Questions tagged [united-states]
Questions specific to rules, regulations, and practices in the United States of America.
304
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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 ...
- 604
2
votes
2
answers
74
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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 ...
- 97
1
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3
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296
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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:
...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
78
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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 ...
- 3,885
2
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2
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560
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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 ...
- 314
5
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1
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134
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How do I get QSL cards from the Incoming Bureau?
I'm new to QSLing and want to know how to get QSL cards from an incoming bureau in the USA. I have sent outgoing cards recently and want to know how to acquire the replies. Could somebody describe the ...
- 314
7
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1
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137
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Is it possible to remove the previous callsign information?
I had a name change some years ago and had a new callsign generated. But the FCC keeping a record of my previous callsign puts me at risk of an abusive ex finding me.
Is it possible to disassociate ...
- 171
1
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1
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140
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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 ...
- 125
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2
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89
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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?
- 179
2
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0
answers
59
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Would it be feasible to create a GSM, 3G, LTE, or 5G NR ham radio network? [duplicate]
Would it be feasible to create a cellular network compatible with standard unlocked phones using amateur frequencies and following amateur regulations?
- 179
13
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1
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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 ...
- 7,269
2
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3
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168
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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 ...
- 604
3
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1
answer
128
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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 ...
- 604
5
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4
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271
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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 ...
- 51
0
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139
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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" ...
user22806
2
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2
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communicating with France from Oregon
Newbie ham here. My stepdaughter in France is interested in off-grid communication with us in Oregon, and so I am looking into what that would take. If I knew what frequency bands would be best I ...
- 907
2
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1
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How do you map old FCC license classes to the new 3-class system?
A lot of resources, including this ubiquitous (and otherwise very useful) band chart from the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) refer to the older FCC license system which had Novice, Technician, ...
- 255
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1
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156
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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 ...
- 453
3
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1
answer
219
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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.
- 604
4
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2
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2k
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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 ...
- 41
3
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1
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Is a club call sign with a suffix (i.e. /GOTA) permissible for a Field Day GOTA station?
The 2017 Field Day GOTA Station FAQ states "The GOTA station uses a callsign different from the call used by the group’s main Field Day operation. The GOTA station must use the same, single ...
- 183
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1
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136
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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 ...
- 604
3
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2
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222
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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 ...
- 604
2
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2
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681
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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 ...
- 453
3
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3
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201
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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; ...
- 133
2
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2
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164
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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 ...
- 21
5
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2
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213
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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 ...
- 53
2
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1
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278
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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 ...
- 21
7
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1
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279
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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 ...
- 171
13
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1
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2k
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Hanging a dipole from a tree not code compliant?
I just got off the phone with my town's electrical inspector (in Massachusetts), and he informed me that you are not allowed to hang anything electrical from "vegetation". He said if I did ...
- 367
3
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1
answer
524
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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 ...
- 39
3
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1
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240
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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 ...
- 363
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1
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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 ...
- 13.2k
21
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1
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Why do people say, "get a nickel," on repeaters?
Sometimes, I'll hear someone say "wait a moment, I'm getting a nickel," and then drop the carrier only to resume talking. Why?
- 3,885
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6
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161
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Extra Class Requirements and Study Guides for a General Class operator
I've had my general class license for 20 years. I never progressed farther. This was back when you had to learn morse code at 13 WPM for General.
I'm just curious what the procedures are to upgrade ...
- 129
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3
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344
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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 ...
- 133
4
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1
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162
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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?
- 41
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3
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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 ...
4
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1
answer
498
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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 ...
2
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4
answers
366
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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 ...
user18671
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1
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106
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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 ...
- 203
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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 ...
- 363
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1
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92
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Is a Foundation or Intermediate license from the UK recognised in the US?
I know that a Full license is recognised in the US, but is the same true for a Foundation or Intermediate license? On the surface they look equivalent to the US Technician and General licenses, so are ...
- 13
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2
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310
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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 ...
- 691
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3k
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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 ...
0
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1
answer
236
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DMR code plug for Anytone d878uv
Just moved from SoCal and there were sites out there for exchanging code plugs for the Anytone 878uv. I was wondering if there are similar sites for the northeast of the US. I would love to get a ...
- 203
4
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2
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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 ...
- 13.2k
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Using radio for musical collaboration -- the line between conversation and broadcasting
I'd like to collaborate (e.g. play together) with other musicians in my local area and/or beyond.
Coronavirus has made in-person collaboration difficult. Latency makes internet-based collaboration ...
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0
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Using radio for musical collaboration [duplicate]
I'd like to collaborate (e.g. play together) with other musicians in my local area and/or beyond.
Coronavirus has made in-person collaboration difficult. Latency makes internet-based collaboration ...
- 171
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2
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563
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Can you receive GPS coordinates from a Garmin Astro dog collar on a handheld ham radio that has APRS?
I want to get a Garmin Astro 320 (or 430) which transmits GPS coordinates to a Garmin handheld unit on frequency 151.820-ish and 154.600-ish. But I would like to have the Garmin Astro GPS collar on ...
