Sec. 80.1053  Special requirements for Class A EPIRB stations.

    (a) A Class A EPIRB station must meet the following:
    (1) Float free of a sinking ship;
    (2) Activate automatically when it floats free of a sinking ship;
    (3) Have an antenna that deploys automatically when the EPIRB 
activates;
    (4) Use A3X emission on a mandatory basis and A3E and NON emissions 
on an optional basis on the frequencies 121.500 MHz and 243.000 MHz;
    (5) Transmission of A3E or NON emission must not exceed 90 seconds 
and must be followed by a transmission of at least three minutes of A3X 
emission; each transmission of a synthesized and/or pre-recorded voice 
message must be preceded by the words ``this is a recording'';
    (6) The effective radiated power must not be less than 75 milliwatts 
after 48 hours of continuous operation and without replacement or 
recharge of batteries.
    (7) The mandatory A3X emission must be amplitude modulated with an 
audio signal swept downward between 1600 and 300 Hz. The sweeping range 
of the audio signal must be 700 Hz or greater. Its sweep repetition rate 
must be between 2 and 4 times per second. The modulation factor must be 
at least 0.85 and the modulation duty cycle must be at least 33%, but 
not more that 55%.
    (8) EPIRBs manufactured on or after October 1, 1988; EPIRBs carried 
as part of a ship station to satisfy USCG equipment carriage 
requirements that are newly installed on or after April 1, 1989; EPIRBs 
carried as part of a ship station to satisfy USCG equipment carriage 
requirements on or after August 1, 1991; and EPIRBs that are newly 
installed as part of a voluntarily equipped ship station after August 1, 
1991, must have a clearly defined carrier frequency distinct from the 
modulation sidebands for the mandatory emission, A3X, and if used, the 
A3E or NON emissions. On 121.500 MHz at least thirty per cent of the 
total power emitted during any transmission cycle with or without 
modulation must be contained within plus or minus 30 Hz of the carrier 
frequency. On 243.000 MHz at least thirty per cent of the toal power 
emitted during any transmission cycle with or without modulation must be 
contained within plus or minus 60 Hz of the carrier frequency. 
Additionally, if the type of emission is changed during transmission the 
carrier frequency nust not shift more than plus or minus 30 Hz on 
121.500 MHz and not more than plus or minus 60 Hz on 243.000 MHz. The 
long term stability of the carrier frequency must comply with the 
requirements in Sec. 80.209(a) of this part.
    (9) Have a visible or audible indicator which clearly shows that the 
device is operating. The indicator must be activated by the RF output 
power. The indicator must be protected from damage due to dropping or 
contact with other objects;
    (10) Float in calm water with at least the upper 5 cm (2 in.) of the 
EPIRB out of the water and the base of the antenna at least 5 cm (2 in.) 
above the water, with the antenna in a vertical position completely 
above the water surface;
    (11) Be ballasted to right itself from a position of 90 degrees from 
its upright position in one second or less;
    (12) Meet the requirements of paragraphs (a) (1) through (9) of this 
section after a free fall into water 3 times from a height of 20 meters 
(66 ft.);
    (13) Bear a designation that indicates it is a ``Class A'' EPIRB;
    (14) Have a positive means of turning the equipment off. When an on-
off switch is employed a guard must be provided to prevent inadvertent 
operation.
    (b) Class A EPIRB's must have a manually activated test switch which

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must be held in position for test operation and when released return the 
EPIRB to its normal state. A switch guard must be provided to prevent 
inadvertent activation. Class A EPIRB's must also have an associated 
test circuit and an RF output power indicator which in the test position 
must:
    (1) Permit the operator to determine that the unit is operative;
    (2) Switch the transmitter output to an artificial antenna 
equivalent to that of the EPIRB antenna;
    (3) Reduce radiation to a level not to exceed 100 nanowatts at a 
distance of 30 meters (98 feet) irrespective of direction.
    (c) EPIRBs manufactured on or after October 1, 1988, must be tested 
in accordance with subpart N, part 2 of this chapter. A report of the 
measurements must be submitted with each application for type 
acceptance. EPIRBs that meet the output power characteristics of this 
section must have a permanent label prominently displayed on the outer 
casting stating, ``Meets FCC Rules for improved satellite detection.'' 
This label, however, must not be placed on the equipment without 
authorization to do so by the Commission. Application for such 
authorization may be made either by submission of a new application for 
type acceptance accompanied by the required fee and all information and 
test data required by parts 2 and 80 of this chapter or, for EPIRBs type 
accepted prior to October 1, 1988, an application for modification 
accompanied by the required fee requesting such authorization, including 
appropriate test data and a showing that all units produced under the 
original type acceptance authorization comply with the requirements of 
this paragraph without change to the original circuitry. If the intent 
is simply to add the proper label to an already approved and compliant 
EPIRB, a letter of notification prior to implementing the labeling 
requirements will be needed. This letter request should be sent to the 
attention of the Authorization and Evaluation Division, 7435 Oakland 
Mills Road, Columbus, Maryland 21046, attention EAB. The modulation, 
power and frequency stability requirements specified in paragraphs 
(a)(6), (a)(7) and (a)(8) of this section must be met under the 
environmental test conditions specified in subpart N, part 2 of this 
chapter.
    (d) Vacuum tubes are not permitted in EPIRB's. The equipment must 
meet the requirements after extended periods of inaction while carried 
in vessels and subjected to the environmental conditions prescribed. 
Operation into any RF load from open to short must not cause continuing 
degradation in performance.
    (e) EPIRBs must be powered by a battery contained within the 
transmitter case or in a battery holder that is rigidly attached to the 
transmitter case. The battery connector must be corrosion resistant and 
positive in action and must not rely for contact upon spring force 
alone. The useful life of the battery is the length of time that the 
battery can be stored under marine environmental conditions without the 
EPIRB transmitter peak effective radiated power falling below 75 
milliwatts prior to 48 hours of continuous operation. The month and year 
of the battery's manufacture must be permanently marked on the battery 
and the month and year upon which 50 percent of its useful life will 
have expired must be permanently marked on both the battery and the 
outside of the transmitter. The batteries must be replaced if 50 percent 
of their useful life has expired or if the transmitter has been used in 
an emergency situation. EPIRBs manufactured after April 27, 1992 must 
display prominently on the outer case one of the following: The battery 
installation instructions, the title of the manual that contains such 
information, or the company name and address where the battery 
installation can be performed.
    (f) The EPIRB must be waterproof and must not be accidentally 
activated by rain, seaspray, hose wash-down spray or storage in high 
humidity conditions. Standing water on the outer surface must not 
significantly affect its performance.
    (g) Operating instructions understandable by untrained personnel 
must be permanently displayed on the equipment.

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    (h) The exterior of the equipment must have no sharp edges or 
projections. Means must be provided to fasten the EPIRB to a survival 
craft or person.
    (i) The antenna must be deployable to its designed length and 
operating position in a foolpoof manner. The antenna must be securely 
attached to the EPIRB and easy to de-ice. The antenna must be vertically 
polarized and omnidirectional.
[ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986;  52 FR 35246 , Sept. 18, 1987, as amended at 
 53 FR 8905 , Mar. 18, 1988;  56 FR 11516 , Mar. 19, 1991]