Sec. 80.1057  Special requirements for Class C EPIRB stations.

    Class C EPIRB's shall not be manufactured, imported, or sold in the 
United States after February 1, 1995. Class C EPIRB stations installed 
on board vessels before February 1, 1995, may be used until February 1, 
1999, and not thereafter.
    (a) A Class C EPIRB must operate on the frequencies 156.750 and 
156.800 MHz, must use G3N modulation, and employ the international 
Radiotelephone Two Tone Alarm signal. The EPIRB transmission must be 
cycled. Each cycle must consist of 6 periods (T1 to T6) as shown in the 
table below. During T1, T2, T3, and T5 the 156.750 MHz and 156.800 MHz 
carriers must be modulated alternately by a 2200 Hz and a 1300 Hz tone.

    The modulating duration of each tone must be 250 milliseconds. The 
maximum tolerance of the frequency and modulating duration of each tone 
must be &177;5 percent. During T4 and T6 neither of the RF 
carriers must be emitted. The T4 and T6 time periods must be varied 
according to the predetermined schedule shown in the table below. After 
the last cycle the transmissions must be terminated. The EPIRB must be 
able to recycle its transmissions in accordance to the schedule shown in 
the table below by placing the activation switch to the ``off' and then 
``on'' position.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Duration in        Transmission   
             Period                     seconds        frequency in MHz 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T1..............................  1.5...............  156.800           
T2..............................  14.5..............  156.750           
T3..............................  1.5...............  156.800           
T4..............................  40.0 (16 cycles)..  None.             
T4..............................  80.0 (32 cycles)..  ..................
T4..............................  160.0 (64.2         ..................
                                   cycles).                             
T4..............................  320.0 (83.2         ..................
                                   cycles).                             
T5..............................  14.5..............  156.750           
T6..............................  Sames as T4         None.             
                                   duration.                            
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (b) The effective radiated power must not be less than 1 watt. The 
power must be determined according to FCC Bulletin OCE 45. The EPIRB 
must meet the power requirements over each of the following temperature 
ranges for the time period shown below. Batteries may be replaced after 
completion of tests for each temperature range:
    (1) 0 to +50 degrees Celsius for 24 hours continuous operation.
    (2) -20 to 0 degrees Celsius for 12 hours continuous operation.

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    (c) The equipment must have a transmitter, an integral antenna and a 
power supply. The transmitter and power supply must be in separate 
compartments in a single watertight case.
    (d) The equipment must be provided with a visible or audible 
indicator which clearly shows the device is operating. The indicator 
must be activated by the RF output power.
    (e) The equipment must operate when hand held or when floating in 
water after storage for extended periods under marine environmental 
conditions.
    (f) The switch used to activate the EPIRB must indicate the state of 
the equipment (on-off) by the physical position of the switch. A guard 
must be provided to prevent inadvertent operation.
    (g) The equipment case must be waterproof and resealable without 
special tools or sealing compounds. EPIRB operation must not be degraded 
by submersion in sea water for a period of 24 hours.
    (h) The EPIRB must float in fresh water with the antenna vertical 
and completely out of the water.
    (i) Vacuum tubes are not permitted in EPIRB's. The EPIRB must meet 
the requirements after extended periods of inaction while carried in 
vessels and subjected to marine environmental conditions. Operation into 
any load from open to short must not result in continuous degradation of 
performance.
    (j) The exterior of the equipment must have no sharp edges or 
projections. Means must be provided to secure the EPIRB to a survival 
craft or person.
    (k) Operating instructions understandable by untrained personnel 
must be permanently displayed on the equipment. It must indicate that 
the device is ``to be used solely for distress purposes.''
    (l) The equipment must have no exposed areas or terminals that could 
ignite flammable gases or materials.
    (m) The omndirectional antenna must be securely attached to the case 
and capable of being stowed without being damaged.
    (n) The equipment must meet the technical standards after being 
dropped into water from a height of 6 meters (20 feet).
    (o) The EPIRB must meet the technical standards when plunged into 
sea water at +20 degrees Celsius after storage at a temperature of +50 
degrees Celsius.
    (p) If testing of an EPIRB with Coast Guard coordination is not 
possible, brief operational tests are authorized provided the tests are 
conducted within the first five minutes of any hour for not more than 10 
seconds.
    (q) The EPIRB must automatically turn off after 24 hours 
&177;5 percent. It must be possible to restart the transmission 
sequence by placing the on-off switch momentarily in the off position 
and returning it to the on position.
    (r) The EPIRB must be equipped with a visual indication of a low 
battery condition.
    (s) The EPIRB must have a designation that indicates it is a ``Class 
C'' EPIRB.
[ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  58 FR 33344 , June 17, 1993]