The survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone,
in addition to meeting the requirements of the Radio Regulations,
the relevant ITU-R Recommendations and the general requirements set
out in Resolution A.694(17), should
comply with the following performance standards.
2.1 The equipment should be portable and capable
of being used for on-scene communication between survival craft, between
survival craft and ship and between survival craft and rescue unit.
It may also be used for on-board communications when capable of operating
on appropriate frequencies.
2.2 The equipment should comprise at least:
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.1 an integral transmitter/receiver including
antenna and battery;
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.2 an integral control unit including a press-to-transmit
switch; and
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.3 an internal microphone and loudspeaker.
2.3 The equipment should:
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.1 be capable of being operated by unskilled personnel;
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.2 be capable of being operated by personnel wearing
gloves as specified for immersion suits in regulation 33 of chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention;
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.3 be capable of single-handed operation except
for channel selection;
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.4 withstand drops on to a hard surface from a
height of 1 m;
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.5 be watertight to a depth of 1 m for at least
5 min;
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.6 maintain watertightness when subjected to a
thermal shock of 45°C under conditions of immersion;
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.7 not be unduly affected by seawater, or oil,
or both;
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.8 have no sharp projections which could damage
survival craft;
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.9 be of small size and light weight;
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.10 be capable of operating in the ambient noise
level likely to be encountered on board ships or in survival craft;
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.11 have provisions for its attachment to the
clothing of the user;
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.12 be resistant to deterioration by prolonged
exposure to sunlight; and
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.13 be either of a highly visible yellow/orange
colour or marked with a surrounding yellow/orange marking strip.
3
Class of Emission, Frequency
Bands and Channels
3.1 The two-way radiotelephone should be capable
of operation on the frequency 156.800 MHz (VHF channel 16) and on
at least one additional channel.
3.2 All channels fitted should be for single-frequency
voice communication only.
3.3 The class of emission should comply with appendix
19 of the Radio Regulations.
4
Controls and Indicators
4.1 An on/off switch should be provided with a
positive visual indication that the radiotelephone is switched on.
4.2 The receiver should be provided with a manual
volume control by which the audio output may be varied.
4.3 A squelch (mute) control and a channel selection
switch should be provided.
4.4 Channel selection should be easily performed
and the channels should be clearly discernible.
4.5 Channel indication should be in accordance
with appendix 18 of the Radio Regulations.
4.6 It should be possible to determine that channel
16 has been selected in all ambient light conditions.
5
Permissible Warming-up Period
The equipment should be operational within 5 s of switching
on.
The equipment should not be damaged by the effects of open-circuiting
or short-circuiting the antenna.
The effective radiated power should be a minimum of 0.25
W. Where the effective radiated power exceeds 1 W, a power reduction
switch to reduce the power to 1 W or less is required. When this equipment
provides for on-board communications, the output power should not
exceed 1 W on these frequencies.
8.1 The sensitivity of the receiver should be
equal to or better than 2 μV e.m.f. for a SINAD ratio of 12 dB
at the output.
8.2 The immunity to interference of the receiver
should be such that the wanted signal is not seriously affected by
unwanted signals.
The antenna should be vertically polarized and, as far as
practicable, be omnidirectional in the horizontal plane. The antenna
should be suitable for efficient radiation and reception of signals
at the operating frequency.
10.1 The audio output should be sufficient to
be heard in the ambient noise level likely to be encountered on board
ships or in a survival craft.
10.2 In the transmit condition, the output of
the receiver should be muted.
11
Environmental Conditions
The equipment should be so designed as to operate over the
temperature range -20°C to +55°C. It should not be damaged
in stowage throughout the temperature range -30°C to +70°C.
12.1 The source of energy should be integrated
in the equipment and may be replaceable by the user. In addition,
provision may be made to operate the equipment using an external source
of electrical energy.
12.2 Equipment for which the source of energy
is intended to be user-replaceable should be provided with a dedicated
primary battery for use in the event of a distress situation. This
battery should be equipped with a non-replaceable seal to indicate
that it has not been used.
12.3 Equipment for which the source of energy
is intended to be non-user-replaceable should be provided with a primary
battery. The portable two-way radiotelephone equipment should be fitted
with a non-replaceable seal to indicate that it has not been used.
12.4 The primary battery should have sufficient
capacity to ensure 8-hour operation at its highest rated power with
a duty cycle of 1:9. This duty cycle is defined as 6-second transmission,
6-second reception above squelch opening level and 48-second reception
below squelch opening level.
12.5 Primary batteries should have a shelf life
of at least two years, and if identified to be user-replaceable should
be of a colour or marking as defined in 2.3.13.
12.6 Batteries not intended for use in the event
of a distress situation should be of a colour or marking such that
they cannot be confused with batteries intended for such use.
In addition to the general requirements specified in resolution A.694(17), the following should be clearly
indicated on the exterior of the equipment: