Regulations in the amateur radio service

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Radio amateurs were given the right early on to use certain areas in the shortwave range to make their own experiments. In Germany, these rights were laid down in an independent Amateur Radio Act (AFuG) and the Amateur Radio Ordinance (AFuV) as early as 1949 . The Amateur Radio Act (AFG) exists in Austria . and the Amateur Radio Ordinance (AFV) In Switzerland, the relevant provisions can be found in Section 4 of Chapter 4 of the Ordinance on Frequency Management and Radio Licenses (FKV) and in Section 2 of Chapter 2 of OFCOM Ordinance on Frequency Management and Radio Licenses (VFKV ) contain. The international framework is provided by the Radio Regulations (VO Funk) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and in disaster situations also the Tampere Convention .

Demarcation

The amateur radio service is very often confused with amateur radio applications. From a legal point of view, there is a big difference between a radio service and a radio application as part of (another) radio service. Technical differences can also be derived from this. Only tested devices may be used for the radio applications for everyone. At the same time, there are no simplified verification procedures for such radio applications with regard to the regulations on electromagnetic environmental compatibility.

In amateur radio, in addition to pure communication, there is also great interest in the technology used, one's own training, handicrafts and competitions (for example field days or amateur radio darts ).

Amateur radio exam and certificate

As a radio amateur, you are allowed to build your own radio equipment and antenna system or modify equipment you have bought. The amateur radio service is the only radio service that is permitted to do so. In the regulations for radio services, it is internationally stipulated that radio amateurs must, in accordance with ITU recommendation ITU-R M.1544, have a minimum theoretical knowledge of technology, legal knowledge, the handling of radio communications (so-called operating technology ) as well as electromagnetic environmental compatibility ( EMC ) and electromagnetic compatibility ( EMC ) must have. A prospective radio amateur must prove this knowledge through an examination at his national telecommunications administration.

The amateur radio operator is given an amateur radio certificate to confirm that the exam has been passed . The amateur radio certificate is often at the same time an internationally harmonized HAREC (Harmonized Amateur Radio Examination Certificate), with which one can also apply for an amateur radio call sign in other countries . Conversely, this means that a budding radio amateur can take the test in any country of his choice that participates in these regulations (the CEPT license in the amateur radio service). For example, a German can take the exam in Austria and then get a call sign in Germany, but also, for example, in Ireland.

CEPT license in amateur radio service

Amateur radio license

The CEPT license was introduced by the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) to simplify amateur radio operations while on vacation or when staying in other countries permanently. It consists of two independent parts. The first part, recommendation T / R 61-01 CEPT Radio Amateur License , regulates amateur radio operations during a short stay abroad. Radio operations can be carried out in 49 independent states and numerous other territories without first having to apply for a license or call sign in the host country. In the second part, Recommendation T / R 61-02 Harmonized amateur radio examination certificates , the mutual recognition of amateur radio certificates is stipulated and at the same time the topics are specified that must be examined in an amateur radio examination in order to be recognized internationally. 46 countries (including Hong Kong; plus the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Curaçao) apply the T / R 61-02.

For Germany, the Federal Network Agency has both of the above. CEPT recommendations by the Official Journal - available implemented 11/2005 into national law.

In October 2005 the CEPT Novice Radio Amateur License was created; it has lower requirements for the amateur radio exams than the CEPT Radio Amateur License . The examination content is summarized in ERC Report 32 , on the basis of which the license examinations can be mutually recognized (analogous to T / R 61-02 ). The actual license is the recommendation ECC / REC 05-06 and is used by 14 countries. It regulates - analogous to T / R 61-01 - the radio operation when visiting abroad. The Federal Network Agency implemented these two recommendations in Ordinance 93/2005 into German law. Accordingly, a CEPT Novice Amateur Radio Examination Certificate can be issued to holders of a Class E or former Class 3 amateur radio certificate.

Since the CEPT licenses are only recommendations, the individual countries can issue further requirements, e.g. B. request a telegraphy test . The legal situation of the host country is always decisive.

Callsign

Radio operations may only commence after a personal call sign has been assigned or (at least in Austria) already after passing the test as a "second operator" at the radio station of a radio amateur with callsign. The callsign is assigned by the country in which the amateur radio station is permanently set up, i.e. not necessarily by the country of which the radio amateur is a national.

Occasionally radio amateurs also work under the call sign of a club station , e.g. B. from a clubhouse or in a team during a radio competition.

The call signs are internationally unique. Similar to a national driver's license, an amateur radio license in one country allows unbureaucratic, short-term radio operation in many other countries. So the holder of a German amateur radio license needs z. B. no further permit while on vacation in New Zealand ; he simply puts the country expert in the country of residence in front of his call sign.

Example: HB9 / DC9ABC is a German radio amateur (DC9ABC) who operates from Switzerland (HB9).

The amateur radio call signs have different national structures, according to the following basic scheme (exceptions are possible):

  • 1–2 letters and / or numbers as country code, from the call sign block assigned by the ITU to the respective country
  • 1 digit
  • 1-3 letters

Example: DC9ABC for a radio amateur from Germany or 4U1ITU for a UN club station.

So you can assign a radio user directly to the amateur radio service and also determine the country from which an amateur radio station is transmitting. Many national telecommunications administrations use algorithms for the formation of the callsign that indicate the license class. German training callsigns begin with "DN". In Austria, the federal state can be read from the number (§5 (2) AFV). Other radio services have different training rules for radio call signs, which differ significantly from those of the amateur radio service.

License classes and prefixes in Germany

The approval for participation in the amateur radio service includes the allocation of a personal call sign and is often referred to as an "amateur radio license", "amateur radio license" or "amateur radio license". It authorizes radio amateurs to use the frequency ranges specified in Appendix 1 of the AFuV in compliance with the usage conditions stipulated for this in accordance with the certificate class indicated in their approval.

In this context, the holders of a class E amateur radio license may also carry out radio operations in some shortwave bands with limited transmission power. Holders of a class A amateur radio license, on the other hand, are allowed to carry out radio operations in all frequency ranges designated for the amateur radio service up to the maximum permissible transmission power. There are u. a. also observe the regulations of the Ordinance on the Verification Procedure for Limiting Electromagnetic Fields (BEMFV).

From the amateur radio call signs assigned by the BNetzA , the assigned approval class can be seen from the respective prefix .

Special forms of use

Amateur radio in motor vehicles

Turkish cell phone station

Legal boundary conditions

Transceiver systems (not just for amateur radio) may only be operated in motor vehicles if the relevant manufacturer's instructions are observed. The manufacturers usually regulate the power supply, cabling, antenna placement, antenna adaptation, frequency ranges and transmission power.

The purpose of this regulation is to avoid influencing vehicle electronics. Disregard of the regulations can lead to the expiry of the general operating permit (ABE), which z. B. can have extremely unpleasant consequences in an accident.

If the radio system is permanently installed, i. H. If tools are required for assembly or disassembly, the radio device had to have an e-approval by 2008 due to EU directives if the vehicle was produced after a certain year. This guideline is now invalid, but the E-mark is often still required in the vehicle manufacturers' installation regulations. This makes the use of self-assembly devices in new cars practically impossible.

The so-called ban on cell phones at the wheel in Germany until 2017 only applied to cell phones and car phones; the use of radio equipment (and thus the amateur radio service) was not affected by the ban. The tightening of the mobile phone ban in 2017 also basically includes the use of two-way radios in motor vehicles. However, until June 30, 2020, a general exception for radio equipment applies to this ban on vehicle use. In Switzerland and Austria, radio operation is only permitted with a hands-free system.

There are requirements from traffic law for the installation and design of the antenna. For example, the antenna base on a car may not be more than 30 mm high, no part of the antenna may protrude over the edge of the vehicle and the ends must be provided with caps with sufficiently large rounding radii to reduce the risk of injury.

Cellular operation on VHF / UHF

Mobile communications in the 2 m or 70 cm range is very popular in more densely populated areas. In many countries there is a dense network of relay radio stations that enable local or regional radio operations with little effort. Practically all mobile operations in the VHF / UHF range are handled using frequency modulation (FM) and vertically polarized antennas.

Many radios on the market allow radio operation on both bands. Duoband antennas are also very popular, preferably in a 50 cm long design (λ / 4 for 2 m, 5 / 8λ for 70 cm). In the simplest case, you put a magnetic base antenna of this design on the car roof, lead the antenna cable through the door gap and connect a handheld radio. In most cases this is sufficient for contact with radio amateurs in the immediate vicinity.

Cellular operation on shortwave

The problems are significantly greater on shortwave than on VHF / UHF:

  • The higher noise level at the lower frequencies and the low antenna efficiency make it necessary to use the performance limits approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
  • The power supply is correspondingly more complex; Without a direct connection to the starter battery, it is practically impossible.
  • The automotive electronics, and especially the ignition sparks in gasoline engines, cause a high level of interference. This can often only be suppressed by complex interference suppression measures on the vehicle.
  • The antennas are a big problem. The antennas cannot be operated against a reasonable earth, nor are antenna lengths sensible according to physical standards. A stationary antenna for the 80 m band should be around 40 m long. Correspondingly, a shortwave cellular antenna achieves efficiencies of often only 1% or even less, depending on the frequency range and length.

Shortwave radio operation from the car is therefore particularly interesting if no radio operation is possible at home.

Another variant is the 10 m FM range, in which numerous relay radio stations are operated, via which international radio traffic is possible with little effort in the sunspot maximum .

Otherwise, the stationary mobile operation offers a way out: The vehicle is only used as a means of transport, location and power supply. A provisional antenna is set up at a suitable location and radio operation is carried out for a few hours.

Amateur radio at sea

The following important information is still missing in the following paragraph:
How is amateur radio regulated in international waters? (Does the flag state principle apply? Https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/ajw/lehrgang-bv/bv07/ indicates this in the last part, but is not explicit)
Help Wikipedia by researching and pasting it .

In addition to marine radio , many ships, especially sailing yachts, use the international amateur radio service to keep in touch with friends, to receive current weather reports, to transmit position data, to exchange e-mails via Winlink or to have another emergency radio option . Amateur radio stations at sea are marked with the callsign suffix / mm (Maritime Mobile).

Club stations

Germany

A club station according to § 2 no. 3 of the AFuV an amateur station, which is operated by members of a group of radio amateurs using a shared call sign . (An association of a certain legal form is not required.) In order to use such a call sign, one must be a holder of a license to participate in the amateur radio service. According to § 14 AFuV you have to use its call sign when using a club station, but holders of a class E approval are also bound by the class E conditions when using a club station registered in class A.

For club station call signs, the German call sign plan provides special call sign series, generally the number in the third position of the call sign is a "0". Call signs for club stations (the spelling “Clubstation” can also be found) in Germany can be shorter (four characters) or longer (up to 10 characters) than usual.

2883 German call signs are assigned to club stations (which does not mean that a station is actually active for all of them; as of December 31, 2019). 36 of these are assigned to license class E, all others to license class A.

Austria

The Austrian AFG defines in § 2. No. 5. Club radio station as the amateur radio station of an amateur radio association or an organization working in the public interest . In principle, the use of the club radio station call sign and the observance of the own approval class or examination category are also provided here, but with exception regulations (§ 15 (2) and § 17 (2) AFG, § 23 AFV).

Callsigns issued in Austria have the fourth position of the letter "X" (§5 (5) AFV) on club radio stations, such as amateur radio relays and beacons.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, Article 31 of the FKV stipulates that amateur radio licenses are granted not only to natural persons but also to amateur radio associations, and that licenses to operate unattended (i.e. automatically operating) radio systems are only granted to the latter. Anyone wishing to use the radio systems of an amateur radio club must have the appropriate certificate in accordance with Art. 36. In OFCOM's information on the amateur radio service it is stated that in the case of amateur radio clubs, in contrast to natural persons

  • Callsigns with a two-digit suffix can be issued
  • temporary special callsigns can be issued for a proven special occasion
  • Callsign requests can be taken into account if the desired callsign has been free for at least 5 years
  • On special occasions and with prior authorization, people who do not hold a certificate of competence may also operate under the constant supervision of a licensed radio amateur. (In Germany, something like this works instead within the framework of training radio operations according to § 12 AFuV .)
  • Echolink gateways may be operated as unattended radio systems
  • Connections to the Internet via the radio station are permitted for certain purposes.

Regulations on electromagnetic compatibility

In many countries, the operation of a transmitter is tied to requirements or obligations to provide evidence of electromagnetic compatibility. The radio amateur must prove (e.g. according to the ordinance on the verification procedure for limiting electromagnetic fields ) that he complies with the maximum permissible limit values ​​of the Federal Immission Control Act or the ordinance on electromagnetic fields .

The amateur radio is - although it is granted more and more frequency ranges - severely restricted by the EMC regulations. In order to avoid the effort of a self-declaration or because the necessary space for safety distances is not available (see location certificate ), many radio amateurs switch to small services . However, due to leaky computer networks, switched-mode power supplies, plasma televisions and, last but not least, Powerline Communication (PLC) in the neighborhood, there is a much higher level of interference than before.

Self-regulation

Self-regulation is also an important part of the regulations relating to amateur radio . It extends from the amateur radio internal democratic division of the amateur radio bands for different types of operation ( IARU - band plans ) to the common (mostly carried out by the national amateur radio associations) defense of the amateur radio bands against illegal frequency intruders through complaints to the ITU via the respective national Telecommunications administrations.

Thanks to its successful self-regulation, among other things, the amateur radio service was able to maintain its status with the telecommunications administrations, which is equivalent to that of other radio services . Given the economic potential of the telecommunications market (see UMTS licenses and their auction proceeds), this is by no means a matter of course for a radio service carried out as part of a hobby .

See also

Portal: Amateur Radio Service  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the topic of Amateur Radio Service

Literature (selection)

  • Ernst Fendler (DL1JK), Günther Noack (DL7AY): Amateur radio through the ages . DARC Verlag Baunatal, 1986, ISBN 3-88692-008-9
  • Otto A. Wiesner: CW manual for radio amateurs - basics, technology, practice. 2nd edition, Verlag für Technik und Handwerk, Baden-Baden, 1999, ISBN 3-88180-326-2

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Federal law on the amateur radio service. In: Federal Law Gazette for the Republic of Austria . January 12, 1999, accessed February 23, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Federal Ministry for Science and Transport : Ordinance of the Federal Minister for Science and Transport for the implementation of the Amateur Radio Act. In: Legal Information System of the Republic of Austria . December 12, 2019, accessed February 23, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Swiss Federal Council : Ordinance on frequency management and radio licenses. 784.102.1. In: Systematic Collection of Federal Law . Federal Chancellery , January 1, 2017, accessed on February 23, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Federal Office of Communications : OFCOM ordinance on frequency management and radio licenses. 784.102.11. In: Systematic Collection of Federal Law . Federal Chancellery , January 1, 2020, accessed on February 23, 2020 .
  5. ↑ T / R 61-01 (list of countries in tables 1 to 3 of TR6101.pdf, accessed on February 23, 2020)
  6. ↑ T / R 61-02 (list of countries in tables 1 and 2 of TR6102.pdf, accessed on February 23, 2020)
  7. ↑ Order 11/2005 ( Memento of September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 287 kB)
  8. ↑ Order 93/2005 ( Memento of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 141 kB)
  9. ^ Article "Amateur radio still allowed in the car" in "Deutschland-Rundspruch" 01/2010 of the DARC
  10. ↑ § 23 Para. 1a StVO
  11. ↑ § 52 Abs. 4 StVO
  12. ↑ Examination questions in the examination sections "Operational Knowledge" and "Knowledge of Regulations" for examinations for the acquisition of amateur radio certificates of classes A and E, 1st edition. Question VD403. Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railways , October 2006, p. 47 , accessed on February 23, 2020 (with correct answer A, see p. 5).
  13. ^ Federal Network Agency, Section 225: Call sign plan for the amateur radio service in Germany. Vfg No. 12/2005 amended by Vfg No. 34/2005. Retrieved February 23, 2020 .
  14. ↑ Membership administration. DARC , accessed February 23, 2020 .
  15. ↑ Federal Network Agency, Section 225: Amateur Radio in Germany - Numbers of Participants 2019. Accessed on February 23, 2020 .
  16. ↑ Amateur radio service, regulations. Federal Office of Communications OFCOM, Licenses and Frequency Management Department, January 22, 2019, pp. 14–15 , accessed on February 23, 2020 .