AMATEUR RADIO TRAINING

Licence Conditions

v1.104 © essexham.co.uk

LICENCE CONDITIONS

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

Ofcom

• The UK’s Radio Regulator

• They have the right to inspect and test your radio equipment

• They can order the restriction or modification on your equipment, close down your station and/or revoke your licence

• You must notify Ofcom if you change your main station address

www.ofcom.org.uk

Amateur Radio Licence

• You must hold a valid licence, and abide by the terms of the licence

• 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 can only converse with other licenced amateurs

• You must not “broadcast” or make speeches

• “Secret codes” and encryption are not permitted

• Playing of music, bad language, offensive or threatening behaviour is not permitted

• You mustn’t 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

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,G5G6,G7,G8, M1, M5

The following applies to operating from England:

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

Suffix Meaning Example

/M Mobile: Car, pedestrian or on inland waters MM6MMM/M

/A Alternate Postal Address: Friend’s house, hotel 2E0AAA/A

/P Temporary: Field event with no postcode M0PPP/P

You must use your callsign:

• When calling CQ or making contact with an amateur• When you change frequency at the start of transmission• Every 15 minutes

Suffixes: Recommended (and good practice) to use suffixes and to give your location.

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 (M0ABC) 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”

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 (keep it backed-up!)

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