Questions tagged [united-states]

Questions specific to rules, regulations, and practices in the United States of America.

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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
296 views

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
  • 11
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1 answer
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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
  • 3,885
2 votes
2 answers
560 views

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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1 answer
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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 ...
AI7OW's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
MuffintopBikini's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
140 views

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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2 votes
0 answers
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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?
kj7rrv's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
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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
2 votes
3 answers
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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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1 answer
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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
  • 604
5 votes
4 answers
271 views

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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1 answer
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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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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 ...
niels nielsen's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
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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, ...
Hack-R's user avatar
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1 answer
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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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3 votes
1 answer
219 views

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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4 votes
2 answers
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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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1 answer
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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 ...
Aurelia Peters's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
136 views

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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3 votes
2 answers
222 views

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
681 views

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
201 views

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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2 votes
2 answers
164 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
213 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
278 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
279 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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13 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
kr4sh's user avatar
  • 367
3 votes
1 answer
524 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
3 votes
1 answer
240 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
  • 13.2k
21 votes
1 answer
4k views

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?
webmarc's user avatar
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2 votes
6 answers
161 views

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 ...
Monroe Mann's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
344 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
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
4 votes
1 answer
498 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
366 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
1 vote
1 answer
92 views

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 ...
Yuri's user avatar
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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
  • 691
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
0 votes
1 answer
236 views

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 ...
Paul Brennan'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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7 votes
2 answers
413 views

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 ...
mathandy's user avatar
  • 171
0 votes
0 answers
35 views

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 ...
mathandy's user avatar
  • 171
1 vote
2 answers
563 views

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 ...
daniel Pankratz's user avatar

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