---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 C.F.R. § 80.221"
title: "47"
number: "80.221"
heading: "Special requirements for automatically generating the radiotelephone alarm signal."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/47/80.221"
---

# §80.221. Special requirements for automatically generating the radiotelephone alarm signal.

- (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.

## Notes

### Amendments

[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 40059, Sept. 29, 1989; 63 FR 36606, July 7, 1998]

### Authority

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 U.S.T. 3450, 3 U.S.T. 4726, 12 U.S.T. 2377.

### Source

Source: 51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 40059, Sept. 29, 1989; 63 FR 36606, July 7, 1998]