🔍 Key Concepts

• Radiotelegraph/Distress auto-alarm equipment and its purpose • SOLAS / FCC or USCG requirements for testing radio distress equipment at sea • Difference between checks done once per watch and checks done once per day

💭 Think About

• Think about how often critical distress alerting equipment needs to be verified so it will work in an emergency, without interrupting normal operations too frequently. • Is the auto-alarm test requirement tied more to each radio watch, to each 12‑hour period, or to a daily ship routine like log entries? • Which of these intervals best matches standard practice for other mandatory radio tests required by SOLAS or national regulations while at sea?

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm in your reference materials how often the auto-alarm specifically (not the general radio) must be tested when the vessel is at sea. • Check whether the regulation uses the wording "at least once every…" and which exact time period is stated. • Verify that you are not confusing the auto-alarm test frequency with the frequency of listening watch requirements or other radio checks.