Sec. 80.261  Technical requirements for automatic-alarm-signal keying 
          device.

    (a) The automatic-alarm-signal keying device may consist of one or 
more units.
    (b) The device must be designed to activate the keying circuits of 
any transmitter approved by the Commission for use as a main or reserve 
transmitter.
    (c) Timing-adjustment controls must not be accessible from the 
exterior of the device.
    (d) The device must be able to repeatedly transmit the alarm signal. 
For this purpose the dashes transmitted must have a duration of 3.8 to 
4.2 seconds, and spaces between each of the twelve dashes constituting a 
series

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must have a duration of 0.8 to 1.2 seconds. Spaces between each series 
of twelve dashes must have a duration of 0.8 second to one minute. This 
operation must be sustainable with power supply voltage variations of 
&177;15%.
    (e) A single control, protected to avoid accidental manipulation, 
must be provided for placing the device into full operation within 30 
seconds. Once in operation, the device must be capable of continuous 
operation without attention for a least one hour.
    (f) When the ``on-off'' control of the device is placed in the 
``off'' position, the keying circuit to the radio transmitter(s) must be 
automatically opened.
    (g) The automatic-alarm-signal keying device must be capable of 
operation from a power supply independent of ship power. It may operate 
from the radio station emergency power supply.
    (h) Instructions for adjustment of the device and the correct 
indication of any instrument incorporated to reveal improper operation 
must be inscribed on a plate mounted on the device in a position to be 
easily read by the operator.
    (i) The keying circuit must be capable of switching 0.75 amperes DC 
through a 32 ohms non-inductive resistance. If the automatic-alarm-
signal keying device is also intended to be used with transmitters 
requiring a keying circuit capability of 2 amperes DC through a 115 ohms 
non-inductive resistance, the keying circuit of the device must comply 
with this latter requirement.
    (j) The automatic-alarm-signal keying device must operate within 
specifications throughout the temperature range 0-50 degrees Celsius at 
relative humidities as high as 95%.
    (k) The automatic-alarm-signal keying device must be protected from 
excessive currents, power supply reversals and voltage variations which 
could cause damage to any component.
    (l) The automatic-alarm-signal keying device must be capable of 
operating when subjected to vibrations having a frequency between 20 and 
30 Hertz and an amplitude of 0.76 mm (0.03 inch) in a direction at an 
angle of 30 to 45 degrees with the base of the automatic-alarm-signal 
keying device.
[ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  58 FR 44952 , Aug. 25, 1993]

 Sec. 80.263  Common requirements for survival craft radio equipment.

    In addition to the requirements set forth in Secs. 80.265 and 
80.267, survival craft radio equipment must comply with the following:
    (a) The radio equipment must be operable without tools.
    (b) Each equipment must be provided with an instruction manual 
covering the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the 
equipment.
    (c) Simple instructions for the operation of the equipment must be 
prominently and permanently attached to it. These instructions must 
include information about the erection of the antenna(s), and automatic 
and manual transmission of the international distress and alarm signals 
on 500 kHz.
    (d) An artificial antenna for test purposes must be provided.
    (e) The survival craft radio transmitter must meet the following:
    (1) Must be pretuned to the required frequencies. The operating 
frequencies must be maintained within the prescribed tolerances under 
varying voltages, antenna circuit characteristics, and other normal 
conditions of adjustment, and shock or vibration. The frequency control 
circuit adjustments must not be readily available to the person using 
the transmitter;
    (2) Antenna tuning controls must be provided on the operating panel. 
An initial adjustment of these controls must resonate the antenna 
circuit at each required operating radio frequency. Resonance must be 
maintained without further adjustment of the controls during a normal 
operating period of the transmitter;
    (3) The front panel must contain controls for manual operation on 
500 kHz, manual operation on 8364 kHz, and automatic operation 
alternately on these two frequencies. Not more than one manual switch 
adjustment must be necessary to transmit automatically. For manual 
radiotelegraphy the transmitter and receiver, including their controls, 
must be arranged so that they

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can be operated from the same operating position and the time necessary 
to change from transmission to recepition and vice versa must not exceed 
two seconds; and
    (4) In automatic operation the radio must:
    (i) On 500 kHz transmit the international radiotelegraph alarm 
signal followed by the international radiotelegraph distress signal, the 
latter to be transmitted in one or more separate groups, each group 
consisting of three separate distress signals;
    (ii) On 8364 kHz transmit the international radiotelegraph distress 
signal in one or more separate groups, each group consisting of three 
separate distress signals; this group or these groups to be followed by 
a continuous long dash of not less than 30 seconds in duration;
    (iii) Transmit the specified signals by automatically changing the 
operating frequency of the transmitter from 500 kHz to 8364 kHz and vice 
versa with a transfer time interval not to exceed one second;
    (iv) Completely de-energize the receiver during operation of the 
transmitter;
    (v) Be capable of testing the required automatic keying arrangement 
without the generation of radio frequency energy; and
    (vi) For automatic transmission of the international radiotelegraph 
distress signal, not exceed 16 words per minute or be less than 8 words 
per minute. The alarm signal dashes must have a duration within the 
limits of 3.8 to 4.2 seconds, and the spaces between each of the 12 
dashes constituting a series must have a duration within the limits of 
0.8 to 1.2 seconds.
    (f) Survival craft radio receivers must meet the following 
requirements:
    (1) The receiver must be capable of receiving A2A or H2A emission 
over the 492-508 kHz band without manual tuning and when manually tuned 
must be capable of receiving A1A and A2A or H2A and J2A emission on any 
frequency in the 8320-8745 kHz band;
    (2) The selectivity of the receiver preceeding the final detector 
must be flat within 6 dB over the band 492 to 508 kHz;
    (3) The audio frequency response of the receiver must be flat within 
6 dB over the range of frequencies between 400 and 1400 Hertz; and
    (4) The receiver must be equipped with only one manually operated 
volume control.
    (g) The artificial antenna must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Provide a reliable test load for the transmitter at the 
frequencies 500 kHz and 8364 kHz of approximately the same electrical 
characteristics as the single wire or collapsible rod antenna required 
by this section;
    (2) Be housed in a single container and provided with terminals. If 
more than two terminals are provided on the artificial antenna, all the 
terminals must be labelled; and
    (3) Be prominently labelled ``FOR TEST USE ONLY''.