Editing Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (section)

===EPIRB sub-classification===
Emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) are sub-classified as follows:<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtEpirb|title=Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB)|website=www.navcen.uscg.gov}}</ref>

'''Recognized categories:'''
* Category I – 406/121.5&nbsp;MHz. Float-free, automatically activated EPIRB. Detectable by satellite anywhere in the world. Recognized by GMDSS.
* Category II – 406/121.5&nbsp;MHz. Similar to Category I, except is manually activated. Some models are also water activated.

'''Obsolete classes:'''
* Class A – 121.5/243&nbsp;MHz. Float-free, automatically activating. Due to limited signal coverage and possible lengthy delays in signal recognition, the U.S. Coast Guard no longer recommends use of this type. These devices have been phased out by the U.S. [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) and ''are no longer recognized''.
* Class B – 121.5/243&nbsp;MHz. Manually activated version of Class A. These devices have been phased out by the FCC and ''are no longer recognized''.
* Class S – 121.5/243&nbsp;MHz. Similar to Class B, except it floats, or is an integral part of a [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|survival craft (lifeboat)]] or [[survival suit]]. These devices have been phased out by the FCC and ''are no longer recognized''. Their use is no longer recommended by the U.S. Coast Guard.
* Class C – [[Marine VHF radio|Marine VHF]] ch15/16. Manually activated, these beacons operate on maritime channels only, and therefore are not detectable by satellite or normal aircraft. Designed for small crafts operating close to shore, this type was only recognized in the United States. Use of these units was phased out in 1999. These devices have been phased out by the FCC and ''are no longer recognized''.
* [[Inmarsat-E]] – This entered service in 1997 and service ended 1 December 2006; all former users have switched to Category I or II 406&nbsp;MHz EPIRBs. These beacons were float-free, automatically activated EPIRBs operated on 1646&nbsp;MHz and were detectable by the Inmarsat geostationary satellite system, and were recognized by [[GMDSS]], but not by the United States. In September 2004, Inmarsat announced that it was terminating its ''Inmarsat E'' EPIRB service as of December 2006 due to a lack of interest in the maritime community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maritime.inmarsat.com/news/00014622.aspx?language=EN&textonly=False|title=Inmarsat will withdraw epirb service in 2006 and promises new safety service on next generation I-4 satellites|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209092859/http://maritime.inmarsat.com/news/00014622.aspx?language=EN&textonly=False|archive-date=December 9, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Furthermore, the U.S. Coast Guard recommend that no EPIRB of any type manufactured before 1989 be used.
EPIRBs are a component of the [[Global Maritime Distress and Safety System]] (GMDSS). Most commercial off-shore working vessels with passengers are required to carry a self-deploying EPIRB, while most in-shore and fresh-water craft are not.

As part of the United States efforts to prepare beacon users for the end of 121.5&nbsp;MHz frequency processing by satellites, the FCC has prohibited the use of 121.5&nbsp;MHz EPIRBs as of January 1, 2007 (47 CFR 80.1051). See [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]'s statement [http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/phaseout.html on the 121.5/243 phaseout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209062955/http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/phaseout.html |date=2018-02-09 }}.