Bredhurst Receiving and Transmitting Society

Part 1

OPERATORS

2a.1 Recall that an Intermediate Licensee may operate the Radio Equipment of any another UK licensed amateur under that person's direct supervision using the supervisor's call sign, and obeying the terms of the supervisor's licence.

Recall that an Intermediate Licensee may (with permission) use another amateur's radio equipment unsupervised, but using the call sign and conditions of his  or her own licence.

NOTE: The term 'Radio Equipment' (in initial capitals) is a defined licence term meaning the equipment used and identified by the operator's call sign. If a visiting amateur uses the radio equipment with his callsign, it is his Radio Equipment.

MESSAGES

2b.1 Recall that Radio equipment must not be used for business or advertising purposes.

Chatting about items of a technical nature is usually very worth while and amateurs are usually happy to help each other out. You can often learn a great deal about antennas in qso's.

	You cannot use the amateur band for publicity of any business venture nor to use it to keep in touch with business colleges for as such the amateur radio bands are then benefiting your business and that is just not allowed.

2b.2 Recall that the Licensee may pass messages on behalf of a User Service and may permit a member of the Users Service to use the Radio Equipment to send messages.

Recall the identity of the Users Services.

NOTE: It is only necessary to remember the Users Services named in Clause 17(1)(rr) and that the police, Fire, Ambulance and coast guard are included in the "Category 1 and 2 responders" along with local government.

LOCATION and IDENTIFICATION

2c.1 Recall that the licensee must transmit the call sign printed on the Licence during CQ calls, when establishing communication and every 15 minutes during long periods of transmission.

When you are using your own station then you must transmit the call sign that is printed in your licence:-

• during CQ calls, and

• at the start of communication and

• every 15 minutes during long periods of transmissions.

Best operating practise would be to use the call sign at the start and finish of each OVER as the end of an over is in fact an end of a transmission when you release the PTT.

When you talk for a long time, as a single over for greater than 15 minutes, then in addition to the forgoing you also have to give your call sign in the QSO every 15 minutes.

2c.2 Recall the meaning of 'Main Station Address',  'Alternative Address', 'Temporary Location' and 'Mobile'.

'Main Station Address' : The location of your station as listed on your validation document /licence

'Alternative Address' : means a fixed postal address in the United Kingdom other than the Main Station Address

'Temporary Location' : A location other than your main location or when you are mobile.

'Mobile' : When you are not at your 'main station address' or your 'temporary location' then you must be mobile!!! Mobile is not only in a motor vehicle but is also when you are on a bicycle and also walking (or for the fit ones amongst you running).

NOTE that you are still mobile if in a vehicle and stopped for a period of time at say traffic lights but when the vehicle become permanently parked then it is considered that you would no longer be mobile but /P.

2c.3 Recall that the licence does not permit operation from and aircraft or vessel on the seaward side of the low water line as marked on official charts.

You cannot operate from an aircraft and you can thus not operate from a balloon or even a model aircraft.

So if you are to operate from a boat you have to know a little about the charts used as you need to know where the low water line is positioned.

2c.4 Recall that other Administrations (foreign countries) do not routinely recognise the Intermediate Licence.

At present the intermediate license is still a UK licence and does not give you permission to operate aboard.                       

UNATTENDED OPERATION

2d.1 Recall that the licensee may conduct Unattended Operation of a Beacon, for the purposes of direction-finding competitions, for remote control of the main station or for digital communications.

Unattended means that you are not in the vicinity of the station. Such a station could be:-

• a low powered beacon for direction-finding competitions (DF hunts) and

• you can also remotely operate your station and

• you when you use digital communications and leave the station unattended.

Recall that the remote control link must be by radio in an amateur band, limited to 500mW maximum transmit power.

Self explanatory but note particularly the amount of power you may use..

Recall that unattended operation does not include providing for general use by other amateurs.

This is so you do not provide for the benefit of others a repeater.

LOG

2e.1 Recall that a person authorised by Ofcom may require the Licence holder to keep a log of all transmissions made over a specified period of time.

Whilst log keeping used to be a main stay of the licence condition prior to the "life Time Licence" that is not the case now.

However you might have to keep a log if you caused for instance undue interference to a neighbour.  As you do not need to keep a log and explanation of the log detail are not now given.

APPARATUS

2f.1 Recall that transmissions from the station must not cause undue interference to other radio users.

Having a radio transmitter available to you is a responsibility as you have the ability to cause interference to other radio users. It is a licence requirement that you do not cause undue interference to other radio users whether they are amateur or commercial users. It is the fact that you are causing UNDUE interference, which is interference that is excessive or disproportionate and not just interference that it the point of this section.  so look out for the word UNDUE in questions in the exam.

2f.2 Recall that the licensee must reduce any emissions causing interference, to the satisfaction of a person authorised by ofcom.

Should you be foolish enough to cause interference then you will be ordered to reduce any emissions causing interference and this you must do to the satisfaction of an Officer authorised by the Secretary of State.

Should this happen to you don't try to be clever just abide by the rules and all should be well.

2f.3 Recall the licensee must carry out tests from time to time to ensure that the station is not causing Undue interference.

From time to time

Having a radio transmitter available to you is a responsibility as you have the ability to cause interference to others. This might be to their radio hifi television or what ever. It is a licence requirement that you do not cause undue interference to other radio users. Tests must be carried out "from time to time". This phrase is an old favourite in exam questions !!

Carrying out test from time to time means that Ofcom are not going to specify when you must do your tests - but you must decide how often you want to check you equipment to ensure that you are not causing interference and that all is operating well.

It would be considered appropriate to check your equipment when ever there has been a break of say "several weeks" in operating and you would do tests to check SWR etc --- so they would be logged.

Also when you carry out any significant changes to your operating station then you would do simple tests to check it all works ok --- so they too would be logged.

However carrying out more exhaustive test every six months might be considered about right, with modern commercial equipment.

Details of the the tests carried out

Further you have to note in your log book the full details of the the tests carried out - of course you would also have to enter the date and times as usual mode power etc ....

So what as the tests that you have to carry out ???

These have not been defined but you have to know  that you are not causing or likely to cause interference and to ensure :-

• that your station is not transmitting outside the amateur bands

• that your station is not causing harmonically related radiation of your wanted signal

These items you can check with the aid of a general coverage receiver and tune up the band and through the harmonically related frequencies. Should you hear you own signal outside the permitted bands stop transmitting. Then reduce the Tx power level move further inside the band and try again. Also remove the aerial to the receiver - but if then no signal can be heard substitute with a short length of wire say 250mm. If all is well and you are again in band return to the frequency that should be in band and test again.

Log the results of all the tests - a simple "OK" will do if the test was successful.

If you have a frequency counter then use that to check your transmitter carrier frequency log the result.

LICENCE

2g.1 Recall that the Licensee must give immediate notice to Ofcom of any change to the Licensee's Name, Main station address or mailing address.

So even though the licence is for life you must advise Ofcom of any change to the Licensee's Name, Main station address or mailing address.  Note the words "immediate" notice so it is not prior nor after but immediate so may be this means on the day of changes!!

Recall that the licensee must confirm that the details shown on their licence remain valid at least once every five years.

You have to make the effort to confirm the details on your licence are correct. Fortunately that now can be done via the internet.

Recall that the licence can be revoked by Ofcom for breaches of licence conditions or for non-confirmation of licence details.

Do something wrong and Ofcom has the power to revoke your licence.

LICENCE SCHEDULE

2h.1 (HF) Apply the schedule to the Intermediate licence.

2h.2 (VHF) A copy of the Schedule will be available during the examination.