(a) Each device for automatically generating the radiotelephone alarm signal must be capable of being disabled to permit the immediate transmission of a distress call and message.
(b) The device must comply with the following requirements:
(1) The frequency tolerance of each tone must be 1.5 percent;
(2) The duration tolerance of each tone must be 50 milliseconds;
(3) The interval between successive tones must not exceed 50 milliseconds; and
(4) The amplitude ratio of the tones must be flat within 1.6 dB.
(c) Devices installed on or after January 1, 1983, must comply with the following requirements:
(1) The frequency tolerance of each tone must be 1.5 percent;
(2) The duration tolerance of each tone must be 10 milliseconds;
(3) The interval between successive tones must not exceed 4 milliseconds;
(4) The amplitude ratio of the tones must be flat within 1.6 dB;
(5) The output of the device must be sufficient to modulate the associated transmitter for H2B emission to at least 70 percent, and for J2B emission to within 3 dB of the rated peak envelope power;
(6) Light from the device must not interfere with the safe navigation of the ship;
(7) After activation the device must automatically generate the radiotelephone alarm signal for not less than 30 seconds and not more than 60 seconds unless manually interrupted;
(8) After generating the radiotelephone alarm signal or after manual interruption the device must be immediately ready to repeat the signal;
(9) The transmitter must be automatically switched from the stand-by condition to the transmit condition at the start and return to the stand-by condition at the conclusion of the radiotelephone alarm signal.
(d) Any device used by a station to automatically generate the radiotelephone alarm signal must be certificated by the Commission. [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 40059, Sept. 29, 1989; 63 FR 36606, July 7, 1998]