Technician Class Franklin County Amateur Radio Club

1. Technician ClassFranklin County Amateur Radio Club Licensing Regulations and Call Signs

2. Contents • FCC Rules • Why is there Ham Radio? • What can you with a Technician Class License? • Band Plans • Call Signs • Test Questions

3. FCC Rules

4. Who makes the rules that we follow? • The FCC-Federal Communication Commission • Amateur radio is regulated by Part 97 (usually referred to as Part 97), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 47. (available on line or a booklet from ARRL.)

5. The Basis and Purpose • Enhance the value of amateur radio service to the public as voluntary, noncommercial communications, with an emphasis on emergency communication. • Advance the art, improve our skills, expand the number of trained operators, enhance international goodwill.

6. Why is there Ham Radio? • Providing emergency communication capability. • Advancement of the art and science of radio. • Advance communication and technical skills of radio. • Provide a trained reservoir of operators, technicians and electronics experts. • Promote and enhance international goodwill.

7. Why is there Ham Radio?

8. Definitions • Amateur Service-no pecuniary interest (private and personal, non commercial) • Amateur Operator-the person holding authorization license to operate an Amateur Radio station. • Amateur Station-equipment capable of transmitting on frequencies authorized for Amateur Service.

9. The Amateur License • No age limit or citizenship restrictions.-One exception-foreign representatives • License actually contains two parts. • Operator license • Station license (the call sign) • Three levels of operator privileges: • Technician • General • Amateur Extra

10. Definitions • Amateur Service – 97.3(a)(4) Radio communications by authorized persons with no pecuniary interest • Amateur Operator – 97.3(a)(1) The person named in the operator/primary license grant • Amateur Station – 97.3(a)(5) A station with the equipment to communicate by radio

11. License types There have been other license classes, these are still held, but the current classes are: • Technician: basic license-what you are learning about now-more rules and safety focus • General: next step/grade up-more technical expertise needed, in depth • Extra: more privileges, more responsibilities

12. License details • License is good for 10 years • Went time to renew, go to FCC website and update your information. Renewal is no cost. • You are required to keep your information current with the FCC • You do not need to take another exam (unless you are upgrading) • If your license is lost or destroyed you can get a replacement. Form 605 with letter of explanation. • What happens if your license expires?

13. Licensing Examinations • Volunteer Examines (Ves) • Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) • Preparation • Study the content • Question Pool • Taking the exam • Proctored exam • Multiple choice

14. Amateur Exams-FCC Web Sites • FCC Universal Licensing System • FCC Online Forms • FCC Part 97 Rules and Regulations • Frequently Asked Questions About Rules and Regulations

15. License Term and Renewal • The license is free and good for 10 years-renewable with 90 days of the expiration date. • Some personal identification information is reburied • Tax ID (Social Security Number) • Current Mailing Address • Federal Registration Number (FRN).

16. Licensing Renewal, Changes of Address and other Common Concerns • What is ULS registration?- • All stations must register under ULS in order to take advantage of FCC services, like renewing your license, changing your address, upgrading your license and so on. • Registration in ULS is the process of identifying your Taxpayer Information Number, generally your Social Security Number, your name, address and call sign. • The FCC will not process applications unless an amateur is registered. When you register, you will be given a Federal Registration Number under the Commission Registration System (CORES).

17. Responsibilities of Licensure • Prevent unauthorized operation of your station. • Provide personal information as required-keep a current mailing address on file. • Make your station available for FCC inspection upon request.

18. FCC ULS Web Sitewww.wirless.fcc.gov/uls • Register for on-line access to your license information. • Make changes to your address and other information. • Renew your license. • Search for other station information.

19. Privileges • What can you do with a Technician license? • Power privileges • Maximum of 1500 watts peak envelope power (PEP) • Don’t use excessive power for the purpose

20. Privileges-some special cases where power is restricted • 200 watts on 80,40,15,10 meters • 50 watts on 219-220 MHz • See code 97.313 for other restrictions

21. What can you with a Technician Class License?

22. What can you with a Technician Class License? • Frequency Privileges: • Band versus frequency.

23. What can you with a Technician Class License? Emission Privileges:

24. Primary and Secondary Allocations • Some authorized amateur frequencies are shared. • Primary Users • Secondary Users-must avoid interfering with users of the primary service.

25. Band Plans

26. Band Plans-voluntary arrangements that apply under normal band loading conditions

27. Bands and Privileges • Techs • VHF: 6m, 2m, 2 freq. ranges in the 1.25m band • UHF: 70cm, 33 cm,23 cm, 2 freq. ranges on the 13cm band • HF: 80m (CW), 40m (CW), 15m (CW), 10m (CW, RTTY, data, 28.000-28.300 MHz), (CW and SSB on 28.300-28.500) Band plan and privilege tables on pp. 7.12 and 7.14

28. Frequency Coordinators • Elected by local or regional amateurs • Repeaters approved by the coordinators are coordinated • FCC considers frequency coordination “good amateur practice” • groups that help allocate repeater channels to minimize interference.

29. International Rules-International Telecommunication Union (ITU) • Regions 1,2,3 • Continental US hams are in Region 2 • Some Pacific possessions in Region 3

30. International Operating Authority • Reciprocal operating authority • International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) • CEPT licensing • ARRL website on international operating-www.arrl.org/international-operating • Must comply with host county regulations • May operate from US – flagged vessels-Host country’s rules apply in territorial waters • Contact with other countries must be allowed by that country and by the US-very rare for contacts to e prohibited.

31. Power Limits? • Amateur Max – 1500 watts PEP. Peak envelope power during one RF cycle at the peak of modulation or key-down. There are power restriction on other bands and in special circumstances. • Tech max: 200 watts PEP

32. Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) system FCC created the VEC system to provide initial licensing examination for prospective new hams and upgrade examination opportunities for those already licensed. FCC authorized VEC organizations oversee the work of their certified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and serve as a liaison between the exam applicants and the FCC.

33. What does a Volunteer Examiner (VE) do? • Volunteer Examiners (VEs) are US licensed Radio Amateurs holding a General Class license or higher, who offer their time to administer the FCC licensing exams through a FCC authorized Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) organization. The ARRL VEC is the largest VEC organization in the US.  A team of three or more ARRL VEs are able to test candidates applying for a new license or upgrading an existing license.Learn how you can become a VE associated with the ARRL VEC program by reviewing our Volunteer Examiner Manual. • ARRL also authorizes our VEs to conduct exam sessions for ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course.  An additional registration with ARRL's Continuing Education Program is required. Learn MoreConsider contributing your time and expertise to your local community by becoming an ARRL VE.  Serving the Amateur Radio community as a VE is a gratifying experience!

34. Call Signs

35. Call Signs – Your “RadioName” • All amateur call signs have a prefix and a suffix • Prefix – indicates country of license • Suffix – indicates a specific licensee • Prefix – generally two or three letters and numbers assigned by the ITU • Suffix – one or more letters

36. Call Signs • Us call signs begin : K, N, W, and AA-AL • Ten US call sign districts indicated by 0-9 • Pacific and Caribbean possessions have special prefixes • U.S. call sign types for amateurs 1x1 (W1W1, 1x2 (W1WW), 2x1 (WW1W), 2x2 (WW1WW), 1X2 (WWW1W), 2x3 (WW1WWW)

37. Choosing Your Call Sign • Vanity call signs – similar to vanity license plates • Pick any call sign authorized for license class • Technicians can have 2x3 (Group D) or 1x3 (Group C) calls • 1x1 (“one by one”) is for special events • Remaining types are Group Z through D – Assigned by license class • Indicators – added to the call sign following a slash (/) or a word such as “portable” • Portable – operating away from primary station location • Mobile, aeronautical mobile, maritime mobile • Upgrade indicators “AG” or ”AE” or “KT”

38. Vanity Call Program • Vanity Call Signs • Vanity Call Sign Availability –There are currently two online services providing information on which call signs are available: RadioQTH and the AE7Q website.  Both also provide call sign lookup and other services, as well.

39. Call Signs • 1x1 (“one by one”) is for special events • Remaining types are Group Z through D – Assigned by license class • Indicators – added to the call sign following a slash (/) or a word such as “portable” • Portable – operating away from primary station location • Moile, aeronautical mobile, maritime mobile • Upgrade indicators “AG” or ”AE” or “KT”

40. Special Event and Club Calls • Special event call signs: 1x1 • Reserved via administrators (www.arrl.org/special-eventcall-signs) • Club calls • Must have a valid club • Application by club’s trustee

41. Control Operator • Control operator – the amateur licensee responsible for making sure transmissions comply with FCC rules. • The FCC requires that transmissions are made only under the control of a licensed operator. • Designated by the station licensee. • Must have a valid FCC-issued Amateur Radio License or have reciprocal operator permission. • Station must operate within the authorization of the control operator’s license. • Control operator must be present at the control point of the station.

42. Control Operator • Designated by the station licensee. • Assumed to be the station licensee unless otherwise documented. • Wherever the station controls are operated-not necessarily the physical transmitter. • The control opator must be able to assert control of the transmitter • Control point can be at the transmitter, or linked to the transmitter • Control by a circuit or computer is also allowed

43. Guest Operations • Non-licensed people make transmissions but only when a control operator is present.-The control operator is solely responsible for station operation. • For licensed guest operators, both the control operator and the guest ham are responsible for station operation.

44. Station Identification (ID) • All transmissions must be identified • State the call sign every 10 minutes during and at the end of the communication • Use phonetics on voice modes • Use of “tactical Calls” • Licensed Guests

45. Miscellaneous ID Rules • Repeaters must also ID using the same 10 minute rule.-Can be voice or CW (at 20 WPM or less) • Satellites and ISS have special rules. • Special event calls.-Club call or control operator call given once per hour.

46. Party Communications • Third-party communication-transmissions on behalf of an unlicensed entity • Could mean actually speaking on the air • Could mean passing a message on behalf of a third party • Two situations – different rules • Within the US • Communication that crosses international borders

47. Third-Party within US • No special rules. • Just make sure the message is non-commercial in nature.

48. Third-Party Across Borders • Third-party agreement with US must exist • Check for current third-party agreements from ARRL website or FCC sources if in doubt • Most agreements are within ITU Region II • This includes contest operation • Identify with both stations’ call signs

49. Test Questions

50. Operator licensing: operator classes; sequential and vanity call sign systems; international communications; reciprocal operation; places where the Amateur Radio Service is regulated by the FCC; name and address on FCC license database; license term; renewal; grace period