Licences and Callsigns (2a1, 2b1 & 2c1)

Introduction

 

It is important that we all operate within our Licence conditions.  We all want to keep the privileges that come with our Amateur Radio Licences.  Imagine the chaos that would occur if some of us chose to drive on the wrong side of the road!  The same applies to amateur radio.

Types of Licences

 

There are three types of amateur radio licences in the UK.

 

·          Foundation Licence

·          Intermediate Licence

·          Advanced Licence

 

The Advanced Licence was called the Full Licence until the start of 2004.

 

The Intermediate and Advanced Licences allow greater facilities and permit licence holders to build and modify transmitting equipment.

 

There is a licence schedule that comes with each type of licence.  The licence schedule describes which frequencies, power etc. can be used.

 

There are NO Morse tests required apart from a simple Morse Assessment as part of the Foundation Licence.

 

Most countries abroad do NOT permit operation in their countries by Foundation Licence holders.

Callsigns

 

When you receive your licence you get a callsign, which is unique to you.  The format of the callsign depends on the type of licence.  When you are operating in the United Kingdom outside England (e.g. Scotland or Wales) you also have to include a letter to indicate where in the United Kingdom you are operating.

 

·          ALL Foundation Licence Callsigns all start with M and have either a 3 or 6 or 7 as the number.

 

So if you were to get the foundation licence M6XYZ, you would use M6XYZ whilst you operate in England.  If you permanently moved to Scotland you would use the callsign MM6XYZ.

 

 

Foundation

Intermediate

Full

England

M6XYZ

2E0XYZ

M0XYZ

Isle of Man

MD6XYZ

2D0XYZ

MD0XYZ

Northern Ireland

MI6XYZ

2I0XYZ

MI0XYZ

Jersey

MJ6XYZ

2J0XYZ

MJ0XYZ

Scotland

MM6XYZ

2M0XYZ

MM0XYZ

Guernsey

MU6XYZ

2U0XYZ

MU0XYZ

Wales

MW6XYZ

2W0XYZ

MW0XYZ

 

·          Until 2004 the Advanced licence was known as the Full licence.

·          Many Full licences have been issued over the years that start with the letter G instead of M and with different ranges of numbers.  So you might hear G4XYZ or GM6XYZ or GD2IM on the air for example.

·          Other countries have callsigns starting with other letters and numbers.

Operating away from Home

 

If you are operating away from home, you will need to add either “/M” or “/P” to you callsign. 

·          If you are in a vehicle (including cars and bikes) then you add /M. 

·          If you are at another address, walking or standing somewhere then you add /P.

·          If you are using /P then you must also give your location with an accuracy of at least 5km.

 

Examples of /P and /M Callsigns

Circumstances

Callsign to be Used

M6MXL goes for a walk to the local park

M6MXL/P

M6ABC goes to Scotland and is driving or being driven in a car

MM6ABC/M

M6EDF is staying at a hotel on Jersey

MJ6DEF/P

M6XYZ goes to Northern Ireland and is driving along the road

MI6XYZ/M

 

Ensuring that your station is clearly identifiable at all times 

It is important that your station is clearly identifiable at all times.  So you’ll need to transmit your callsign as frequently as practicable when you are transmitting.  You transmit your callsign using whatever mode you are using for your transmission.

 

When you transmit (send) and give your callsign, others will then know which station is transmitting.  (If you are in any doubt, there is never any harm in giving your callsign more often).

 

When to transmit your callsign

Circumstances

Examples / Clarification etc.

During initial calls (e.g. When Calling “CQ”)

“This is M6XYZ calling CQ CQ”  “CQ from M6XYZ”.  This identifies that the CQ call is coming from your station (M6XYZ in this example).  It also allows any station receiving your CQ call to know your callsign (e.g. M6XYZ).

When replying to a CQ call

So that the station that called CQ, knows that callsign of the station replying to the CQ call. “M3ABC this is M6XZY calling”

At least every couple of ‘overs’

So that stations hearing your contact know your callsign.  Whilst you don’t have to transmit your callsign every ‘over’, doing so will certainly meet the requirement that your transmission are identifiable at all times.  (If you are in any doubt, there is never any harm in giving your callsign more often).

When you join a ‘Net’ or leave a ‘Net’

A Net is where more than one other amateur stations in involved in the contact.  Many clubs have weekly nets.

During a ‘Net’

So that stations hearing your contact know your callsign.  Whilst you don’t have to transmit your callsign every ‘over’, doing so will certainly meet the requirement that your transmission are identifiable at all times and help ensure a smooth running net. 

Whenever you change frequency (QSY)

Even if you only change frequency within the same band (e.g. from 14.230 MHz to 14.235 MHz)

Whenever you change the mode of your transmission (e.g. from FM to SSB) 

So that stations listening on the new mode (SSB in this case)  know your callsign.

 

 

How you must transmit your callsign

Licence Condition

Examples / Clarification etc.

By the same type of transmission that is being used for communication

If you are using f.m. for a conversation with another station, then use f.m. to transmit your callsign.  If you are using Morse code for the contact, then use Morse code to transmit your callsign.

On the same carrier frequency as the transmission being used for communication

If you are talking on 144.475 MHz then you say your callsign on 144.475 MHz.  If you sending Morse on 50.125 MHz then you send your callsign in Morse on 50.125 MHz.  

 

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