AMATEUR RADIO TRAINING Licence Conditions Release v 1

AMATEUR RADIO TRAINING Licence Conditions Release: v 1. 44 hamtrain. co. uk

LICENCE CONDITIONS • Rules & Restrictions • UK Callsigns • Operating Practices • Schedules & Band Plans

Ofcom www. ofcom. org. uk • The UK’s radio regulator • They have the right to inspect your radio equipment • They can order the restriction or modification of your equipment, close down your station and/or revoke your licence • You must notify Ofcom if you change your name or main station address

Amateur Radio Licence • To transmit, you must hold a valid licence, and abide by its terms • Covers all 3 licence levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Full • Check what applies to Foundation • Copy available from the Ofcom website

Getting & Validating your Licence Getting your licence • Create an account on the Ofcom Online Licensing website • Enter your candidate number to get your callsign and licence Validating your licence • Login and confirm details at least every 5 years – We recommend more frequently!

Amateur Radio Rules • Leisure only – “Not for commercial purposes” • You must only communicate with other Amateurs • You must not “broadcast” messages for general reception (e. g: to multiple people, or to anyone who may be listening) • “Secret codes” and encryption are not permitted • Playing of music, use of offensive language, and/or threatening behaviour is not acceptable • You must not cause undue interference and must test that you’re not… “from time to time”

Foundation Restrictions • You cannot operate from outside the UK (other countries do not accept Foundation) • You cannot operate from an aircraft (including balloons) or at sea • Operation on inland waters, rivers and canals is allowed, but operating ‘Maritime Mobile’ at sea, is not permitted • Only use commercially-available radios & kits that comply with Ofcom requirements (no transmitter construction until Intermediate)

Callsigns The following applies to operating from England: Licence Callsign Power limit * Other callsigns FOUNDATION M 6 ABC 10 Watts M 3 INTERMEDIATE 2 EØABC 50 Watts 2 E 1 FULL MØABC 400 Watts GØ, G 1, G 2, G 3, G 4, G 5 G 6, G 7, G 8, M 1, M 5 * Note: Power limits are lower for some bands

Callsign Identifiers Region Identifier Examples England E (Intermediate only) M 6 ABC 2 EØABC Scotland M MMØABC 2 MØABC Wales W MW 6 ABC 2 WØABC Northern Ireland I MIØABC 2 IØABC Isle of Man D MD 6 ABC 2 DØABC Jersey J MJØABC 2 JØABC Guernsey U MU 6 ABC 2 UØABC

Using your Callsign You must use your callsign “as frequently as practicable” so that your station is “clearly identifiable at all times”, and in an “appropriate format”. Good practice to give your callsign: • When calling CQ or making contact with an amateur • When you change frequency and start transmitting • The original rule was “at least once every 15 minutes” Suffixes: Recommended to use suffixes, and to give your location. Suffix Meaning Example /M Mobile: Car, pedestrian or on inland waters MM 6 MMM/M /A /P Alternate Postal Address: Friend’s house, hotel 2 EØAAA/A Temporary: Field event with no postcode MØPPP/P

Supervision Clause A Licence-holder can let another UK licensed amateur use their equipment and callsign under direct supervision. If you are letting another amateur use your callsign, they must adhere to your licence conditions. Example: • A Foundation licence-holder (M 6 ABC) could let a Full licence-holder (MØQQQ) use M 6 ABC under direct supervision. The Full licence-holder would be limited to the Foundation restrictions (i. e. 10 Watts maximum)

User Service Clause • In certain circumstances, you may be asked to pass messages on behalf of a “User Service”, or allow your equipment to be used by them. • Encryption of messages in these cases is permitted, if requested by the User Service. For Info - User Services include: • British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the St Andrew's Ambulance Association, the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, the Salvation Army • Any Government Department • Any ‘Category 1’ responder (Emergency services, principle local authorities, Environment Agency, NHS, etc. ) • Any Category 2 responder: (Utility companies, Network Rail, Airport operators, harbour authorities, etc. ) Source: Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Good Practice / Handling Abuse • Don’t respond to anyone you believe is unlicensed • Don’t respond to any abuse you may encounter. • Don’t confront the perpetrator • If it is persistent, keep a log • The RSGB’s AROS (Amateur Radio Observation Service) can help with repeated abuse • Guidance on the Ofcom and RSGB websites

Schedule • The Schedule is part of your licence • A copy is provided in the exam booklet • “Primary / Secondary” • Watch the exceptions: → “Charing Cross” → e. r. p → 1 Watt Example-only

Band Plan • In place to ensure amateur bands used fairly • 2 m and 20 m plans supplied in the exam booklet • Telegraphy & data mostly near the top of the plan • Watch the exceptions: Beacons, repeaters and space comms Example-only. Visit RSGB site for latest

Licence Conditions Summary • You can’t operate: From aircraft, at sea or overseas • Not allowed: Transmission of music, “broadcasting”, transmitter construction (except for compliant kits) • Ofcom has power to inspect & close down your station • Don’t respond to any abusive behaviour • Learn the required callsigns & suffixes • Use the Schedule and Band Plans provided in the exam – and note the exceptions Handy links: www. sxham. uk/links

LICENCE CONDITIONS Any questions? Ham. Train. co. uk © Essex. Ham. co. uk