Looking after your beacon - Beacons (2024)

Store your beacon safely

Make sure you keep your beacon dry and store it appropriately.

Storage

Keep your registration up to date

Keeping your registration details up to date assists search and rescue to locate your beacon in the event of an emergency. Please keep your registration details up to date and ensure you renew your registration before it expires every two (2) years. Updating your registration is free and can be done online through the registration system.

If you've bought or sold a boat, you can update your details on the registration system, or contact us to provide new or change details of your beacon and vessel.

To report a lost, sold or stolen beacon, call the Beacon registration help line immediately on 1800406406.

What are my options for when my battery is due to expire?

Looking after your beacon - Beacons (1)

Beacon batteries last for approximately 5-10 years. Before your battery reaches its expiry date, you should consider the options to ensure that the beacon will transmit properly in an emergency situation.

Option 1. Buy a new GPS equipped beacon Why is GPS best?

Note: If you decide to buy a new beacon, make sure you dispose properly

Option 2. Contact the beacon manufacturer for battery replacement and servicing options read more for important information about servicing your beacon.

Who is authorised to service my beacon in Australia?

If the beacon battery was replaced or serviced by a non-certified service centre then the beacon is non-compliant for carriage requirements and there is a risk the beacon may not function correctly. Please read more about who is authorised to service my beacon in Australia.

Service your beacon after activation

If you have used your beacon in a distress situation, contact the manufacturer or a certified servicing agent to replace the beacon battery and discuss your servicing options. This is because the battery may be depleted and the beacon may have been damaged during use. Therefore, the beacon will not be guaranteed to function correctly in another emergency situation.

Test your beacon

Every beacon has a self-test switch. Please ensure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines on how to perform a self-test and how often. Some manufacturers recommend that you self-test the beacon periodically, either once a month, or prior to a planned trip.

Note: Over testing can drain the battery.

For advanced users, see the beacon testing policy.

Theft of EPIRBs

EPIRBs and float-free EPIRBs must be registered with AMSA. This means the owner's personal information will be registered to the EPIRB which should deter theft. AMSA will pass on any relevant information relating to official police reports of stolen beacons.

Domestic Commercial Vessel owners are encouraged to stow the unit when the vessel is 'alongside' and remount it prior to the vessel sailing.

Looking after your beacon - Beacons (2024)

FAQs

Looking after your beacon - Beacons? ›

Test your beacon

How do you get regeneration on a beacon? ›

If the beacon is sitting on a 4-level pyramid, the "Secondary Power" section on the right also becomes active. The player can then choose either to turn on the Regeneration power in addition to the Primary Power or to raise the primary power to Level II.

Where should I put my beacon? ›

A beacon will only activate when placed on a pyramid. To build this pyramid, you'll need iron, gold, emerald, diamond, or netherite blocks. You can use just one or all of these four resources together when building your pyramid — however, you'll need a lot of them.

Where do you keep your PLB? ›

Dedicated pockets, or exterior mounting options not only allow for easier access to your PLB but also provide greater protection for your device when it's stored in an upper compartment or mounted in a higher position on the backpack.

How long do beacon effects last? ›

Beacon Range
LayersRangeDuration (After Leaving Range)
120 blocks11 seconds
230 blocks13 seconds
340 blocks15 seconds
450 blocks17 seconds
Mar 7, 2024

How do you increase the effect of a beacon? ›

Simple. Gold: The Gold can be used to increase the time limitation on the effect. Emerald: The Emerald can be used to increase the effects tier(so tier 2). Diamond: The Diamond will be used to increase the block range of the effects.

How do you feed a beacon in Minecraft? ›

Select a primary power (and a secondary power if you have a 4-level Pyramid). Then, you need to insert either a Netherite Ingot, an Emerald, a Diamond, a Gold Ingot, or an Iron Ingot. When you insert one of these items, it will allow you to press the tick button and fully activate the Beacon.

How much iron is 164 blocks? ›

You need 164 iron blocks which is 1,476 ingots.

How many stacks of blocks do you need for a full beacon? ›

Required Materials

You need 164 of the mineral blocks and 1 beacon to build the structure. Then you need 1 iron ingot, gold ingot, diamond or emerald to activate the beacon.

Can you get regeneration 2 from a beacon? ›

As of now, (at least on bedrock edition) you cannot add regeneration II to beacons. You can only add regeneration I as a side effect.

Do beacon effects stack? ›

If you happen to have another beacon and a level four Pyramid already built, you can stack them too. All you need to do is place nine more blocks on the first level, seven on the second level, five more on the third, and three more on top.

Can beacons go through water? ›

In order to activate a beacon, the beacon must meet the following requirements: Beacons require an unobstructed view of the sky. Transparent blocks (glass, water, etc.) and bedrock (the nether ceiling) are allowed.

What is the disadvantage of PLB? ›

Disadvantages of a PLB

It must NOT be used for minor emergencies or changes of plan. One-way communication. A PLB cannot receive messages. The nature of the emergency cannot be communicated.

Is a PLB reusable? ›

Both PLBs reusable, but replace the battery after each use.

How do you carry a PLB? ›

Wilderness asked Mike Hill from the Rescue Coordination Centre for his advice on where to carry your personal locator beacon (PLB). He suggests to place your PLB either in a zipped pocket of your trousers or shorts, or in a pouch attached to your belt.

How do you make a sextuple beacon in Minecraft? ›

A sextuple beacon is made of 6 beacons arranged using 8484 emeralds, diamonds, iron, or netherite.

How much iron do you need for a full 6 beacon? ›

You need 164 iron blocks which is 1,476 ingots.

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