Franklin County Amateur Radio Club O perating Regulations

1. Franklin County Amateur Radio ClubOperating Regulations Remote & Automatic Remote & Automatic Operation

2. Contents • Control Operators • Identification • Interference • Third-party Communications • Remote and Automatic Operation • Prohibited Transmissions • Test Questions

3. Control Operators

4. Control Operators All transmissions must be made under the control of the control operator, a properly licensed operator who is responsible for making sure all FCC rules are followed.

5. Control operator- control point FCC rules can be confusing, two basic ideas to be clear about: • A control operator is responsible for creating a signal • A control point at which control is asserted by the control operator

6. Control Operator • The amateur designated as responsible for making sure that transmissions comply with FCC rules. Doesn’t need to be the station licensee • All amateur transmissions are the responsibility of a control operator. • The station licensee is responsible for designating the control operator. • A control operator must be named in the FCC amateur license database (or be an alien with reciprocal operating authorization

7. Control Operator • You may operate the same in any way permitted by the privileges of your license class. • It doesn’t matter what the station owner’s privileges are only the privileges of the control operator.

8. Guest Operator • You can operate at the higher-class licensee of the host only if the host is the control operator. • Regardless of license class, both the guest operator and the station owner are responsible for proper operation of the station • The FCC will presume the station licensee to be the control operator unless there is a written record to the contrary.

9. Control Point • Where the control operator function is performed – not necessarily at the physical transmitter • Local control: operator is at the transmitter • Remote control: control point is linked to the transmitter by a control link which could be telephone, radio, or Internet • Automatic Control: control functions are operated by circuitry that ensures proper operation.

10. Control Point • Where the station’s control function is performed. • Usually, at the transmitter and the control operator physically manipulates the controls of the transmitter. • The control point can be remotely located and connected by the phone lines, the Internet or a radio link.

11. Automatic Control • Control operator is alwaysrequired but do not have to be always present • Responsible for proper operation • Repeaters, auxiliary stations, space stations, and beacons may operate under automatic control • Repeater users are responsible for their transmissions through a repeater

12. Identification

13. Identification • Your identification is your call sign • Unidentified transmissions are not allowed, no matter how brief. • Give your call sign at least once every 10 minutes during a contact and when the communication is finished. • You don’t have to give the other station’s call sign, the purpose is to identify the source of your signal. • The FCC recommends the use of phonetics when you identify by voice you may also ID by CW

14. Tactical Calls • Tactical calls signs or ID’s are used to identify where a station is and what it is doing. • Tactical calls don’t replace regular call signs and regular identification rules apply-give your call sign every 10 minutes and at the end of the communication.

15. Upgrade indicators • The FCC requires you to add the two-letter indicator after your call sign to let someone receiving your transmissions that you have upgraded your license class and it doesn’t yet appear in the FCC database. • Novice to Technician: add “/KT” • Technician to General: add “/AG” • General to Extra: add “/AE”

16. Guest Operators • When visiting another station, you must identify using the call sign of the host. • If the guest has a higher class license than the host, the guest identifies with the call sign of the host followed by their own call sign.

17. Rule exceptions • Remote control signals (remote control of a model aircraft) • and signals retransmitted through space stations, are amateur stations located more than 50 km above the earth’s surface.

18. Test transmissions Identification rules apply

19. Automatic identification • Stations under automatic control must also identify themselves. • Repeaters are the most common type of station that operate automatically.

20. Special Event Stations • Any FCC-licensed amateur or club can also obtain a special 1×1 (1-by-1) call for a special event call. (Note a club must have 4 members to have a club call sign, this is a test question) • The call sign of who applied for the special event call must be given on the air once per hour

21. Interference

22. Interference • Interference caused by “noise” and by “signals”. • Noise Interference is caused by natural sources (thunderstorms or by unintentionally radiated by appliances, industrial equipment and computing equipment) • Atmospheric static is referred to as QRN

23. Interference Interference from nearby signals, or QRM is common. Most is manageable: • Common sense and courtesy • Be sure to equip your radio with good filters to reject inference • Remember that no one owns a frequency • Be aware of other activities (special events…)

24. QRN or "Static” • Natural interference (thunderstorms) • Made-made appliances and power lines)

25. QRM • Interference caused by other signals • Can be from transmitted signals • Can be created internally by a receiver

26. Harmful • Interference that is disruptive, not necessarily willful. • Deal with it as best you can, try to avoid causing harmful interference.

27. Willful • Intentionally causing interference. • This becomes a legal and law enforcement issue. • This is rare and there are procedures to deal with this (ARRL Official Observers can help).

28. Preventing Interference • Use common sense and courtesy • Know how to operate your equipment to reduce generated and received interference • No one owns a frequency; be a good neighbor and share – have a “Plan B” • Recognize special operations and special circumstances

29. No Commercial Communications • Advertising ham radio gear is okay as long as it’s not your regular business. (Don’t advertise non-ham gear) • You may not use ham radio on behalf of your employer. • Exception: teachers may use ham radio in their classrooms, clubs may employ an operator but only with restrictions on hours.

30. No Encrypted Transmissions • Encryption means deliberately encoding information for transmission in order to hide or obscure the message. • Encryption is only allowed for: • Radio control • Space station control

31. No Broadcasting • Broadcasting is sending one-way transmissions to the general public: • News • Music • Exceptions: • Code practice • Ham radio-related bulletins • Retransmission of space station control communication

32. Special Circumstances • Emergencies and critical situations create special circumstances. • Special events may qualify as special circumstances. • Normal rules return when the situation returns to normal.

33. Harmful Interference • If a transmission seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts the communications of a regulated service • Accidental inference happens • Try common courtesy, be flexible • If it is your fault, apologize, identify and take the necessary steps to reduce interference

34. Willful Interference • Intentionally creating harmful interference is called willful interference and is never allowed. • Rarely an issue!

35. Third-party Communications

36. Third-party Communications • Ham radio has a history of being used to send messages on behalf of unlicensed folks/organizations. Relaying from one ham to the next until message can be given. • Because this bypasses the normal telephone/mail systems many foreign governments are interested in controlling it. • The FCC doesn’t want us to be a non-commercial messaging system.

37. Definitions and Rules • The third party is who the message is being sent to or on behalf of. The first and second parties arethe control operators. • The licensed amateur operator at other end is not considered to be a third party. • The third party doesn’t have to be present in either station.

38. Definitions and Rules • The communications transmitted on behalf of the third party need not be written. • The third party may participate in transmitting or receiving the message at either station. • An organization, such as a church or school can also be a third party. • Simply: any time that you send or receive information via ham radio on behalf of any unlicensed person or an organization, even if the person is right there in the station with you-that’s third party communications.

39. Definitions and Rules • The FCC recognizes that third-party communications is a vital part of ham radio and its mission, specifically to train operators and to provide an effective emergency communications resource. • When signals cross borders, the rules change. International third-party communications are restricted to those countries that specifically allow third-party communications with U.S. hams. (T1F07, T1F11)

40. Remote and Automatic Operation

41. Remote and Automatic Operation • Repeaters and beacons, operate without a human control operator present to perform control functions. • It is also becoming common to operate a station via a link over the Internet or phone lines. • The station must be operated in compliance with FCC rules, no matter where the control point is located.

42. Definitions • Local control – a control operator is physically present at the control point. • Remote operation – the control point is located away from the transmitter, but a control operator is present at the control point. • Automatic operation – the station operates completely under the control of devices and procedures that ensure compliance with FCC rules

43. Responsibilities No matter what type of control is asserted, the station must operate in compliance with FCC rules at all times.

44. Prohibited Transmissions

45. Prohibited Transmissions • Unidentified transmissions – Not giving your call sign • False or deceptive signals – Using someone else’s call sign • False distress or emergency signals – Fake calls for help • Obscene or indecent speech – Up to interpretation avoid controversial subjects • Music

46. Prohibited Transmissions • There aren’t many types of transmissions that are specifically prohibited because amateurs are given wide latitude to communicate within the technical and procedural rules. • Generally Ham’s are encouraged to experiment and be flexible.

47. What is prohibited • Unidentified transmissions – no call sign • False or deceptive signals – intentionally deceiving, such as using someone else’s call sign. • False distress or emergency signals • Obscene or indecent speech – avoid controversial topics and expletives

48. Business Communications -No transmissions related to conducting your business or employer's activities are permitted. OK • Using a repeater’s autopatch to make or change a doctor's appointment. • Advertising a radio on a swap-and-shop net • Describing your business as part of a casual conversation. NOT OK • Using a repeater’s autopatch to call a business client and change and appointment • Selling household or sporting goods on a swap-and-shop net • Regularly selling radio equipment at a profit over the air • Advertising your professional services over the air

49. Broadcasting and retransmission • Broadcasting consists of one-way transmissions intended for reception by the general public. • Hams are not permitted to make this type of transmission except for the purposes of transmitting code practice, information bulletins for other amateurs, or when necessary for emergency communications

50. Encrypted transmissions • Amateur Radio is a public form of communication. That is part of the agreement we make in trade for our operating privileges. • Amateurs may not use encryption techniques except for radio control and control transmissions to space statins where interception or unauthorized transmissions could have serious consequences.