ACR GlobalFix V6 EPIRB, Category I Float-Free
- Brand:
- ACR
- Part no:
- 2853
ACR's GlobalFix V6 (model RLB-43) in its Category I float-free housing; ACR's US part is 2853: GPS, Galileo and GLONASS, a 121.5 MHz homer and Return Link Service, but no AIS. ACR gives it a 10-year battery replacement period and over 48 hours at -20°C, and says only an authorized center may replace the battery. Its HydroFix release (9490.1) must be replaced two years after installation, and ACR's V6 page also caps it at three years from manufacture, so check the label; ACR lists it as an accessory, so confirm it is in the box. Check the beacon is coded for the US, and register it with NOAA before installing it.
Our take
A sound choice for a boat that wants a Category I float-free EPIRB that is coded for US use. The bracket releases on its own at 1.5 to 3.0 m, the lithium battery is good for 10 years, and ACR rates it for 48 hours at -20°C. Skip it if you want AIS, since ACR sends those buyers to the V5. Its main limit is upkeep: the HydroFix release runs on its own 2 to 3 year clock, separate from the battery, so track both dates. Return Link only acknowledges the alert; it is not a rescue ETA.
Where to buy
Specifications
- Type
- epirb-category-1
- Coded for the US
- Yes
- Positioning
- GPS, Galileo, GLONASS (72-channel receiver)
- Return Link Service
- Yes
- AIS alert
- No
- Battery replacement
- 10 years from manufacture, or after activation
- Operating time
- 48 h
- Hydrostatic release
- HydroFix release unit P/N 9490.1; replace 3 years from manufacture or 2 years from installation
- Floats
- floats-upright