Questions tagged [legal]

Questions regarding laws or other legal regulations pertaining directly to amateur radio. Also tag your question with the relevant location. If in doubt, always seek professional legal advice.

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Are there any stations other than W1AW that fall under 47 CFR 97.113(a)(3)(iv)?

47 CFR 97.113(a)(3) normally prohibits amateurs from transmitting [c]ommunications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an ...
Someone's user avatar
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3rd party rules

Why are there 3rd party rules? http://arrl.org/third-party-operating-agreements lists the countries we are allowed to pass 3rd party messages from. The fcc regulations specifically state that 3rd ...
mbond's user avatar
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3 answers
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Is it legal to practice using a one-time pad?

Imagine two people want to practice the procedure for sending and receiving messages over amateur radio that are encrypted using a one-time pad. Here’s what doing this for real would look like: ...
Bryan's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can I use APRS TCP/IP abroad?

I'm in Europe and sometimes while I'm driving I send my position using aprsdroid on my phone through aprs-is service. One local ham are threatening me because I'm digipeating using my foreign callsign ...
Daniel Regis's user avatar
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Published Ship radio communaction by broadcasting company [closed]

I am unsure if I am in the right department here because it is not amateur radio, but maybe nevertheless somebody can clarify. Surely everybody has heard about the burning car freighter Freementle ...
mmt10's user avatar
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Kosher to setup a D-Star (or DV) repeater on 10m?

Equipment availability and other logistics aside, is it kosher in the US to fire up a D-Star (or other digital voice) repeater in the appropriate portion of 10m? I haven't been able to find any ...
webmarc's user avatar
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Is it possible to comply with FCC regulations using a mode that takes over ten minutes to send a call sign?

Is there any legal way to use an extremely slow mode that takes over ten minutes to send a call sign?
Someone's user avatar
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Operating on the US-Canada Border

How would one identify if one were operating from a location directly on the US/Canada border? Wxxxx/VEx or Wxxxx? How about POTA? If I were to operate a POTA twofer on the boundary at the border of ...
AI7OW's user avatar
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Could a non-licensee transmit to a licensed person remotely, if the licensed person ensures they follow laws?

Let's suppose that Person A, who does not have a license, would like to contact Person B, who is licensed, over an amateur radio frequency. I know that under certain circumstances, Person A would be ...
Blue Herring's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
89 views

How do equipment manufacturers test equipment? [duplicate]

How do manufacturers of ham radio equipment test the devices they sell without violating laws against commercial use of ham radio frequencies?
kj7rrv's user avatar
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Is there any legal recourse against unauthorized usage of a private repeater in the USA?

Can the FCC revoke an amateur license for unwelcomed use of another amateur's private/closed repeater system? It's clear that private repeaters are allowed, per 47 CFR 97.205(e): Limiting the use of ...
natevw - AF7TB's user avatar
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Would repeated non-interfering kerchunking with ID within ten minutes be illegal or just annoying?

I'm not going to do this. I'm just curious whether it's legal or not. Suppose there's a net at 8:00 on a repeater. There is no traffic prior to the net. Is it legal to repeatedly kerchunk the repeater ...
Someone's user avatar
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Is it legal to make transmissions to one's own auto-confirming radio with the intent that a non-licensed person read the messages?

Is this scenario legal? John, K1ABC, sends this message from a portable QTH: K1ABC-1 DE K1ABC-2 On the way home DE K1ABC/P John's home radio automatically responds ...
Someone's user avatar
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5 votes
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UHF 70cm unlicensed use

We are farmers with (edit) 25-40w radios mostly old Kenwoods and Motorolas in all of our tractors and vehicles. I'm not exactly sure what frequency we have but the man who programmed them set them up ...
Logan's user avatar
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6.765 - 6.795 MHz ISM band for prototype testing

Not strictly a ham radio question, but I figure this is the most knowledgable community to ask. This question pertains to Canada, specifically. If I were wanting to build a prototype for a commercial ...
Jordan's user avatar
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What is the maximum height I can go above the roof of my house

I have a new 5/8 wave Antenna with 3 radials. It's just over 22 feet high, the mast-pole is 30 foot long and will be mounted on the side of my house question is, what is the maximum "legal" ...
user avatar
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What replaces the first class radio license?

Several electricians here were hired partly because they had amateur radio licenses and one of them had a 'First Class Radiotelephone' license. It'd be nice to get that credential but it's no longer ...
Dax's user avatar
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Why do so many hams prominently display their callsign in the shack?

By ham standards, I'm far from being a long-time adept of amateur radio, but I've seen my fair share of shacks, both on the internet and in person. What's always attracted my attention is that almost ...
Ivan R2AZR's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
115 views

Why are European sold radios frequency-restricted, if it's the operator that's licensed?

E.g. in the UK the allowed 70cm band is just 430-440MHz. In the US it seems like it's 420-450MHz. Why are most HTs restricted in frequency according to where they're sold? It doesn't seem illegal to ...
Thomas's user avatar
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Multiplayer game over ham radio digital link?

Would it be legal to play a multiplayer video game over a ham radio link? Both players are hams, and their call signs will be transmitted in the link.
Someone's user avatar
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Putting up a tower on my residential property

I live in upstate South Carolina. I contacted the city and the person who answered the phone call said it would be a new structure and can't be higher the the house on the property. I looked at the ...
N4LEP's user avatar
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Would a transmitter similar to "The Thing" be legal on ham bands in the US?

The Thing was a listening device used by the Soviet Union to eavesdrop on US government officials. It was basically an AM transmitter if I understand correctly, but it required another transmitter on ...
Someone's user avatar
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Can someone without privileges on a band operate FT8 on it using the callsign of a ham who does and is present?

I have an Extra license. Is it legal for my dad (who has a Technician license) or my mom (who is not licensed) to operate FT8 on 20 meters using my call sign, if I am physically present at the control ...
Someone's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Why is there a repeater on 146.46? Isn't that a simplex frequency?

I have a commercial GE Phoenix transceiver that I sent out to be programmed on 146.460 but have been informed by a club that my transmissions are interfering with their repeater that has a 146.460 ...
Dax's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
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Can you base64 encode or compress ham transmissions [US]?

(a) No amateur station shall transmit: <...> Music using a phone emission except as specifically provided elsewhere in this section; communications intended to facilitate a criminal act; ...
belkarx's user avatar
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1 answer
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In Canada, if I want to use DMR encryption on ham radio, how should I share my encryption key?

In Canada, one is permitted to "use a code or cipher that is not secret" on amateur radio. (See: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-484/FullText.html under "...
Felix An's user avatar
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36ft pole from the ground then adding 7.80 meters antenna on top is this legal

If I use a 36ft pole and a 7.80 meters antenna on top of the pole, is this going to break the law in Scotland? My antenna that I'm planning to install is a siro 827.
Robert Nicholas's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
170 views

Can users ID for a repeater?

If a typical Amateur Radio repeater's ID'er goes down, can the users of that repeater ID on behalf of that repeater? IE,"this is Blah Blah Blah on the Blah Blah Blah repeater". Maybe I'm ...
Radio Geek's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
214 views

When was the FCC Part 97 requirement for a time-out timer removed from repeaters under automatic control? Or, am I just nuts?

I've been remiss in keeping up with the changes in Part 97, especially in the area of repeater stations. A recent discussion about changing the time-out timer's period had me scurrying to the CFR, and ...
KenTenTen's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
279 views

What are the limitations of the 6.765 - 6.975 MHz ISM band in the United States? [closed]

There is a region of the lower 43 meter band designated for ISM use in the United States by the FCC starting at 6.765 MHz and ending at 6.975 MHz. Both "FIXED" and "MOBILE" usage ...
zenith777's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
282 views

Can we use UHF/VHF ham bands for search and rescue missions?

Suppose that several licensed amateurs are part of a volunteer search and rescue team. The team is normally licensed and carries equipment to communicate on a variety of public safety bands in VHF/UHF ...
crasic's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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FCC Guidelines for Radar

I'm working on some research for a project of mine. The project requires the use of millimeter wave radar. I am having a very hard time figuring out what the FCC's regulations on frequencies and ...
Zero's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
149 views

How do businesses develop and test amateur radio products in the US if you cannot be paid for amateur radio use?

Certainly there are companies in the US (like Kenwood) that develop HAM products that transmit. For development and QA they would likely need to test the product outside of a Faraday cage. How can ...
KJ7LNW's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
525 views

programming Pofung UV-82

As an alternative to the higher priced Motorola portables we use at our volunteer fire department, individuals have purchased several Bao Feng UV-82HP units to carry to monitor dispatch and fire ...
rshinn13's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
152 views

Maximum occupied bandwidth and symbol rate for amateur satellites [closed]

I'm looking for information regarding allowed occupied bandwidth and maximum symbol rate for the following amateur satellite bands Amateur VHF (144 to 148 MHz) aka 2m-band Amateur UHF (430 to 440 MHz)...
Moses Browne Mwakyanjala's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
245 views

Is the mode on the band plan chart mandatory?

In the ARRL band plan found here in the bands where we are permitted to transmit, is the specified mode always mandatory? If I get caught making a silly mistake by the FCC transmitting on the wrong ...
NonYaBidnezz's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
65 views

What are the unintentional radiation limits in U.S. HF bands?

What are the radiation limits in U.S. HF bands in terms, not in terms of uV/M, but in dBm or uV levels transmitted though an HF dipole antenna? I assume that if the antenna is connected to a receiver ...
hotpaw2's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
346 views

Store and forward system like voicemail for hams

I want to be able to get in touch with hams in my area when we are not both on air at the same time, but are close enough to each other for VHF communication. I want to be able to use my radio to call ...
OrangePeel52's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
187 views

If I upgrade my USA license before moving to Spain, will it transfer?

KK4UOT... I'm moving from Nashville, to Barcelona area Spain. My current license is for a technician, which I know is not enough to obtain an EU transmit operators, but I am curious, if I upgrade my ...
KK4UOT's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
162 views

Is A7RW a legal call sign?

I've seen a reference to the callsign A7RW. I can't find it in the FCC database or by searching the ARRL. Is it a legitimate US callsign?
Roy Willis's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why are proprietary codecs used in amateur radio?

This may be slightly off topic (maybe there's a Legal Stack Exchange :-D), but how is it that codecs like Yaesu's C4FM are allowed to be proprietary while still being used on Amateur bands? At the ...
Joshua Nozzi W4JLN's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
589 views

Where can I find the official rules for Amateur Radio usage in Sweden

A number of years ago I was very much into Ham Radio in Canada. I have now moved to Sweden and am thinking about getting back into it again. I can not find any clear set of rules as to how Sweden ...
David's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
502 views

Does the FCC e-mail when a vanity call sign is approved?

I submitted an application for a vanity call sign a little over 18 days ago, and it's marked "pending". I presume that it will be processed soon, but the FCC's ULS search page is being slow ...
chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-'s user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
368 views

Will the feds show up to my door? Is there a way to not get in trouble?

Ok so I am in the USA, and I have just bought a BFTECH BF-F5XP. I have a couple of questions. First of all, could I make my own Privacy code (Interference prevention code), and channels? What I am ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
106 views

Will Brexit have any impact on UK recognition of foreign licenses

As a US license holder (and duel citizen of the US and UK) I know that I can operate in the UK for a couple of months using the M/W2*** prefix, while holding Amateur Extra, but I cannot apply for a UK ...
Paul Brennan's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
175 views

Anytone 878 UV Commercial license?

This radio has a commercial mode but no where that I can find does it describe which commercial license. Looking at the tag under the battery... FCC ID T4KD887UV https://fccid.io/T4KD878UV ...so part ...
NonYaBidnezz's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
310 views

Is the 1.5kW power limit per antenna? What about antenna arrays?

My son KJ7NLL just got his general, and while we don't (yet?) have plans to transmit at 1.5kW, he asks if the 1.5kW limit is per-antenna? If it is per-antenna, and you use an antenna array of 8 ...
KJ7LNW's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can you use 144mhz and below without a license with a Baofeng

I have a Baofeng and all the people that I have asked said that I can use 144mhz and below without a license but what I see on the internet is that I can’t use the Baofeng without a license at all can ...
EthanF125 's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
94 views

License document requirements

Are there any requirements to post, carry, or have available an official paper copy of one's radio license in order to operate in the U.S.? Do any states require physical possession of a printed ...
hotpaw2's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
881 views

In Canada, does a person need to be licensed to buy amateur radio equipment?

I have studied for and am ready to take my amateur radio license test but there are currently no licensed instructors available in my region to administer the test. Can I start acquiring ham radio ...
Bond Keevil's user avatar

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