Double Check your Registration

An important part of registering your EPIRB or PLB is verifying that your beacon's unique ID matches your NOAA registration label that was sent to you.

It’s very easy to mistakenly type or write in a wrong character when registering your EPIRB or PLB, we're all human after all. But if you do mistakenly make an error while registering your beacon and NOAA does not catch this error, you might register a beacon other than your own. Why does this matter? If you ever activate your beacon and your registration was entered incorrectly, search and rescue agencies might not be able to pull up your registration data and this could lead to confusion and a delayed response to your beacon activation. Not to worry, here are some simple tips to help make sure your registration is up to par.

Review the Labels:
When you registered your beacon, NOAA should have sent you by mail a registration confirmation which included a label to place on your beacon. This label contains the same unique HEX ID number that is on your beacon's label.

Simply locate the two labels on your EPIRB or PLB, the UIN label that was attached to your beacon when you bought it, and the NOAA registration label that was mailed to you. Make sure that the unique 15 character numbers are identical. If they match, every thing's okay. If they do not, contact NOAA or go online to update your registration.

Don't have a NOAA label:
If you were not sent a registration label from NOAA (or the governing agency in your country) or you simply cannot find it, here are some simple tips to help you double-check your registration.

I registered online:
Go online and log into your registration account at http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ (or your countrys online registration website). The free account that you set up will have your unique 15 digit HEX ID information posted; verify that this number registered on the website matches the HEX ID label that is on your EPIRB or PLB.

I registered by Fax or Mail:
Two things you can do here, (1) set up an account online (it's fast, easy and free) by visiting http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ (or the governing agency in your country) and re-register your beacon online. Before you submit, double check that the 15 digit HEX ID label on your beacon matches what you have entered in the website. Press submit.
Or you can download the registration form online (http://www.acrelectronics.com/regpop.aspx) and simply fill it out by hand, double check that the HEX ID is accurate and either mail or fax this form. NOAA (or the governing agency in your country) will then send you another label to place on your beacon. Since NOAA entered your information into the database, be sure that the HEX ID on the label they sent you matches the HEX ID on your EPIRB. If your handwriting was sloppy or the fax machine blurred a number, you might discover a problem that you can get fixed very easily by just identifying the problem exists.

Mail or Fax to:
NOAA/SARSAT
NSOF, E/SP3
4231 Suitland Road
Suitland, MD 20746
Fax No. 301-817-4565

Registration is a key component to how an EPIRB or PLB can bring you help fast when you need it. So do your due diligence and spend 30 seconds to verify that your beacon is correctly registered. It could be the most important 30 seconds of your life if you should ever need to activate your beacon!

If you have any questions about this form or with EPIRB registration in general, please call 1-888-212-SAVE (7283) or 301-817-4515.

For information on the U.S. Search & Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system, please visit: www.sarsat.noaa.gov