Section 8.6: Authorized and Prohibited Transmissions #

Welcome to the “do’s and don’ts” of amateur radio! Understanding what you can and can’t transmit is crucial for operating legally and ethically. Let’s break it down:

Authorized Transmissions #

1. Non-Commercial Communication: Amateur radio is for personal use and self-training, not for business.

   • Here’s a tricky one: Can you ever get paid for being a ham? The short answer is usually ’no’ - after all, we’re in this for the love of radio, not the money. But there’s one situation where the FCC says it’s okay to get compensated. If you’re helping out during an emergency or an emergency drill, and it’s related to your day job, you can get paid for your time. Just remember, the radio part needs to be a small piece of what you’re doing, not the main event.

2. Emergency Communications: When things go sideways, all bets are off. Use whatever means necessary to call for help or be a hero to others. It’s like having a “break glass in case of emergency” option for the rulebook.

3. Ham Radio Show-and-Tell:

   • Spread the word about cool ham radio stuff
   • Practice for when the zombies come (aka disaster prep)
   • Take your station for a test drive
   • Warm up for public service events

4. One-Way Traffic (Sometimes):

   • Morse code practice
   • Beacon stations for propagation studies
   • Control signals for amateur radio satellites

5. Quick “Hello, Can You Hear Me?” Tests:

   • Signal reports (aka “You sound like you’re transmitting from inside a tin can”)
   • Equipment tests (make sure your fancy new radio actually works)

6. Going International: Time to flex those language skills! You can chat with hams worldwide, but keep it personal or radio-related. It’s like having pen pals, but cooler.

   There are some countries that you are not allowed to communicate with: We won’t be listing them here, because they could change over time, but any country can notify the ITU that they don’t want ham radio operators to communicate with their citizens. If that happens? Forbi

   Here’s a fun fact: You can transmit from a boat in international waters, as long as you stick to frequency bands allocated internationally in each of the three ITU regions. IF you are in territorial waters of another country then you need to know and follow their rules.

Third-Party Communications: Playing Telephone (Literally) #

Ever wanted to let your non-ham friend use your radio? That – as well as passing messages on their behalf – counts as a third-party communication, and it comes with some rules:

1. What’s the Deal?: Third-party communication is when you’re the middleman, passing a message from a non-ham to another station. It’s like being a radio relay for your friends. Additionally Part 97 allows that person to participate, as long as the control operator is at the control point.

   Third party communications: A message from the control operator (first party) of an amateur station to another amateur station control operator (second party) on behalf of another person (third party)

2. Domestic Third-Party Traffic: Within the U.S., it’s generally a free-for-all. Let your friends and family experience the magic of ham radio! (subject to the restrictions mentioned below)

3. International Third-Party Traffic: This is where it gets tricky. Both countries need to have a “handshake agreement” allowing it. It’s like needing parental permission for an international field trip. No third-party agreement? No talking to that foreign station! (except for emergency or disaster relief communications)

   Part 97 specifies that:

   Transmissions to a different country, where permitted, shall be limited to communications incidental to the purposes of the amateur service and to remarks of a personal character.

4. You’re the Boss: When letting a non-ham use your station, you need to be the responsible adult in the room. Stay present and keep an ear on what’s happening.

5. Not for Everyone: Some folks aren’t allowed to join the third-party party, like those who’ve had their ham licenses revoked. It’s like a “no entry” list for a fancy club.

One-Way Transmissions #

While amateur radio is primarily designed for two-way communications, there are specific situations where one-way transmissions are permitted:

1. Morse Code Practice: Stations may transmit one-way signals for brief periods to provide practice in receiving Morse code.

2. Beacon Stations: These stations transmit one-way signals to study propagation or for other experimental purposes.

3. Remote Control: One-way transmissions are allowed for remote control of model craft, such as drones or boats.

4. Space Telemetry: One-way transmissions from space stations (like satellites) for telemetry purposes are permitted.

5. Brief Transmissions: Short, one-way transmissions are allowed for station identification, testing equipment, or making adjustments to the station.

6. Emergency Communications: In cases of immediate safety of life or protection of property, one-way transmissions of any kind may be necessary and allowed. For example, Amateur Radio may be used when no other means is available in support of broadcasting, program production, or news gathering when the safety of human life or protection of property is on the line.

Remember, these are exceptions to the general rule. The primary purpose of amateur radio remains two-way communications. Always ensure your transmissions comply with FCC regulations and the spirit of amateur radio.

Prohibited Transmissions: #

1. Commercial Communications: No using ham radio to conduct business or make money.

   • The language used in Part 97 to refer to these prohibited transmissions is:

     Communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer"

   • There are a few exceptions made in Part 97(a)(3):

     1. You can notify other operators that you have ham radio equipment for sale or trade, so long as it isn’t something you do “on a regular basis”.
     2. You can be paid when using the radio if you are participating on behalf of an employer in a emergency/disaster preparedness drill and/or testing in preparation for those drills. There are some time limits, so read up on it before you do so.
     3. You can be paid when using a radio as an incidental part of teaching a class
     4. A control operator for a club station can be paid for running the station when doing information bulletins or telegraphy – there are a bunch of weird requirements for this and who does that anyway? But know that it’s a Thing and look it up if you need!

2. Broadcasting: One-way transmissions intended for the general public are not allowed, other than the exceptions mentioned above.

3. Encrypted Messages: Transmissions intended to obscure the meaning of the communication are generally prohibited.

   Now, you might think that all ham radio messages need to be out in the open for anyone to understand. And generally, you’d be right! But there’s a cool exception: You’re allowed to send encoded messages when you’re controlling space stations or radio-controlled devices such as a plane or FPV drone.

4. Music Transmission: Playing music over the air is generally not allowed, except for incidental music rebroadcast from space shuttle communications.

5. Keep It Family-Friendly: Imagine your grandma is listening - because she might be! No obscene or indecent language allowed. Let’s keep it clean, folks.

6. No Fake News or Impersonations: False distress calls or pretending to be another station? That’s not just against the rules, it’s potentially dangerous. Don’t do it!

7. Stay in Your Lane: Retransmitting other radio services (like your local FM station or police scanner) is a big no-no. Stick to amateur radio content.

8. Check the “Do Not Call” List: Some countries are off-limits for ham communication. If the FCC says no, it means no. Always check before making international contacts.

9. Play Nice: Intentionally interfering with other stations is like stepping on someone’s sandcastle. It’s not cool, and it’s definitely not allowed.

Remember: The essence of ham radio is two-way communication and experimentation. If what you’re doing doesn’t fall into these categories, it’s probably not allowed.

Exam Tips: Ace That Test! #

• Know the difference between allowed international chats (personal stuff or ham radio talk) and the forbidden fruit of commercial or broadcast transmissions.
• Remember, third-party communications have their own playbook, especially when going international.
• Don’t forget about those maritime mobile operations - they’re your ticket to hamming it up on the high seas!

Pro Tip #

When in doubt about whether to transmit something, ask yourself: “Would this fit in a postcard to a fellow ham?” If yes, you’re probably good to go. If it feels more like a business memo or a public service announcement, maybe save it for another medium.

By sticking to these guidelines, you’re not just following rules - you’re being a stand-up member of the ham radio community. It’s all about having fun while keeping the airwaves friendly and open for everyone.

So there you have it, folks - your guide to staying on the right side of the FCC while having a blast on the ham bands. Now go forth and communicate responsibly!