Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Advance Course (2) Licence Conditions Part-1 – Basics & Unattended

1. Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Advance Course(2) Licence Conditions Part-1 – Basics & Unattended

2. UK Licence Conditions • Current Licence Conditions are the WT Act 2006 ‘Lifetime Licence’ conditions issued in February 2007 • These replaced BR68 and the first edition WT 1949 ‘Lifetime Licence conditions released in 2006 • Copies are available to refer to in the exam • Read and familiarise now!!! • They can be a valuable source of marks in the exam • In particular study how the main clauses, interpretations and notes apply • Ensure you identify Clauses & Schedules that apply to Full Licensees - some may only apply to Foundation or Intermediate licensees

3. Full Licence Privileges • Full Licence is a significant enhancement on Intermediate • Allowed 400 Watts on most bands • Access to All Bands, inc Microwaves - 23cms to 250GHz as well as able to apply for newer ones such as 472kHz, 5MHz • International Use (eg via CEPT), Maritime Mobile • Unattended and Remote Operations • Supervision of Training courses • Repeaters, Beacons, NoVs, Special Research Permits etc • Club licences

4. UK Licence Structure ClassCallsignBandsPower, typ • Foundation Mx6ABC HF-70cms & 10GHz 10 Watts • Intermediate2x0ABC All 50 Watts • Advanced/FullMx0ABC All 400 Watts • Where ‘x’ is:- D=I.of Man E=England (Intermediates only)I=N.Ireland J=Jersey M=Scotland U=Guernsey W=Wales • Older Callsigns: Foundation=M3 Class A=M0/5, G0/2/3/4/5 Class B= M1, G1/6/7/8, 2E1 • July 2003: 5wpm Morse Dropped, Class A/B merged for Intermediate & Full • May 2008: M6 introduced following exhaustion of M3 Foundation series

5. Callsign Suffixes • Must Give your Callsign:- • When Calling CQ • Every 15 mins • It is also good practice to append the following….. Mobile Operation: Callsign /M Temporary Location: Callsign /P Alternative Addresses: Callsign /A Maritime Mobile Operation: Callsign /MM - with a Full Licence Repeaters, Nets etc – Good practice to give Callsign more often than 15mins!

6. Callsign Combinations • Make sure you are familiar with all possible combinations of valid and invalid UK Amateur callsigns, prefixes • Recall correct definitions of suffixes /A, /M, /P, /MM • Recognise Valid ones • MU3QQQ/A • 2I0QQQ, 2U1UUU • MM0MMM/MM • M/F1QQQ/M • Recognise Invalid ones • MM3MMM/MM, M9xxx, G/F1QQQ, 2S0QQQ, M/F1QQQ/MM • Note that Club Callsigns are Full Licences only - eg GX…. and may also use their own regional prefixes such as GS…., GC….

7. Licence Validation • You must hold a current validation document for the station to be used.If it is not renewed, your privileges are revoked until it is. • Changes of name and address should be notified immediately as Ofcom has power to revoke (as it does for breaches of Licence conditions) • Licence must be revalidated every 5 yrs - Try to do it more frequently! • Ensure you are able to log-on and access your own online version! • Check the contact address and email is valid, • Note that paper applications/renewals may still incur fees • Recall that a Licence may be revoked by Ofcom, or be refused if you are a Disqualified Person – Licence Note-j

8. Tests & Inspection • Licensees must carry out tests from time to time to ensure that the Station is not causing undue interference. • Recall that transmissions from the station must not cause undue interference to other radio users. • Licensees must reduce any emissions causing interference, to the satisfaction of a person authorised by Ofcom. • Make notes. They will help you to show compliance with the conditions of your licence - eg in a Logbook • If in doubt, seek advice from other amateurs, clubs, EMC Committee etc.

9. Frequency Schedule • Full Licence Frequency Schedules are a significant enhancement compared to Foundation & Intermediate • Most of Schedule-2 on Beacons now applies as well as Schedule-1 • Allowed 400 Watts on most bands – BUT NOT ALL • Note those bands where restrictions exist: - on Power, ERP, 100km around Charing Cross etc • Exceptions are in 136kHz, 1.85-2.0MHz, 430-432MHz, 24.1GHz and power limits and exclusion radii around certain NGRs for Beacons • Note the distinction between the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services in the Schedule, as well as Primary vs Secondary designations • You can be examined on the Frequency Schedules... – a copy is provided in the Exam - Use It !!!

10. Addresses / Locations • Main Station Address is as per your licence validation document • Mobile /M means located in the UK in/on any vehicle, pedestrian, or vessel in inland waters. For example:- M0QQQ/M • Alternative Address /A means a fixed Postal Address in the UK other than the Main Station Address. For example:- M0QQQ/A • Temporary Address /P means a fixed location other than your validation document or Alternative address. For example:- M0QQQ/Peg. A Contest Station in a field has no postal address • When operating from other locations, it is recommended to give your location within 5km eg by Postcode, Lat/Long, IARU Locator, NGR etc • No Airborne/Balloon Operation Permitted. More on /MM in later slides

11. Operators & Supervision • Full Licensees may operate the Radio Equipment of any other UK Amateur under that person’s Direct Supervision using the supervisor’s callsign, eg under the terms of the supervisor’s licence. • Full Licensees may (with permission) use another amateur’s radio equipment unsupervised, but using the callsign and conditions of their OWN licence. • Full Licensees may also supervise operation of people on a recognised Foundation Training Course • IF they hold one - Full Licensees may delegate operation ofa Full Club Licence to other club members • Full Licensees may permit a non-licensed person to send a Message

12. Remote Operation • Remote control is a specific form of Unattended Operation • Remote control links may use an amateur radio band or other means, such as Internet, Licence-exempt bands etc • Links need to be ‘adequately secure’ and fail safe - See 10(4),(5) • Links should be in bands above 30MHz – as per Licence Note-g • Remote or Unattended operation does not include providing for general use by other amateurs – It is for personal use only • For Full Licensees 10(7) permits remote control links via any valid means/power – which is far more flexible than 10(6) which had severe restrictions for Foundation/Intermediates links • Still need to abide by 11(2) on not encrypting links

13. Messages • Remember that Messages may of on any topic of mutual interest as per 11(1), but should not be for commercial purposes of any kind. • Note (h) of the Licence states:-The Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988 make it an offence to use any station for wireless telegraphy or any wireless telegraphy apparatus to send a message, communication or other matter in whatever form that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. • Note the difference in Section-11 where you can retransmit a message (eg packet data) to a specific destination, but this is distinct from a general repeater which is out of scope • However as a Full Licensee, you may apply for Repeater or Internet Gateway NoV which covers third party and unattended use

14. Schedule-2: Beacons • Licensees may conduct Unattended Operation of a Beacon for the purposes of direction-finding competitions, position reporting (eg APRS) or for propagation experiments. • Note the additional restrictions for Beacons in Schedule-2. - Exclusion zones, certain bands, 14dBW(25W) limits etc • Note that Schedule-2 applies to Beacons under your own callsign • Beacons in Secondary Allocations such as 70cms or many microwave bands must be on a non-interference basis • An NoV is required for GB3 Class propagation Beacons - similar to general-use repeaters, gateways etc

15. User Services & Emergencies • 1(2): The Licensee may use or permit the use of the Radio Equipment by a member of a User Service during any operation conducted by a User Service etc... • 17(1)(qq):"User Service" means the British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association, the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, the Salvation Army, any Government Department, any ‘Category 1’ responder, and any ‘Category 2’ responder as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 - which you can find on the Internet • 1(3): The Licensee may use Radio Equipment to assist communications in times of disaster or national or international emergency. • Always give priority to emergency traffic • RAYNET & RAEN provide training/advice on such matters

16. Logbooks • Unlike BR68 a permanent Log need not be kept but . . . • A person authorised by Ofcom may require a Licensee to keep a log of all transmissions made over a specified period of time: • To aid Interference Investigations • To determine Licence Condition Compliance by the Licensee • For any other matter concerning enforcement of any relevant legislation • Logbooks are good practice and aid Contests/Awards etc. • Logbooks may also needed if operating /MM • Also ideal for records of station tests - from time to time.