Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.info Followup-To: uk.radio.amateur,rec.radio.amateur.misc From: paul@topsy.demon.co.uk (Paul Turvey) Message-ID: <847@topsy.demon.co.uk> Subject: uk.radio.amateur FAQ Lines: 1117 Keywords: amateur-radio, hamradio, faq, UK Summary: To answer frequently asked questions on amateur radio in the UK. Approved: rec-radio-info@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca Archive-name: uk-radio-amateur-faq Last Modified: 27-March-1994 uk.radio.amateur Frequently Asked Questions =========================================== This will be a periodic posting to uk.radio.amateur and rec.radio.info of UK-specific questions and answers on amateur radio. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but to point you towards sources of further information where necessary. I would welcome any constructive views on this FAQ to ukfaq@topsy.demon.co.uk . For ease of distribution, the edition of this FAQ posted to Usenet has been cut into 2 parts. The latest version of this FAQ is available for anonymous FTP from ftp.demon.co.uk Part 1 of 2 ----------- Questions --------- Obtaining a licence: 1. Is a licence necessary ? 2. How do I get a licence ? 3. What are the types of licence ? 4. What is the Radio Amateur's Exam ? 5. What is the Novice Course and Exam ? 6. Where can I take these exams ? 7. What if I fail ? 8. I passed the exams, now what ? Initial Operating: 9. What is a callsign ? 10. What frequencies am I allowed to use ? 11. What can I transmit ? 12. How do I know what to do ? 13. Where can I buy a radio ? 14. Can I build a radio ? 15. Can I modify a radio ? International: 16. I have a UK licence, can I use it abroad ? 17. What is a CEPT licence ? 18. I hold a CEPT licence, how do I sign in the UK ? 19. I want to operate in the UK, I don't have a CEPT licence. Morse: 20. What is morse ? 21. Where do I learn morse ? 22. Do I need to learn morse ? Repeaters: 23. What is a repeater ? 24. How do I use a repeater ? 25. What is CTCSS (Tone squelch) ? Packet-Radio: [Editor's note: the following section is necessarily brief but I will consider including better explanations of packet if they are offered, would anyone care to supply an explanation of ATV ?] 26. What is packet radio ? 27. What equipment do I need for packet radio ? 28. What are the limitations of packet radio in the UK ? 29. Can I leave my packet station unattended ? 30. Can I use packet to exchange messages with Internet users ? 31. How do I obtain a .ampr.org IP address ? Licence Regulations: 32. UK Band Plans. 33. Can anyone use my radio ? 34. I have a dual-band rig, can I use it as a repeater ? 35. My neighbour complains that he can hear my voice on his television. 36. I want to take my radio to sea / in an aircraft. Further Advice: 37. The Radio Society of Great Britain 38. The Radiocommunications Agency 39. Local clubs 40. Specialist clubs 41. Commercial magazines 42. Internet news-groups 43. Other FAQs Misc: 44. Is the UK callbook available on disc/CD-ROM ? 73: 45. Caveat 46. Credits --- 1. Is a licence necessary ? A licence for amateur frequencies is only required if you intend to transmit on those frequencies. A listener's licence does not exist. The requirement to hold a licence is in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. You do not need a licence to purchase or own an amateur transceiver, only to transmit with it. No licence is required to receive any amateur transmission. 2. How do I get a licence ? Unless you already hold a licence issued by another country (see below) then you must satisfy the licencing authority (the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) currently) that you are technically competent to use an amateur transmitter. The DTI lays out the minimum standards and the City & Guilds Institute holds examinations to test licence applicants. You must obtain a pass in the examination(s) before submitting the licence application form to the RA. A useful publication from the RA is 'How to Become A Radio Amateur' obtainable free from the RA at Waterloo Bridge House, Waterloo Bridge Road, London SE1 8UA. Telephone 071 215 2150 (+44 71 215 2150). This publication includes an application form. 3. What are the types of licence ? The primary licence type is the Amateur Radio Licence. This licence has 'A' and 'B' variants. Holders of the 'A' licence are permitted to transmit on all the amateur frequency bands allocated in the UK. The 'B' licence holder is restricted to transmitting on those frequency bands above 30MHz. Obtaining either variant of licence requires a Pass in the Radio Amateur's Examination. The second licence type is the Amateur Radio Novice Licence. Holders of Novice licence are restricted to transmitting on a small number of the frequency bands available to holders of an Amateur Radio Licence, and to which portions of those bands they may use. There are 'A' and 'B' variants with holders of the 'B' licence restricted to transmitting on bands over 30MHz. Obtaining a Novice licence requires a Pass on an organised Novice Course and a Pass in the Novice Examination. In the case of either a Novice or a Radio Amateur Licence, the licence issued is a Class 'B' licence unless the applicant has passed a Morse code test in which case a Class 'A' licence is issued. 4. What is the Radio Amateur's Examination (RAE) ? The RAE is a two paper multiple-choice examination held twice yearly at City & Guilds Examination Centres. It tests electronic theory, licence conditions, interference & operating procedures. The C&G reference is 765. The C&G charge GBP16.50 (1993 level) for each paper, a Pass on both is required. The Examination Centre may also make a charge. Several books exist for self-teaching of the necessary subjects to pass the RAE and these are available from the RSGB, amongst others (see below). 5. What is the Novice Course and Exam (NRAE) ? The Novice Course is a 30 hour training course organised by the Radio Society of Great Britain and run at local radio clubs and schools. The course typically lasts 12 to 16 weeks. The courses will normally be timed to finish a few weeks before one of the four Novice RAE's held each year. The C&G reference is 773. The Novice Course Instructors will prepare a candidate for the NRAE. The Exam is one paper testing a wide range of subjects learnt on the Novice Course. A Pass on both the Course and the NRAE is required. 6. Where can I take these exams ? Both the RAE and NRAE can be held at any City & Guilds exam centres, but it is up to each centre to decide whether to hold the examinations and local centres should be contacted direct. Some radio clubs and schools have registered themselves as C&G centres. There is a list of the participating C&G centres in the 'Callbook and Information Directory' published annually by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). The Novice Course is run locally but the RSGB has a register of courses and can advise you of the nearest one. Their telephone number is 0707 659015 (+44 707 659015). 7. What if I fail ? If you fail one of the papers of the RAE then you can re-take only that paper at the next examination. If you fail both papers then you can re-take the RAE. There is no limit on the number of times you may take the RAE, but the fee will be charged each time. Similarly for the Novice Course and NRAE, either element can be re-taken. 8. I passed the exams, now what ? Complete the application form (Novice Instructors have forms for Novice applicants) and send it with the RAE/NRAE Pass slip (and Novice Course Pass slip if for a Novice licence) to Subscription Services Ltd (SSL), together with the fee. See Q38. The fee is currently GBP15 for all classes of licence, but Novice licence holders under 21 years old are not required to pay the fee. The licence can take 4 to six weeks to be delivered. The licence will show your callsign. You also receive a booklet giving information about what your licence permits you to do. 9. What is a callsign ? A callsign is a unique identifier for you whilst transmitting. Callsigns are issued to an individual radio amateur with their first licence document. A callsign consists of a mixture of letters and numbers from 3 characters long. In the UK, the shortest callsigns are 4 characters long. Holders of the Radio Amateur Licence in the UK have callsigns with the prefix 'G'. Holders of Novice Licences have the callsign prefix '2'. Sample prefixes for other countries are F;France, D;Germany, I;Italy, N,W,A;USA, VK;Australia. Prefixes are allocated by the International Telecommunications Union, an agency of the United Nations. There are secondary prefixes in the UK to determine which part of the UK the licence holder is operating from: Radio Amateur Licence Novice Licence England G 2E Scotland GM 2M Wales GW 2W Northern Ireland GI 2I Isle of Man GD 2D Jersey GJ 2J Guernsey & GU 2U dependencies In the case of club licences, a different secondary prefix may be used: England GX Scotland GS Novice licences may not Wales GC be used as club licences. Northern Ireland GN Isle of Man GT Jersey GH Guernsey & GP dependencies Following the prefix, a UK callsign has a number that determines the class of licence, ie whether it's a class 'A' or class 'B' licence: Radio Amateur Licence Novice Licence Class A 0,2,3,4, all plus 0 plus three letters three letters 2,3,4,6,8 plus two letters Class B 1,6,7,8 all plus 1 plus three letters three letters The latest callsigns being issued are in the G0, G7, 2E0, 2E1 series. A valid callsign would be G1PJJ or G3YMD or G2FA. The first one is Class B, the second two are Class A. A valid Novice Class A callsign would be 2E0AAK. The callsign allocated must be transmitted in accordance with the current licence conditions. 10. What frequencies am I allowed to use ? The frequency bands allocated to Amateurs are published in the licence conditions booklet that accompanies each licence. The current bands allocated to Radio Amateurs are: 1.810-2.000, 3.500-3.800, 7.000-7.100, 10.100-10.150, 14.000-14.350 18.068-18.168, 21.000-21.450, 24.890-24.990, 28.000-29.700, 50.000-52.000, 70.00-70.50, 144.0-146.0, 430.0-440.0, 1240-1325, 2310-2450, 3400-3475, 5670-5680, 5755-5765, 5820-5850, 10000-10500, 24000-24250, 47000-47200, 75500-76000, 142000-144000, 248000-250000. All frequencies in MHz. Class B Licence holders are restricted to transmitting on bands above 30MHz. Geographical restrictions apply to the 430-432MHz sub-band. The current bands allocated to Novices are: 1.950-2.000, 3.560-3.585, 10.13-10.14, 21.100-21.149, 28.060-28.190, 28.225-28.500, 50.0-52.0, 432.0-440.0, 1240-1325, 10000-10500. All frequencies in MHz. Class B Novice Licence holders are restricted to transmitting on bands above 30MHz. Bands from 1.8MHz to 30MHz are known as HF (High Frequency) Bands from 50MHz to 146MHz are known as VHF (Very High Frequency) Bands from 430MHz to 1.3GHz are known as UHF (Ultra High Frequency) Bands above 1.3GHz are in the Microwave region and are also known as SHF (Super High Frequencies) 11. What can I transmit ? The transmission types available depend only on whether there's sufficient bandwidth on the band you intend to use for that transmission. You would not try to transmit a 6MHz television signal on a 2MHz wide band. Otherwise, all phone, Morse, television, fax and data modes are permitted on all bands. There is, however, general agreement in the UK on use of particular modes on each band. So far as the content of the transmission is concerned, this does depend on the mode in use. You may not transmit any copyrighted material. You cannot (except under emergency conditions) transmit a message that is not from another amateur, however you cannot store-and-forward any message that is not from yourself. This area of licencing is not easy to explain in few words and the licence booklet should be read. See Q33 in connection with those who may transmit at your station and Q30 for restrictions regarding packet-radio messages. For Novice Licence Holders, the restrictions are slightly more severe and several bands are only available for Morse transmissions. Novices are not permitted to use some bands at all, notably 144MHz. See Q32 for the band-plans. 12. How do I know what to do ? Hopefully in preparing for the exam, you've read and learnt the licence conditions and operating procedures. The best way of learning though is to listen to other amateurs operating. Hopefully you can listen whilst you're learning so when the licence arrives you'll be ready to transmit straight away. In any case, if you get it wrong 'on the air' then some- one will correct you. 13. Where can I buy a radio ? Many larger towns have shops that stock Radio Amateur equipment. Many advertise in the Amateur Radio press. Local amateurs will advise on the better local emporiums but a lot of business is mail-order, with the usual caveats. You do not usually need to take your licence along when purchasing a radio, but some suppliers are asking for proof of being licenced before selling you a radio, particularly higher-powered models. An alternative means of comparing and buying radios is at a Rally. These are held all over the country between March and October usually, with a few just before Christmas. A Rally is a way that Radio Amateurs can meet and talk, and there are usually many trade stands from local and national dealers. There's often a bring-and-buy where you can find a second-hand bargain. Rally information is published in all the Radio magazines and also broadcast on the RSGB's news service each Sunday, GB2RS (see Q37). Lists of Rallies are distributed on the packet-radio BBS network by G6CZV addressed to RALLY@GBR. 14. Can I build a radio ? Yes, and you could save yourself lots of cash. Whether you want to try a design of your own, use a published design and etch your own boards or build a kit from one of the UK kit suppliers, there is no restriction on 'home-brew' - not yet. If you're not used to building, don't try and build a transmitter first, try out your skills on a receiver and see how you cope. You'll find many of the kit suppliers at rallies. Many of the magazines feature construction projects, often tied to a specific kit supplier. 15. Can I modify a radio ? Yes. There is a lot of ex-commercial and ex-emergency services radio equipment around and plenty of information on modifying it to make it work on amateur frequencies. But, not all of it is suitable, so ask before you buy. Also, there is a restriction on converting former CB (27MHz) equipment for use on 28MHz and a permit is required from the Radiocommunications Agency. 16. I have a UK licence, can I use it abroad? Holder of a full UK licence can use it abroad, subject to restrictions, holders of novice licences can't. If you intend to operate within Europe, then the country you're operating from may have signed the CEPT agreement, in which case no additional permission is needed to operate there, simply sign as (eg. for France) F/own-call . Check on your own licence validation document which countries have signed the CEPT agreement. Operating in any country that is not a CEPT signatory means obtaining advance permission from that country's authorities to operate there - normally well in advance of your trip. The RSGB can offer advice and application forms for most countries that have a reciprocal licencing agreement with the UK. The relevant embassy/high commission or consulate can also offer advice. Be aware that amateur radio is illegal in some countries. It is also illegal in some countries to even transit the country carrying radio transmitters without the appropriate licence. In all cases, check. 17. What is a CEPT licence ? A CEPT licence is a licence issued by a country that is a signatory to the CEPT agreement no. T/R 61-01. CEPT is the European Posts and Telecommunications Committee and sets standards between European countries. Those countries that have signed the agreement include: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Liechtenstein, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Irish Republic, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, New Zealand, United Kingdom. Under the terms of the agreement, holders of a CEPT class 1 licence, are allowed to use, without further formality, all amateur bands in the country being visited that are also permitted under the terms of the licence-holders own licence. Holder of a CEPT class 2 licence are restricted to bands above 144MHz that are available in the licencee's own country and the country being visited. If you have a UK licence, look at your licence validation document. At the top you will see a "CEPT equivalent class", this will be 1 for a class A licence, 2 for class B. 18. I have a CEPT licence, how do I sign in the UK ? Holders of a licence issued in accordance with the CEPT (European Post and Telecommunications Committee) Recommendation T/R 61-01 may operate in those countries that have verified the Recommendation. The UK is a signatory and amateurs with CEPT licences can operate as G/own-call in England, GW/own-call in Wales etc. without formality. The bands available are restricted to those which are permitted in this country, if the licence holder is permitted to use them in their OWN country. A class 2 CEPT licence holder is restricted to 144MHz and above. 19. I want to operate in the UK, I don't have a CEPT licence. If your licence is not marked as a CEPT licence, then you need to apply to the Radiocommunications Agency for a temporary reciprocal licence. There are reciprocal agreements with many countries, if in doubt ask your own licencing authority or national society. Obtain a reciprocal licence application form from your own national society or direct from the Radiocommunications Agency and return it with proof of your licence and the fee of (currently) GBP15. Allow 8 to 12 weeks if you need the licence returned to your home address, 4 to 6 weeks if it is to go to the address you'll be staying at in the UK. You sign as G/own-call in England, GM/own-call in Scotland etc. You are bound by the UK licencing conditions and will receive a copy of the licencing booklet with the reciprocal licence. The temporary reciprocal licence is valid for 12 months. You can contact the Radiocommunications Agency on 071 215 2150 (+44 71 215 2150). 20. What is morse ? Morse is the simplest means of transmitting a recognisable signal between stations. Morse is, at its simplest, turning on and off the transmitter in a manner that represents letters or numbers, according to the Morse Code. Morse, by its nature, is likely to work between two stations when all other modes fail due to interference or sheer lack of signal strength, given the narrow bandwidth required and the low signalling rate, although no mode is perfect. 21. Where do I learn morse ? There are broadcasts on the HF, VHF and UHF amateur bands that are designed to bring you from a low level to a good level of morse, but these assume that you at least know the 'code' first. These broadcasts in the UK are co-ordinated by the RSGB (0707-659015) and are operated under the callsign GB2CW. There are other HF broadcasts world-wide and the most prominent of these are by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) under the call W1AW. Another way of learning morse is from an instructional tape. These tapes are available from the RSGB and the G-QRP club (see below) amongst other sources. 22. Do I need to learn morse ? If you have no intention of transmitting on the HF bands (below 30MHz) then no, you don't need morse. The main purpose of morse presently is to provide access to the HF bands, morse is a requirement of the ITU and is mandatory in most countries' licencing for HF licences. Above 30MHz morse may still be useful if you want to use meteor-scatter (MS) or use some satellites. If you want to use the HF bands, then a Class 'A' licence is required. If you already have a Class 'B' licence then you need to take either a 12 words-per-minute morse test (for an Amateur Licence 'A') or a 5 wpm morse test (for a Novice Licence 'A'). Additionally a holder of an Amateur Licence 'B' can take the 5 wpm morse test and be issued with a Class 'A' Novice Licence as well as their Class 'B' Licence. The morse tests are organised by the RSGB on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency. Tests are held in most areas 3 or 4 times a year, depending on demand, as well as at some major rallies. 23. What is a repeater ? Repeaters are to be found across the country, mainly on 145MHz and 433MHz. A repeater is an un-manned station that will retransmit on its output frequency any signal heard on its input frequency that satisfies certain conditions. On the 2m band (144-146MHz) repeaters are found on the following frequencies: Output (MHz) Input (MHz) Channel no. 145.600 145.000 R0 145.625 145.025 R1 145.650 145.050 R2 The input frequency 145.675 145.075 R3 is always 600kHz below 145.700 145.100 R4 the output frequency. 145.725 145.125 R5 145.750 145.150 R6 145.775 145.175 R7 On the 70cm band (430-440MHz) repeaters are found on the following frequencies: Output (MHz) Input (MHz) Channel no. 433.000 434.600 RB0 433.025 434.625 RB1 433.050 434.650 RB2 433.075 434.675 RB3 433.100 434.700 RB4 433.125 434.725 RB5 The input frequency 433.150 434.750 RB6 is always 1.6MHz above 433.175 434.775 RB7 the output frequency. 433.200 434.800 RB8 433.225 434.825 RB9 433.250 434.850 RB10 433.275 434.875 RB11 433.300 434.900 RB12 433.325 434.925 RB13 433.350 434.950 RB14 433.375 434.975 RB15 It's worth pointing out that repeaters cost money to run and the RSGB does not contribute to their costs, in fact it no longer pays for the licences. Repeaters are paid for by local groups and clubs. If you use a repeater, ask on the repeater how you can join the group. 24. How do I use a repeater ? With your VHF or UHF transceiver, change the displayed frequency to the output frequency of the repeater you wish to use, there is insufficient space here to list all the repeaters available. Locate the button/function on the transceiver to enable repeater or duplex mode, where there is an option for either positive or negative transmit shift then make sure that it is set to negative for the 2m band and positive for the 70cm band. Refer to Q23 for the exact frequencies. To use a repeater, key the PTT (push-to-talk), send a short burst of 1750Hz tone (tone-burst), keep the PTT keyed and speak for a few seconds (but not whilst the tone-burst is being sent), release the PTT and you should receive a pip or some other indication that your signal was retransmitted by the repeater. The 1750Hz tone-burst is required only when the repeater is not in use and on some transceivers is automatic when repeater/duplex mode is enabled. Some repeaters have the facility to accept CTCSS instead of a tone-burst. If a transceiver is capable of sending CTCSS tones then this should be used instead of a tone-burst where possible. See Q25. 25. What is CTCSS (Tone Squelch) ? CTCSS stands for Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System. The principle is that a sub-audible tone is continuously transmitted in addition to the speech (or other) signal. The tones used are below the normal hearing frequency range and do not interfere with the other signal. In the UK these tones may be used instead of a 1750Hz tone to access repeaters. The UK has been divided into 23 areas and a particular tone has been allocated to each area. Those repeaters that support CTCSS will normally send the appropriate letter (designating the tone frequency) in morse after the repeater callsign. The tones used are a subset of those available and are : Tone letter Frequency (Hz) A 67.1 B 71.9 C 77.0 D 82.5 E 88.5 F 94.8 G 103.5 H 110.9 J 118.8 End of Part 1 -------------