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Question 1 in the exam

Syllabus sections:-

Licence clause numbers given below are for ease of reference and do not necessarily indicate that clauses not quoted are outside the scope of the syllabus.

Make sure you have a copy of the RSGB  to hand available here 


Nature of amateur Radio, types of licence and call signs

  1A2 1  Identify the types of UK licence and the format of all call signs in use including Regional Secondary Locators, and all suffixes but not (in this section) club, special event and contest call signs.

This Question 1 for most will be more difficult to answer than you might expect as there could be the need to use the

"Notes to the licence" note (e) regarding identifying location of operation make sure to read this and know where it is before your examination.

Much of this topic has been in the Foundation and Intermediate licence syllabuses but due to the importance to be able to recognise UK licence holders it is also in the syllabus for this Advanced Licence Course.

There are three levels of licence the introductory level being Foundation then the next level up is Intermediate with the Advanced being the highest level.

In addition to the format for call signs for individuals there are also different formats for club, special event and contest call signs, however knowing call signs other than for individuals is NOT part of the syllabus and thus is excluded from the course work.

Licence level

Licence title

Callsign example in England if main address

Callsign example for the Isle of Man if main address

Third tier

Advanced

NOTE:- All call signs beginning with a "G" and "M1, M0, and M5" and three letters are Advanced Licence holders

MD0FSH

GD0FSH

Second tier

Intermediate

Note :- It is the "2" that indicates the Intermediate Licence holder

2D0AAA

First tier

Foundation

Note:- It is the "3" and the "6" that indicates the Foundation licence holder

MD3RND

You must also be able to recall all the secondary identifiers and how they are used with Foundation and Advanced licences and recall that with the Intermediate licence the Secondary Identifier replaces the letter E when the station is not located in England.

As shown in the examples the secondary identifier follows the initial letter in Foundation and Advanced level call signs and in the Intermediate follows the number "2" and identifies by a single letter the location of the station in UK:-

M, D, W, I, J & U ,

With all licences there is also:-

/P ( when not at your main station address) and

/M ( for when you are mobile walking cycling etc).

Map of secondary identifiers

Please note that whilst the Advanced Amateur Radio Licence is recognised for reciprocal operation in other countries, recognition of all UK licences is up to the host administration.

As not all countries have "Intermediate" Licences there is no mutual recognition arrangements have been made as at 12th Jan 2004 thus holders of a UK Intermediate Licence MAY NOT operate a station located OUTSIDE UK.

HOWEVER in the July 2003 RADCOM (the Bulletin of the RSGB) it is announced that as Gibraltar has introduced its own Foundation Licence scheme that this is a changing situation.

So you need to be able to recognise All UK calls on issue and to which licence level they relate understanding that all 'G' calls, 'M0', 'M1' and 'M5' are Full licences, '2E0' and '2E1' are Intermediate licences in England and that 'M3 and M6' indicate Foundation licensees. Call signs may also contain a regional secondary identifier.

You need to know that only M6, 2E0 ( for England) and M0 are currently being issued to new licence applicants.

Let us new deal with the last part of the syllabus and all suffixes but not (in this section) club, special event and contest call signs.

So what is a suffix. There are 4 suffixes which may be use as appropriate after you call sign :-

/A for use when you are at a postal address but not at your main station address
/P for use when you are at a fixed location but does NOT at a postal address and not at your main station address
/M is for when you are mobile and this includes walking, running, cycling, on a motor bike or in a car
/MM which is for the Full licence holder only and may be used when on a vessel at sea which means on a Vessel operating on the landward side of the low-water line along the coastline as marked on large scale charts officially recognised by the relevant coastal state.
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1A5   1    Recall the requirement for station identification.

Note: For the purpose of the examination this includes identifying when there is a change of :-

  • frequency
  • mode
  • operator unless under supervision
  • supervisor
  • Regional Secondary Locator

Please note the wording of the syllabus " For the purpose of the examination this includes identifying when there is a change of :-" so let's look at each part

Change in Frequency: this means that if you are calling CQ and change to look for a frequency to move to and you speak on that new frequency then you must announce your call sign and then again when you go back to your calling frequency. At every change in frequency you must announce your call sign.

Change in Mode:  It may be rare that you start in one mode and change to another but may be you operate on 160m (Top Band) which is often AM mode but then you change to SSB then you need to announce your call sign.

Change in Operator unless under supervision: If there is an occasion where the operator changes then you must announce your call sign.

Change in Supervisor: When you are supervising a station and some one take over they must announce the change supervisor and again when another change is made announce again.

Change in Regional Secondary Locator ( also know as RSL): This is quite an interesting event as one thinks of being on land all the time an thus you know when you enter the different areas where a different RSL is appropriate but what about at sea.
On the seaward side of the low-water line along the coastline as marked on large scale charts officially recognised by the relevant coastal state what is the situation then ??

Ofcom have issued some guidance on this "In the past, some of the call signs that were printed on the face of the Licence included an RSL. However, some did not. This was usually the RSL of the part of the UK in which the Main Station Address was located. In view of the inconsistency and the scope for confusion, we ( Ofcom) now insert the hash character (‘#’) into the call sign printed on the face of the Licence. As is stated in the text in the call sign box the ‘#’ should be replaced by an RSL, if one is to be used."
It goes on to say "The UK’s territorial seas extend either for 12 nautical miles from the baseline or until a point is reached halfway to another country, such as France. Generally speaking, the ‘baseline’ is the mean low water mark but can be a line across the mouth of a river estuary".

The distance 12 nautical miles equates to approximately 22 kilometres so if you are say 1 kilometre outside the "baseline" but within 22 kilometres then you would still apply the RSL if appropriate but if you were outside the territorial limit 12 nautical miles (22 Kilometres) the the no RSL is appropriate.


Identification

13(1) The Licensee, or, if this Licence is a Full Licence, then any other authorised person who uses the Radio Equipment, shall ensure that :

    (a) the station is clearly identified at all times;

    (b) The Call sign is transmitted as frequently as is practicable during transmissions, unless the specific requirements of Note (g) to the Notes to Schedule 1 of this licence apply  ;
    and

    (c) the call sign is given in voice or other appropriate format consistent with the mode of operation;

Looking at the item (a) quite straight forward, given your call sign as often as you think necessary so that any listener, or watchers on visual mode know who you are.


It is possible that the questions on log keeping will be associated with the following "Keep a permanent record (a "log") of such matters concerning the operation of the Radio Equipment, over such period, and in such form, as the authorised person may require".

BUT nothing is actually specified as to what will be part of the log.

NOTE:

The on page 6 should be read as it includes even more detail regarding Call signs and Identification.

Also the Guidance for licensees by OFCOM https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/82637/amateur_radio_licence_guidance_for_licensees.pdf

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Licence documents

17(1)(l) "Full Licence" means a Licence issued to an Amateur who is the holder of a Radio Amateurs' Examination Pass Certificate which confirms that the holder has achieved the appropriate level of competence required by Ofcom to be issued with a Full Licence;

17(2) The Licence consists of Section 1 and Section 2 (which includes Schedule 1 and Schedule 2) together with the notes thereto, as any of them may be varied from time to time.

Location

2(1)(a),(b),(c) and (d) The Licensee may only operate the Radio Equipment: (a) at the Main Station Address; (b) at an Alternative Address; (c) at a Temporary Location; (d) when Mobile;

17(1)(b), "Alternative Address" means a fixed postal address in the United Kingdom other than the Main Station Address;

(x) "Mobile" means the Radio Equipment is located in the United Kingdom: I. in or on any vehicle or conveyance; II. on the person of the Licensee where the Licensee is a pedestrian; or III. on any Vessel on Inland Waters;

and (tt)   "Vessel on Inland Waters" means a Vessel operating on the landward side of the low-water line along the coastline as marked on large scale charts officially recognised by the relevant coastal state;

Identity of Location

13(1), The Licensee, or, if this Licence is a Full Licence, then any other authorised person who uses the Radio Equipment, shall transmit the Callsign specified in Section 1 of this Licence and any Modifier applicable under the provisions of this Licence:

  • (a) during initial calls ("CQ" calls) or calls to establish contact with another Amateur;

  • (b) at least once every 15 minutes when the period of communication is longer than 15 minutes;

  • (c) whenever the frequency of transmission is changed, at the beginning of transmission on the new frequency;

  • (d) by the same type of transmission that is being used for the communication;

  • (e) on the same frequency that is being used for the communication.

2(2),  The Licensee shall use the following appropriate Regional Secondary Locator after the United Kingdom Call sign prefix "G", "M" or "2" as specified in Section 1, when identifying the Radio Equipment in accordance with Clause 13(1):

  • (a) England - No Regional Secondary Locator;

  • (b) Guernsey - "U";

  • (c) Isle of Man - "D";

  • (d) Jersey - "J";

  • (e) Northern Ireland - "I";

  • (f) Scotland - "M";

  • (g) Wales - "W".

2(3)  If the Call sign specified in Section 1 begins with the number "2", the provisions of Clause 2(2) shall apply with the addition that when used in England, the Secondary Locator "E" shall be used.

Notes (d)   When operating at locations other than the Main Station Address, it is recommended that the following suffixes be used:

  • I. If the Licensee operates the Radio Equipment at an Alternative Address, the Licensee may use the suffix "/A" with the Callsign;

  • II. If the Licensee operates the Radio Equipment at a Temporary Location, the Licensee may use the suffix "/P" with the Callsign;

  • III. If the Licensee operates the Radio Equipment from a Mobile location, the Licensee may use the suffix "/M" with the Callsign;

  • IV. If the Licensee operates the Radio Equipment from a Maritime Mobile location, the Licensee may use the suffix "/MM" with the Callsign.

(e) When the location of the Radio Equipment is given, it is recommended that one of the following location identifiers be used:

  • I. the full postcode;

  • II. latitude and longitude in degrees and minutes;

  • III. National Grid Reference correct to six figures;

  • IV. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) locator to six characters; or

  • V. the address or other geographical description correct to 5 km.

Non-use in aircraft, air borne vehicles including clause 17(1)(d)

9(3) Without prejudice to Clause 1 of this Licence, the Licensee shall not establish or use the Radio Equipment in any Aircraft or other Airborne Vehicle.

17(1)(c) "Aircraft" and "Airborne Vehicles" includes full size and models and also includes balloons whether tethered or free;


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