{"id":"C2004L06433","name":"Ministerial Standard 274","slug":"ministerial-standard-274","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"263 of 1990","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":28201,"registerId":"commonwealth-C2004L06433-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Ministerial Standard 274","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nStatutory Rules 1990 No. 2631\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nStandard under the Radiocommunications Act 1983\n\nI, KIM CHRISTIAN BEAZLEY, the Minister for Transport and Communications, hereby make the following standard under section 9 of the Radiocommunications Act 1983.\n\nDated 30 July 1990.\n\nKIM C. BEAZLEY\n\nMinister for Transport and Communications\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nSTANDARD UNDER THE RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1983 FOR RADIOTELEPHONY EQUIPMENT USED IN THE VHF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME MOBILE SERVICE\n\nPART 1—PRELIMINARY\n\nCitation\n\n1. This standard may be cited as “Ministerial Standard 274”.\n\nInterpretation\n\n2. In this standard, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n“battery-end-of-life voltage” means the manufacturer’s declared voltage below which the battery is incapable of operating the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s stated specifications;\n\n“channel” means a 25 kHz band centred on the nominal carrier frequency;\n\n“coast station” means a station established on land primarily for the purpose of communicating with ship stations including the transmission and reception of messages on behalf of the public;\n\n“dB” means decibel;\n\n“dBm” means decibel relative to one milliwatt;\n\n \n\n“device” means a device to which this standard applies;\n\n“emission” means radiation produced, or the production of radiation, by a radiocommunications transmitter;\n\n“F3E” means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a frequency modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information;\n\n“G3E” means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a phase modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information;\n\n“handheld station” means a station designed to be carried on the person and deriving primary power from a replaceable or rechargeable internal battery;\n\n“Hz” means hertz;\n\n“kHz” means kilohertz;\n\n“limited coast station” means a station established on land for the purpose of communicating with ship stations and which is not used for the transmission and reception of messages on behalf of the public;\n\n“MHz” means megahertz;\n\n“mW” means milliwatt;\n\n“octave” means a doubling of frequency;\n\n“out-of-band emission” means an emission on a frequency or frequencies outside the permitted bandwidth which results from the modulation process but is not a spurious emission;\n\n“permitted bandwidth” means the 16 kHz band centred on the operating carrier frequency;\n\n“radiation” means the outward flow of energy from any source by means of radio transmission;\n\n“radiotelephony” means a form of radiocommunications set up for the transmission of speech or, in some cases, other sounds;\n\n“rated audio-frequency output power” means the maximum power available at the receiver output terminals as stated by the equipment manufacturer;\n\n“reference audio frequency output power” means an audio power level:\n\n(a) 10 dB below rated audio-frequency output power in the case of a coast station, limited coast station and ship station; or\n\n(b) 3 dB below rated audio-frequency output power in the case of a handheld station;\n\n“reference sensitivity” means the minimum input signal level that can be applied to a receiver to produce standard SINAD ratio at reference audio frequency output power;\n\n \n“ship station” means a station established aboard a ship and which is used primarily for communicating with land stations and other stations established aboard ships;\n\n“SINAD ratio” means the ratio, at the receiver output, of the power of the signal plus noise plus distortion to the power of the noise plus distortion;\n\n“spurious emission” means an emission on a frequency or frequencies which are outside the permitted bandwidth and the level of which may be reduced without affecting the corresponding transmission of information;\n\n“standard device” means a device which complies with this standard;\n\n“standard SINAD ratio” means a SINAD ratio of 12 dB;\n\n“station” means an installation or thing that is, or includes, a radiocommunications transmitter or receiver;\n\n“transmitter” means a radio communications transmitter;\n\n“unwanted emission” means a spurious emission or an out-of-band emission;\n\n“VHF International Maritime Mobile Service” means a maritime oriented radiocommunication service operating on designated channels within the frequency band 156.025 MHz to 162.025 MHz inclusive;\n\n“W” means Watts; and\n\n“°C” means degrees Celsius.\n\nDevices to which this standard applies\n\n3\\. (1) Subject to subclauses 3 (2) and 3 (3), this standard applies to coast stations, limited coast stations, ship stations and handheld stations designed or intended for the purpose of, or purposes which include, radiotelephony operation in the VHF International Maritime Mobile Service.\n\n(2) Where a coast station, limited coast station, ship station or handheld station is designed or intended for:\n\n(a) the purpose of radiotelephony operation in the VHF International Maritime Mobile Service; and\n\n(b) another purpose or purposes;\n\nthis standard applies only to that part or those parts of the station necessary for the purpose in paragraph 3 (2) (a).\n\n(3) While ship stations established aboard vessels subject to the Navigation Act 1912 may comply with this standard as it applies to ship stations, the standard does not make such compliance mandatory.\n\n \nPART 2—GENERAL\n\nEquipment markings\n\n4. (1) Subject to subclause 4 (3), there shall be displayed on a device:\n\n(a) a compliance statement in the form set out in item 1 of the Schedule:\n\n(i) indicating that the device complies with this standard; and\n\n(ii) citing the type approval number shown on the compliance statement certificate issued in respect of the device under section 12 of the Radiocommunications Act 1983; and\n\n(b) its type or model designation which shall be distinctively different from that of imported equipment requiring modification before it complies with this standard.\n\n(2) A statement or marking displayed on a device in accordance with subclause 4 (1) shall be clearly visible on the exterior surface of the device, indelible, tamper proof and affixed in such a manner as not to be removable except by destruction or defacing.\n\n(3) Paragraph 4 (1) (a) does not apply to a device unless the importer, manufacturer or supplier of the device, as the case may be, has been issued with a compliance statement certificate in respect of the device.\n\nAdjustment mechanisms\n\n5. (1) For the purpose of this clause an “adjustment mechanism” is a mechanism which enables the operation of a standard device to be altered so that the device contravenes the requirements of this standard.\n\n(2) Any adjustment mechanism shall be contained within the housing of a device and shall be accessible only with the use of tools such as screwdrivers and spanners.\n\nControls and indicators\n\n6. (1) A device shall provide a visual indication of the presence of radio frequency output power when transmitting.\n\n(2) The channel switching arrangement incorporated in a device shall be such that the time taken to switch from one channel to another shall not exceed five seconds.\n\nChannel operation\n\n7. (1) Subject to clause 13 and subclause 7 (2) a device shall be capable of operation only on a channel designated in the first column of the table set out in item 2 of the Schedule, being a channel whose transmit and receive nominal carrier frequency is specified in:\n\n(a) the second and third column respectively opposite that channel in the case of a ship station or handheld station; or\n\n \n\n(b) the fourth and fifth column respectively opposite that channel in the case of a coast station or limited coast station.\n\n(2) Where an alternate set of channels, in addition to those specified in subclause 7 (1), is available the device shall:\n\n(a) provide a clear indication of which set of channels is in use; and\n\n(b) be designed so that the channel set on which the device operates at switch-on corresponds to that specified in subclause 7 (1).\n\n(3) A device shall operate on only one channel at any one time.\n\n(4) A device shall be inhibited from transmitting during channel switching operations.\n\nNOTE: Only channels as specified in subclause 7 (1) will be authorised or licensed for use in Australian waters.\n\nConditions of operation\n\n8. The requirements of Parts 3 and 4 shall be met by a device when it operates at:\n\n(a) ambient temperatures of between 0°C and 55° C inclusive; and\n\n(b) subject to paragraph 8 (c), voltages within ±10% of the primary supply voltage stated by the manufacturer; and\n\n(c) in the case of handheld stations, voltages between the primary supply voltage stated by the manufacturer, and the battery-end-of-life voltage.\n\nPART 3—TRANSMITTER\n\nApplication\n\n9. In this part “transmitter” means a radiotelephony transmitter of a coast station, limited coast station, ship station and handheld station.\n\nEmission modes\n\n10. A transmitter shall be capable of operation only in:\n\n(a) the G3E emission mode; or\n\n(b) the F3E emission mode with a nominal 6 dB per octave pre-emphasis characteristic in the audio pass band.\n\nFrequency error\n\n11. The carrier frequency error of a transmitter shall not exceed ±1600 Hz.\n\nMandatory distress channels\n\n12. A transmitter shall be capable of operation on:\n\n(a) channel 16 (the international distress, safety and calling channel); and\n\n \n\n(b) channel 67 (designated in Australia as the supplementary distress and safety channel).\n\nInhibited channels\n\n13. A transmitter shall not be capable of operation on:\n\n(a) channels 75 and 76 (the guardband channels); and\n\n(b) channel 70 (which is reserved exclusively for digital selective calling for distress and safety communications).\n\nCarrier power\n\n14. (1) The output carrier power of a transmitter shall not exceed:\n\n(a) 50 W for a coast station and limited coast station;\n\n(b) 25 W for a ship station; or\n\n(c) 5 W for a handheld station.\n\n(2) Subject to subclause 14 (3), the output carrier power of a transmitter shall be greater than:\n\n(a) 10 W for a coast station and limited coast station; or\n\n(b) 7 W for a ship station.\n\n(3) A transmitter of a ship station or handheld station shall incorporate a facility to permit a reduction of output carrier power to not more than 1 W.\n\nProtective design\n\n15. A transmitter shall not be damaged by any short or open circuit of the antenna terminals when transmitting at maximum power.\n\nModulation limiting\n\n16. The maximum frequency deviation of a transmitter shall not exceed ± 5 kHz under any modulation conditions.\n\nModulation sensitivity\n\n17. With any external microphone gain control adjusted for minimum microphone sensitivity a 1000 Hz sinusoidal signal applied to the transmitter microphone at a sound pressure level of 1.0 Pascal shall produce a frequency deviation of not less than 2.5 kHz.\n\nModulation characteristic\n\n18. (1) In the absence of frequency deviation limiting, the transmitter modulation response shall increase at a nominal rate of 6 dB per octave over the modulating frequency range of 300 Hz to 3000 Hz inclusive, with the variation from a linear rate of increase being less than +1 dB and –3 dB when referenced to the response at 1000 Hz.\n\n \n\n(2) The transmitter modulation response at a modulating frequency of 6 kHz shall not exceed that obtained at a modulating frequency of 1 kHz.\n\n(3) At modulating frequencies increasing from 6 kHz to 25 kHz, the transmitter modulation response shall fall at a rate of not less than 14 dB per octave, or until the transmitter noise level is reached.\n\nOut-of-band emission supression\n\n19. The power of each out-of-band emission from a transmitter shall not exceed:\n\n(a) 20 dBm where the frequency of the emission differs from the operating carrier frequency by greater than 8 kHz but not greater than 12.5 kHz;\n\n(b) 0 dBm where the frequency of the emission differs from the operating carrier frequency by greater than 12.5 kHz but not greater than 16 kHz;\n\n(c) –15 dBm where the frequency of the emission differs from the operating carrier frequency by greater than 16 kHz but not greater than 25 kHz; or\n\n(d) –26 dBm where the frequency of the emission differs from the operating carrier frequency by greater than 25 kHz.\n\nSpurious emissions\n\n20. The power of any spurious emission from a transmitter shall not exceed:\n\n(a) –26 dBm for a coast station, limited coast station and ship station; or\n\n(b) –16 dBm for a handheld station.\n\nPART 4—RECEIVER\n\nApplication\n\n21. In this part “receiver” means a radiotelephony receiver of a coast station, limited coast station, ship station and handheld station.\n\nReceive modes\n\n22. A receiver shall be capable of demodulation of the emission modes specified in clause 10 of this standard.\n\nMandatory distress channels\n\n23. A receiver shall be fitted for reception on channels 16 and 67.\n\nReference sensitivity\n\n24. The reference sensitivity of a receiver shall be equal or lower in level than –113 dBm.\n\n \nAdjacent channel selectivity\n\n25. The adjacent channel selectivity of a receiver at a frequency offset 25 kHz above or below the nominal carrier frequency shall be equal or greater than:\n\n(a) 70 dB for a coast station, limited coast station and ship station; or\n\n(b) 60 dB for a handheld station.\n\nBlocking immunity\n\n26. The blocking immunity of a receiver at a frequency offset 1.6 MHz above or below the nominal carrier frequency shall be equal or greater than:\n\n(a) 90 dB for a coast station, limited coast station and ship station, or\n\n(b) 80 dB for a handheld station.\n\nIntermodulation immunity\n\n27. The intermodulation immunity of a receiver with two unwanted signals, one offset 25 kHz and the other 50 kHz from the nominal carrier frequency shall be equal or greater than 65 dB.\n\nSpurious response immunity\n\n28. The spurious response immunity of a receiver at frequencies offset from the nominal carrier frequency by greater than 25 kHz, and within the frequency band of 100 kHz to 1000 MHz inclusive, shall be equal or greater than:\n\n(a) 70 dB for a coast station, limited coast station and ship station; or\n\n(b) 60 dB for a handheld station.\n\nConducted spurious signals\n\n29. The power of any spurious signal from a receiver shall not exceed:\n\n(a) –57 dBm for a coast station, limited coast station and ship station; or\n\n(b) –47 dBm for a handheld station.\n\nAudio frequency response\n\n30. The audio frequency response at the receiver output shall fall at a nominal rate of 6 dB per octave over the audio frequency range of 300 Hz to 3000 Hz inclusive. The variation from a linear rate of decrease shall be less than +1 dB and –3 dB when referenced to the response at 1000Hz.\n\n \nMaximum squelch level\n\n31\\. The maximum squelch opening and closing level of a receiver shall not exceed –103 dBm.\n\nTelephone handset\n\n32\\. Where a receiver incorporates a telephone handset an input signal modulated with a 1000 Hz sinusoid at a frequency deviation of ±3 kHz and at a level required to establish standard SINAD ratio shall produce a corresponding audio power at the telephone handset of not less than 1 mW.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nSCHEDULE\n\n| ITEM 1: THE FORM OF A COMPLIANCE STATEMENT “COMPLIES WITH MS274TYPE APPROVAL No…” | (Clause 4) |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |\n| ITEM 2: CHANNEL OPERATION | (Clause 7) |\n\n```html\n

Channel number

Ship station and handheld station

Coast station and limited coast station

Column 1

Column 2 Transmit

Column 3 Receive

Column 4 Transmit

Column 5 Receive

60

156.025

160.625

160.625

156.025

01

156.050

160.650

160.650

156.050

61

156.075

160.675

160.675

156.075

02

156.100

160.700

160.700

156.100

62

156.125

160.725

160.725

156.125

03

156.150

160.750

160.750

156.150

63

156.175

160.775

160.775

156.175

04

156.200

160.800

160.800

156.200

64

156.225

160.825

160.825

156.225

05

156.250

160.850

160.850

156.250

65

156.275

160.875

160.875

156.275

06

156.300

156.300

—

—

66

156.325

160.925

160.925

156.325

07

156.350

160.950

160.950

156.350

67

156.375

156.375

156.375

156.375

08

156.400

156.400

—

—

68

156.425

156.425

156.425

156.425

09

156.450

156.450

156.450

156.450

69

156.475

156.475

156.475

156.475

10

156.500

156.500

156.500

156.500

70

156.525

156.525

156.525

156.525

11

156.550

156.550

156.550

156.550

71

156.575

156.575

156.575

156.575

12

156.600

156.600

156.600

156.600

72

156.625

156.625

—

—

13

156.650

156.650

156.650

156.650

73

156.675

156.675

156.675

156.675

14

156.700

156.700

156.700

156.700

\n```\n\n \n\n```html\n

Channel number

Ship station and handheld station

Coast station and limited coast station

Column 1

Column 2 Transmit

Column 3 Receive

Column 4 Transmit

Column 5 Receive

74

156.725

156.725

156.725

156.725

15

156.750

156.750

156.750

156.750

75

—

—

—

—

16

156.800

156.800

156.800

156.800

76

156.825

156.825

156.825

156.825

17

156.850

156.850

156.850

156.850

77

156.875

156.875

—

—

18

156.900

161.500

161.500

156.900

78

156.925

161.525

161.525

156.925

19

156.950

161.550

161.550

156.950

79

156.975

161.575

161.575

156.975

20

157.000

161.600

161.600

157.000

80

157.025

161.625

161.625

157.025

21

157.050

161.650

161.650

157.050

81

157.075

161.675

161.675

157.075

22

157.100

161.700

161.700

157.100

82

157.125

161.725

161.725

157.125

23

157.150

161.750

161.750

157.150

83

157.175

161.775

161.775

157.175

24

157.200

161.800

161.800

157.200

84

157.225

161.825

161.825

157.225

25

157.250

161.850

161.850

157.250

85

157.275

161.875

161.875

157.275

26

157.300

161.900

161.900

157.300

86

157.325

161.925

161.925

157.325

27

157.350

161.950

161.950

157.350

87

157.375

161.975

161.975

157.375

87a

157.375

157.375

157.375

157.375

28

157.400

162.000

162.000

157.400

88

157.425

162.025

162.025

157.425

\n```\n\nNOTE\n\n1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 August 1990.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument's scope aligns with its stated purpose: it applies to radiotelephony equipment for the VHF International Maritime Mobile Service and specifies precisely which station types and parts of multi‑purpose stations are covered (cl.3(1)‑(2)). It also records a limited exception for ship stations on vessels subject to the Navigation Act 1912 (cl.3(3))."},"complexity_factors":["Technical specificity: numerous precise RF limits (frequency error ±1600 Hz, deviation ±5 kHz, out‑of‑band and spurious emission limits) increase testing complexity (cls.11,16,19,20).","Device categories: different numeric performance targets for coast, ship, limited coast and handheld stations require multiple test regimes (cls.3,14,20,25‑29).","Channelisation table: an extensive channel matrix defining transmit/receive frequencies and authorised/inhibited channels must be implemented in equipment (cl.7; Schedule, Item 2).","Compliance marking and type approval dependency: labelling is mandatory only after type approval; importers/manufacturers must obtain certificates and affix tamper‑proof markings (cl.4).","Usability constraints and protections: features such as inhibited channels, channel‑switching timing, transmit inhibition during switching and adjustment mechanisms restricted to internal, tool‑accessed controls add design constraints (cls.5,6,7,13).","Environmental and supply tolerances: required operation across temperature and voltage ranges (including battery end‑of‑life) affects component selection and validation (cl.8).","Optionality for some vessels: ship stations on vessels under the Navigation Act 1912 may comply but are not mandated, creating a conditional legal scope (cl.3(3))."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets mandatory technical, performance and labelling rules for VHF maritime radiotelephony equipment operating in the 156.025–162.025 MHz band. It applies to coast, limited coast, ship and handheld stations and fixes channel use, transmit‑power limits, emission and receiver performance, environmental limits and a required type‑approval compliance mark (cl.3; cl.4; cl.14; cl.19‑20; cl.24). \n\nManufacturers, importers and suppliers pay for testing, type approval and permanent labelling; operators and users must only use equipment manufactured to these requirements (cl.4; cl.5; cl.13)."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":3563},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is the original 1990 standard as made. The scope remains limited to VHF maritime radiotelephony equipment as specified in the enabling Radiocommunications Act 1983 provision."},"complexity_factors":["34 defined technical terms in the interpretation section including specialised concepts like 'SINAD ratio' and 'out-of-band emission'","Precise technical specifications with multiple measurement units (dBm, dB, Hz, kHz, W, °C)","Different technical thresholds for three device categories (coast/limited coast stations, ship stations, handheld stations)","Extensive channel allocation table mapping over 50 channels to specific transmit/receive frequencies for different station types","Nested conditional requirements (e.g., clause 14 has subclauses with exceptions for different station types)"],"plain_english_summary":"This standard sets technical requirements for maritime VHF radios used in Australian waters—covering shipboard units, coast stations and handhelds—to ensure reliable safety communications and prevent interference in the 156–162 MHz band. It mandates access to international and Australian distress channels, limits transmit power, enforces strict frequency accuracy, labelling and channel-use rules, and detailed performance limits for unwanted emissions, noise and interference protection."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274","history":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ministerial-standard-274/documents"}}