Technician License Course Chapters 7 and 8

Technician License Course Chapters 7 and 8
Lesson Module 16 – Call Signs, Control Operators, Station Identification and Third-Party Communications

Call Signs – Your “Radio Name”
All amateur call signs have a prefix and a suffix Prefix – indicates country of license Suffix – indicates a specific licensee Prefix – generally two or three letters and numbers assigned by the ITU Suffix – one or more letters Explain how the ITU assigns blocks of prefixes to each individual country – give examples. Show amateur call signs and contrast to commercial, broadcast, and Citizens Band call signs. 2014 Technician License Course

2014 Technician License Course
Call Signs US call signs begin with: K, N, W, and AA–AL Ten US call sign districts indicated by 0–9 in prefix Pacific and Caribbean possessions have special prefixes Pass out a U.S. map with the call sign districts. Explain that the number in a call sign indicates the district of the licensee’s address when the call was assigned. Note that hams can move to a new location or request vanity calls that have different numbers than their original district. 2014 Technician License Course

Call Signs U.S. call sign types for amateurs 1x1 (W1W); 1x2 (W1WW); 2x1 (WW1W); 2x2 (WW1WW); 1x3 (W1WWW); or 2x3 (WW1WWW) Assigned by license class 1x1 (“one by one”) is for special events Refer to the FCC sequential call sign system for a description of call sign groups Discuss the structure of U.S. call signs and what the students can expect for their first call signs. Have on hand some QSL cards from the U.S. and from other countries. Use them to illustrate different U.S. call sign groups and how they differ from those of other countries. Call sign groups are not defined in the Part 97 rules, only that a "sequential call sign system" will be used. The details of each call sign group can be found at Currently, all of the 1x3 (Group C) call signs have been assigned sequentially (i.e. - in order) and Technician licensees are being assigned 2x3 (Group D) call signs in regions Many Group C call signs were first assigned long ago. Now that their original assignees are no longer using them, they are available to Technicians through the Vanity Call program. 2014 Technician License Course

Call Signs Indicators – added to the call sign following a slash (/) or a word such as “portable” Portable – operating away from primary station location Mobile, aeronautical mobile, maritime mobile Upgrade indicators “AG” or “AE” or “KT” Discuss self-assigned indicators and what they mean. Give examples such as /KL7 or /KH6 that are especially useful to hams. It’s not required but they can also use /# to indicate operation from a different location than the home station. Note that maritime mobile requires operation outside the territorial waters of the U.S. – not just operating from a vessel. Point out that after upgrading, they can add the AG or AE and immediately use the new authorized privileges before the upgrade is posted in the FCC database. 2014 Technician License Course

Choosing Your Call Sign
Vanity call signs – similar to vanity license plates Pick any call sign authorized for your license class Technicians can have 2x3 (Group D) or 1x3 (Group C) calls Discuss with the students how each licensee can request a specific, un-issued, call sign. Point out that a fee is required to obtain and maintain the vanity call sign. This would be a good opportunity to mention the ARRL’s many licensing services that are available and that some of the services are free to members. 2014 Technician License Course

Special Event and Club Calls
Special event call signs: 1x1 Reserved via administrators ( Club calls Must have a valid club Application by club’s trustee Discuss with the students briefly how and why they might obtain a special event call. Give examples of a local special event from your area. Review briefly the requirements for a club in order for a club call to be assigned. The trustee makes the application and serves as the contact point for the FCC. 2014 Technician License Course

Control Operator Control operator – the amateur licensee responsible for making sure transmissions comply with FCC rules. The FCC requires that transmissions are made only under the control of a licensed operator. This is a key aspect of the FCC rules – all transmissions are the responsibility of a licensed control operator, regardless of the type of control. 2014 Technician License Course

Control Operator Designated by the station licensee. Must have a valid FCC-issued Amateur Radio license or have reciprocal operating permission. Station must operate within the authorization of the control operator’s license. Control operator must be present at the control point of the station Assumed to be the station licensee unless otherwise documented. The control operator must be licensed. The station must be operated within the privileges of the control operator’s license and the control operator must be present at the transmitter’s control point. If an Extra Class and a Tech Class ham are operating a station and the Tech is the control operator, then the station is restricted to Tech privileges. To use the Extra class privileges, than the Extra Class ham must be the control operator. The control operator must be in a position to ensure proper operation of the station and to prevent improper transmissions. For example, the control operator of a repeater must be able to turn off the repeater if there are improper transmissions being made. This would usually done by remote control. 2014 Technician License Course

Control Point Wherever the station controls are operated – not necessarily the physical transmitter The control operator must be able to assert control of the transmitter Control point can be at the transmitter, or linked to the transmitter Control by a circuit or computer is also allowed Note that types of control are covered in the next module. 2014 Technician License Course

Guest Operations Non-licensed people can make transmissions but only when a control operator is present. The control operator is solely responsible for station operation. For licensed guest operators, both the control operator and the guest ham are responsible for station operation. Create different scenarios to illustrate how this works: A young ham allowing his or her un-licensed parent to use an HT A licensed teacher allowing the students to talk on a radio. Unlicensed emergency responders using an ARES member’s radio to communicate during an emergency. Demonstrating ham radio to an unlicensed guest and allowing them to talk on the air 2014 Technician License Course

Station Identification (ID)
All transmissions must be identified State the call sign every 10 minutes during and at the end of the communication Use phonetics on voice modes Use of “Tactical Calls” Licensed Guests You are only required to transmit your call sign at 10-minute intervals and at the end of communication with the other station or stations. The communication can consist of a sequence of transmissions so the call sign does not have to be given at the end of each transmission. Give some examples of proper identification. Also mention that regardless of the language being used for the contact, the station identification must be made in English. It is good practice to say both call signs so that others know who is on the air…maybe they will want to join in the conversation. Review “tactical calls” (more accurately, tactical identifiers) and how they might be used. Also stress that the 10-minute ID rule still applies with regard to the operator’s assigned call and give an example of how to properly use tactical and personal call signs to satisfy this requirement. Finally review how a guest operator who has a higher class license than the owner of the station must identify – by appending their call to the station owners call sign. This is why it is more common for the station owner to “lend” the station to the guest operator – so they don’t have to say or send both calls each time. 2014 Technician License Course

Miscellaneous ID Rules
Repeaters must also ID using the same 10 minute rule. Can be voice or CW (at 20 WPM or less). Satellites and ISS have special rules. Special event calls. Club call or control operator call given once per hour. There are many special circumstances. The important thing here is for the students to recognize that the rules are not always hard and fast and that there are exceptions that need to be understood if they will be involved in these kinds of operations. The important thing is for a listening station to be able to identify the source of a transmission. 2014 Technician License Course

Third-Party Communications
Third-party communication – transmissions on behalf of an unlicensed entity Could mean actually speaking on the air Could mean passing a message on behalf of third party Two situations – different rules Within the US Communication that crosses international borders Define third-party communications and give some examples. 2014 Technician License Course

Third-Party within US No special rules. Just make sure the message is non-commercial in nature. 2014 Technician License Course

Third-Party Across Borders
Third-party agreement with US must exist Check for current third-party agreements from ARRL website or FCC sources if in doubt Most agreements are within ITU Region II This includes contest operation Identify with both stations’ call signs Pass out copies of the table in the text that lists the countries we have third-party agreements with. 2014 Technician License Course

Practice Questions 2014 Technician License Course

Which type of call sign has a single letter in both the prefix and suffix? A. Vanity B. Sequential C. Special event D. In-memoriam FCC Rule: [97.3(a)(11)(iii)] T1C01 HRLM (7-22) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following is a valid US amateur radio station call sign?
A. KMA3505 B. W3ABC C. KDKA D. 11Q1176 T1C02 HRLM (7-20) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following is a vanity call sign which a technician class amateur operator might select if available? A. K1XXX B. KA1X C. W1XX D. All of these choices are correct T1C05 HRLM (7-22) 2014 Technician License Course

Who may select a desired call sign under the vanity call sign rules?
A. Only licensed amateurs with General or Extra Class licenses B. Only licensed amateurs with an Extra Class license C. Only an amateur licensee who has been licensed continuously for more than 10 years D. Any licensed amateur FCC Rule: [97.19] T1C12 HRLM (1) 2014 Technician License Course

Who may select a vanity call sign for a club station?
A. Any Extra Class member of the club B. Any member of the club C. Any officer of the club D. Only the person named as trustee on the club station license grant FCC Rule: [97.21(a) (1)] T1C14 HRLM (7-22) 2014 Technician License Course

When may an amateur station make transmissions without identifying?
A. When the transmissions are of a brief nature to make station adjustments B. When the transmission are unmodulated C. When the transmitted power level is below 1 watt D. Never FCC Rule: [97.119(a), (a)] T1D11 HRLM (8-3) 2014 Technician License Course

When is an amateur station permitted to transmit without a control operator? A. When using automatic control, such as in the case of a repeater B. When the station licensee is away and another licensed amateur is using the station C. When the transmitting station is an auxiliary station D. Never FCC Rule: [97.7] T1E01 HRLM (8-1) 2014 Technician License Course

Who is eligible to be the control operator of an amateur station?
A. Any U.S. citizen or registered alien B. Any family member of the station licensee C. Any person over the age of 18 D. Only a person for whom an amateur operator/primary station license grant appears in the FCC database or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation FCC Rule: [97.7(a,b)] T1E02 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

Who must designate the station control operator?
A. The station licensee B. The FCC C. The frequency coordinator D. The ITU FCC Rule: [97.103(b)] T1E03 HRLM (8-1) 2014 Technician License Course

What determines the transmitting privileges of an amateur station?
A. The frequency authorized by the frequency coordinator B. The class of operator license held by the station licensee C. The highest class of operator license held by anyone on the premises D. The class of operator license held by the control operator FCC Rule: [97.105(b)] T1E04 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

What is an amateur station control point?
A. The location of the station’s transmitting antenna B. The location of the station transmitting apparatus C. The location at which the control operator function is performed D. The mailing address of the station licensee FCC Rule: [97.3(a)(14)] T1E05 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

When the control operator is not the station licensee, who is responsible for the proper operation of the station? A. All licensed amateurs who are present at the operation B. Only the station licensee C. Only the control operator D. The control operator and the station licensee are equally responsible FCC Rule: [97.103(a)] T1E07 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

Who does the FCC presume to be the control operator of an amateur station, unless documentation to the contrary is in the station records? A. The station custodian B. The third party participant C. The person operating the station equipment D. The station licensee FCC Rule: [97.103(a)] T1E11 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

When, under normal circumstances, may a Technician Class licensee be the control operator of a station operating in an exclusive Extra Class operator segment of the amateur bands? A. At no time B. When operating a special event station C. As part of a multi-operator contest team D. When using a club station whose trustee is an Extra Class operator licensee FCC Rule: [97.119(e)] T1E12 HRLM (8-2) 2014 Technician License Course

What type of identification is being used when identifying a station on the air as Race Headquarters? A. Tactical call B. An official call sign reserved for RACES drills C. SSID D. Broadcast station T1F01 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

When using tactical identifiers such as “Race Headquarters” during a community service net operation, how often must your station transmit the station’s FCC-assigned call sign? A. Never, the tactical call is sufficient B. Once during every hour C. At the end of each communication and every ten minutes during a communication D. At the end of every transmission FCC Rule: [ (a)] T1F02 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

When is an amateur station required to transmit its assigned call sign? A. At the beginning of each contact, and every 10 minutes thereafter B. At least once during each transmission C. At least every 15 minutes during and at the end of a communication D. At least every 10 minutes during and at the end of a communication FCC Rule: [97.119(a)] T1F03 HRLM (8-3) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following is an acceptable language to use for station identification when operating in a phone sub-band? A. Any language recognized by the United Nations B. Any language recognized by the ITU C. The English language D. English, French, or Spanish FCC Rule: [97.119(b)(2)] T1F04 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

What method of call sign identification is required for a station transmitting phone signals? A. Send the call sign followed by the indicator RPT B. Send the call sign using CW or phone emission C. Send the call sign followed by the indicator R D. Send the call sign using only phone emission FCC Rule: [97.119(b)(2)] T1F05 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following formats of a self-assigned indicator is acceptable when identifying using a phone transmission? A. KL7CC stroke W3 B. KL7CC slant W3 C. KL7CC slash W3 D. All of these choices are correct FCC Rule: [97.119(c)] T1F06 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following restrictions apply when a non-licensed person is allowed to use a station under the control of a Technician Class control operator to speak to a foreign station? A. The person must be a U.S. citizen B. The foreign station must be one with whom the U.S. has a “third party agreement” C. The licensed control operator must do the station identification D. All of these choices are correct FCC Rule: [97.115(a)(2)] T1F07 HRLM (8-10) 2014 Technician License Course

Which indicator is required by the FCC to be transmitted after a station call sign? A. /M when operating mobile B. /R when operating a repeater C. / followed the FCC Region number when operating out of the region in which the license was issued D. /KT, /AE or /AG when using new license privileges earned by CSCE while waiting for an upgrade to a previously issued license to appear in the ULS database FCC Rule: [ (f)] T1F08 HRLM (8-5) 2014 Technician License Course

To which foreign stations do the FCC rules authorize the transmission of non-emergency third party communications? A. Any station whose government permits such communications B. Those in ITU Region 2 only C. Those in ITU Regions 2 and 3 only D. Those in ITU Region 3 only FCC Rule: [97.115(a)] T1F11 HRLM (8-9) 2014 Technician License Course

How many persons are required to be members of a club for a club station license to be issued by the FCC? A. At least 5 B. At least 4 C. A trustee and 2 officers D. At least 2 FCC Rule: [97.5(b)(2)] T1F12 HRLM (7-22) 2014 Technician License Course

What must an amateur operator do when making on-air transmissions to test equipment or antennas? A. Properly identify the transmitting station B. Make test transmissions only after 10:00 p.m. local time C. Notify the FCC of the test transmission D. State the purpose of the test during the test procedure T2A06 HRLM (8-6) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following is true when making a test transmission into an antenna? A. Station identification is not required if the transmission is less than 15 seconds B. Station identification is not required if the transmission is less than 1 watt C. Station identification is only required once an hour when the transmissions are for test purposes only D. Station identification is required at least every ten minutes during the test and at the end of the test T2A07 HRLM (8-6) 2014 Technician License Course

Which of the following methods is encouraged by the FCC when identifying your station when using phone? A. Use of a phonetic alphabet B. Send your call sign in CW as well as voice C. Repeat your call sign three times D. Increase your signal to full power when identifying FCC Rule: [97.119(b)(2)] T2B09 HRLM (8-4) 2014 Technician License Course

Technician License Course Chapters 7 and 8

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Technician License Course Chapters 7 and 8

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