the front of the programming
adaptor over the indicator LED on the PLB as shown in the
image on the right (the indicator LED is located
immediately to the left of the power button).
Open the beacon configuration program. The opening screen shows the
following.

7
After the PLB data has been loaded, the configuration page will now be
displayed with the details of the unit being configured.

The above screen shows an un-programmed ARTEX PLB so there is no

protocol, country code or HEX ID showing. Select the country from the
drop down box.

Once a country is selected (as shown below), the next step is to select the
protocol required.

8
Press either the CS or MMSI buttons. If CS is selected the serial number
will be automatically entered 2.
If the MMSI mode is selected enter the last six digits of the MMSI into the
box. The first three digits are the MID which is automatically entered
when the country code is selected.
Check that the correct protocols have been selected and press the
<Update Beacon> button. The confirmation popup will show.

Press <Yes> to complete the programming. Confirmation will be shown in

the following popup.

Press <OK>. The main screen will now be updated with the calculated
HEX ID.

2
If the Russian MID is selected, it will be possible to edit the serial number as required
by the Russian administration, otherwise this field cannot be changed.

9
(Note this is how the screen will look when a pre-programmed PLB is first
read.)
The PLB is now programmed.

Using National Protocol

Some countries such as Finland, Greece and Norway use individually
allocated National numbers for coding PLBs. These can be entered as
follows. From the Beacon Configuration screen, click on the dropdown box
next to “Location Protocol:” and select “National” from the dropdown list.

Then enter the allocated National Protocol number for your specific
country in the empty “National Serial Number” field that will appear below
the Location Protocol dropdown. See image below for an example of this.

10
The PLB is now updated in the normal way.
(Note that national numbers may be allocated in bulk and programmed
directly into the PLB at the time of manufacture. Australia is one such
country. Do not attempt to change this number unless the country is also
being changed.)

Clearing an Existing Configuration for Reprogramming

If the ARTEX PLB has been programmed previously, it will need to be
cleared before updating it with a new identity. After the PLB has been
read and the contents are displayed, press the <CTRL>, <ALT> and <Z>
keys simultaneously. A confirmation pop up will appear.

Press <Yes> to confirm. The PLB will now be cleared.

Press the <Configure New Beacon> button and continue as for a new PLB.
(Note: This process was introduced to prevent accidentally writing the current
configuration to a new PLB and creating a duplicate.)

Printing forms
Following the successful configuration of the PLB, the UIN label should be
printed, using the Brother PT-P750W printer. Click the <Print UIN Label>
button.
11
The label will now be printed and cut on your printer. This label should
now be affixed to the rear of the PLB over the existing UIN number where
already printed. A clear label is included in the ARTEX PLB box to cover
over the rear label, which should be fitted at this point.
(It will be a good idea to print another label to fit over the box end label.)
The programming certificate can now be printed. Click the <Print Forms>
button, which will open a new window.

Enter the battery expiry date (etched on the top of the PLB). If the users
contact details are also known, please enter these in the appropriate
boxes. Click on <Print> to print the programming certificate on your
default printer.
Also to allow ARTEX to keep a record of the changes made to the PLBs,
please click on the <Email> button to email the registration details.
(Requires the computer to be connected to the Internet.)

12