Transcript Foundation: Licence Conditions

AMATEUR RADIO TRAINING
Licence Conditions
v1.2 © essexham.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 and test 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
main station address
Amateur Radio Licence
• You must hold a valid licence,
and abide by its terms
• Applies to all three licence
levels – check what applies to
Foundation
• Copy available from the Ofcom
website:
• http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk
Getting & Validating your Licence
Getting your licence
• Create an account on the
Ofcom Amateur Radio website
• Enter your candidate number to
get your callsign
Validating your licence
• Login and confirm details at
least every 5 years – We
recommend more frequently!
Amateur Radio Rules
• Not for commercial purposes
• You may only converse with other licenced
amateurs
• You must not “broadcast”
• “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 interference – You must test
your station “from time to time”
Foundation Restrictions
• You cannot operate from outside the UK
• You cannot operate from an aircraft, or at
sea
• Operation on Inland rivers, canals, etc. is
allowed on the “Landward side of the low
water line” on UK maritime maps
• You can only use certified radios or
commercial kits (no construction at
Foundation-level)
Callsigns
The following applies to operating from England:
Licence
Callsign
Power Limit
Other callsigns
FOUNDATION
M6ABC
10 watts
M3
INTERMEDIATE
2E0ABC
50 watts
2E1
FULL
M0ABC
400 watts
G0,G1,G2,G3,G4,G5
G6,G7,G8, M1, M5
Callsign Identifiers
Region
Identifier
Examples
England
E (Intermediate only)
M6ABC
2E0ABC
Scotland
M
MM0ABC
2M0ABC
Wales
W
MW6ABC
2W0ABC
Northern Ireland
I
MI0ABC
2I0ABC
Isle of Man
D
MD6ABC
2D0ABC
Jersey
J
MJ0ABC
2J0ABC
Guernsey
U
MU6ABC
2U0ABC
Using your Callsign
You must use your callsign on-air so that your station is clearly identified
at all times, and “as frequently as practicable”.
• When calling CQ or making contact with an amateur
• When you change frequency and start transmitting
• Original rule was “at least once every 15 minutes”
Suffixes: Recommended (and good practice) to use suffixes and to
give your location.
Suffix
Meaning
Example
/M
Mobile: Car, pedestrian or on inland waters
MM6MMM/M
/A
/P
Alternate Postal Address: Friend’s house, hotel
2E0AAA/A
Temporary: Field event with no postcode
M0PPP/P
Supervision
A Licence-holder can let another UK licensed
operator use their equipment under direct
supervision.
If you are letting someone use your callsign, they
must adhere to your licence conditions.
Example:
• A Foundation licence holder (M6ABC) could let a Full
licence holder (M0QQQ) use their station / callsign
under supervision. The Full licence holder would be
limited to the Foundation restrictions (i.e. 10 watts)
User Services
• In special circumstances, you may pass messages
on behalf of “User Services”, or allow your
equipment to be used by “User Services”.
Encryption of messages in these cases is permitted.
User Services:
•
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
• Part of your licence
• Copy provided with
the exam
• “Primary / Secondary”
• Watch the exceptions
Band Plan
• In place to ensure
amateur bands used fairly
• 2m and 20m plans
supplied with the exam
• Telegraphy / Data mostly
near the top
• Watch for beacons,
repeaters and space
comms
Example-only. Visit RSGB web site for
latest band plans
Logging
• No longer mandatory, but good practice and
helpful for competitions
• Ofcom can mandate logging to help identify
interference issues
• Commonly a paper-bound book or electronic file
Licence Conditions Summary
• You can’t operate: From aircraft, at sea or overseas
• Not allowed: Transmission of music, “broadcasting”,
construction (except for approved 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.essexham.co.uk/traininglinks
LICENCE CONDITIONS
Any questions?
essexham.co.uk/train