Technician License CourseChapter 8

Lesson Module 19: Operating Regulations:

Interference; Remote & Automatic Operation; Prohibited Transmissions

Interference

• QRN– Natural interference (thunderstorms).– Man-made (appliances and power lines).

• QRM– Interference from nearby signals.– Other hams or other users of the frequencies.

• Operators should avoid interfering with other users of the frequencies.

Interference

• Harmful– Interference that is disruptive but not intentional.

– Deal with it as best you can and help others avoid harmful interference.

• Willful– Intentionally causing interference.

– This becomes a legal and law enforcement issue.

– This is rare and there are procedures to deal with this (ARRL Official Observers can help).

Preventing Interference

• Use common sense and courtesy.

• Keep equipment in proper operating order.

• No one owns a frequency; be a good neighbor and share.

• Yield to special operations and special circumstances.

Which of the following meets the FCC definition of harmful interference? (T1A04)

• A. Radio transmissions that annoy users of a repeater

• B. Unwanted radio transmissions that cause costly harm to a radio station apparatus

• C. That which seriously degrades, obstructs, or repeatedly interrupts a radio communication service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations

• D. Static from lightning storms

Which of the following meets the FCC definition of harmful interference? (T1A04)

• A. Radio transmissions that annoy users of a repeater

• B. Unwanted radio transmissions that cause costly harm to a radio station apparatus

• C. That which seriously degrades, obstructs, or repeatedly interrupts a radio communication service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations

• D. Static from lightning storms

What should you do if you receive a report that your station’s transmissions are causing splatter or

interference on nearby frequencies? (T2B07)

• A. Increase transmit power• B. Change mode of transmission• C. Report the interference to the equipment

manufacturer• D. Check your transmitter for off-frequency

operation or spurious emissions

What should you do if you receive a report that your station’s transmissions are causing splatter or

interference on nearby frequencies? (T2B07)

• A. Increase transmit power• B. Change mode of transmission• C. Report the interference to the equipment

manufacturer• D. Check your transmitter for off-frequency

operation or spurious emissions

What is the proper course of action if your station’s transmission unintentionally

interferes with another station? (T2B08)

• A. Rotate your antenna slightly

• B. Properly identify your transmission and move to a different frequency

• C. Increase power

• D. Change antenna polarization

What is the proper course of action if your station’s transmission unintentionally

interferes with another station? (T2B08)

• A. Rotate your antenna slightly

• B. Properly identify your transmission and move to a different frequency

• C. Increase power

• D. Change antenna polarization

Remote and Automatic Control

• Some stations, repeaters and beacons operate without the control operator physically present at the control point.

• These stations must still comply with control operator stipulations.– Local.– Remote.– Automatic.

Under which of the following types of control is it permissible for the control operator to be

at a location other than the control point? (T1E06)

• A. Local control

• B. Automatic control

• C. Remote control

• D. Indirect control

Under which of the following types of control is it permissible for the control operator to be

at a location other than the control point? (T1E06)

• A. Local control

• B. Automatic control

• C. Remote control

• D. Indirect control

What type of control is being used for a repeater when the control operator is not

present at a control point? (T1E08)

• A. Local control

• B. Remote control

• C. Automatic control

• D. Unattended

What type of control is being used for a repeater when the control operator is not

present at a control point? (T1E08)

• A. Local control

• B. Remote control

• C. Automatic control

• D. Unattended

What type of control is being used when transmitting using a handheld radio?

(T1E09)

• A. Radio control

• B. Unattended control

• C. Automatic control

• D. Local control

What type of control is being used when transmitting using a handheld radio?

(T1E09)

• A. Radio control

• B. Unattended control

• C. Automatic control

• D. Local control

What type of control is used when the control operator is not at the station location but can indirectly manipulate the operating

adjustments of a station? (T1E10)

• A. Local

• B. Remote

• C. Automatic

• D. Unattended

What type of control is used when the control operator is not at the station location but can indirectly manipulate the operating

adjustments of a station? (T1E10)

• A. Local

• B. Remote

• C. Automatic

• D. Unattended

Who is accountable should a repeater inadvertently retransmit communications

that violate the FCC rules? (T1F10)

• A. The control operator of the originating station

• B. The control operator of the repeater

• C. The owner of the repeater

• D. Both the originating station and the repeater owner

Who is accountable should a repeater inadvertently retransmit communications

that violate the FCC rules? (T1F10)

• A. The control operator of the originating station

• B. The control operator of the repeater

• C. The owner of the repeater

• D. Both the originating station and the repeater owner

Prohibited Transmissions

• Unidentified transmissions .– (not giving your call sign)

• False or deceptive signals.– (using someone else’s call sign)

• False distress or emergency signals.– (fake calls for help)

• Obscene or indecent speech.– (up to interpretation)

• Music.

No Business Communications

• You cannot make a profit through the use of transmissions made via ham radio.

• Advertising ham radio gear is okay as long as it’s not your regular business

• Exception: teachers may use ham radio in their classrooms.

No Encrypted Transmissions

• Encryption involves encoding information for transmission that must be decoded upon reception to interpret the information.

• This is okay if:– Coding is open source.– Intention is not to hide the message or deceive.

No Broadcasting

• Broadcasting is sending one-way transmissions with no expectation of getting a response.– News

– Music

• Exceptions:– Code practice.

– Ham radio related bulletins.

– Re-transmission of shuttle communications.

Special Circumstances

• Ham communication is generally intended for hams.

• Emergencies and critical situations create special circumstances.

• Special commemorative events may qualify as special circumstances.

• Normal rules return when the situation returns to normal.

On which of the following occasions may an FCC-licensed amateur station exchange messages with

a U.S. military station? (T1D02)

• A. During an Armed Forces Day Communications Test

• B. During a Memorial Day celebration• C. During an Independence Day celebration• D. During a propagation test

On which of the following occasions may an FCC-licensed amateur station exchange messages with

a U.S. military station? (T1D02)

• A. During an Armed Forces Day Communications Test

• B. During a Memorial Day celebration• C. During an Independence Day celebration• D. During a propagation test

When is the transmission of codes or ciphers allowed to hide the meaning of a message

transmitted by an amateur station? (T1D03)

• A. Only during contests• B. Only when operating mobile• C. Only when transmitting control commands to

space stations or radio control craft• D. Only when frequencies above 1280 MHz are

used

When is the transmission of codes or ciphers allowed to hide the meaning of a message

transmitted by an amateur station? (T1D03)

• A. Only during contests• B. Only when operating mobile• C. Only when transmitting control

commands to space stations or radio control craft

• D. Only when frequencies above 1280 MHz are used

What is the only time an amateur station is authorized to transmit music? (T1D04)

• A. When incidental to an authorized retransmission of manned spacecraft communications

• B. When the music produces no spurious emissions

• C. When the purpose is to interfere with an illegal transmission

• D. When the music is transmitted above 1280 MHz

What is the only time an amateur station is authorized to transmit music? (T1D04)

• A. When incidental to an authorized retransmission of manned spacecraft communications

• B. When the music produces no spurious emissions

• C. When the purpose is to interfere with an illegal transmission

• D. When the music is transmitted above 1280 MHz

When may amateur radio operators use their stations to notify other amateurs of the availability

of equipment for sale or trade? (T1D05)

• A. When the equipment is normally used in an amateur station and such activity is not conducted on a regular basis

• B. When the asking price is $100.00 or less

• C. When the asking price is less than the appraised value

• D. When the equipment is not the personal property of either the station licensee or the control operator or their close relatives

When may amateur radio operators use their stations to notify other amateurs of the availability

of equipment for sale or trade? (T1D05)

• A. When the equipment is normally used in an amateur station and such activity is not conducted on a regular basis

• B. When the asking price is $100.00 or less

• C. When the asking price is less than the appraised value

• D. When the equipment is not the personal property of either the station licensee or the control operator or their close relatives

Which of the following types of transmissions are prohibited? (T1D06)

• A. Transmissions that contain obscene or indecent words or language

• B. Transmissions to establish one-way communications

• C. Transmissions to establish model aircraft control

• D. Transmissions for third party communications

Which of the following types of transmissions are prohibited? (T1D06)

• A. Transmissions that contain obscene or indecent words or language

• B. Transmissions to establish one-way communications

• C. Transmissions to establish model aircraft control

• D. Transmissions for third party communications

When is an amateur station authorized to automatically retransmit the radio signals of other

amateur stations? (T1D07)

• A. When the signals are from an auxiliary, beacon, or Earth station

• B. When the signals are from an auxiliary, repeater, or space station

• C. When the signals are from a beacon, repeater, or space station

• D. When the signals are from an Earth, repeater, or space station

When is an amateur station authorized to automatically retransmit the radio signals of other

amateur stations? (T1D07)

• A. When the signals are from an auxiliary, beacon, or Earth station

• B. When the signals are from an auxiliary, repeater or space station

• C. When the signals are from a beacon, repeater, or space station

• D. When the signals are from an Earth, repeater, or space station

When may the control operator of an amateur station receive compensation for operating the

station? (T1D08)• A. When engaging in communications on behalf

of their employer• B. When the communication is incidental to

classroom instruction in an educational institution

• C. When re-broadcasting weather alerts during a RACES net

• D. When notifying other amateur operators of the availability for sale or trade of apparatus

When may the control operator of an amateur station receive compensation for operating the

station? (T1D08)• A. When engaging in communications on behalf

of their employer• B. When the communication is incidental to

classroom instruction in an educational institution

• C. When re-broadcasting weather alerts during a RACES net

• D. When notifying other amateur operators of the availability for sale or trade of apparatus

Under which of the following circumstances are amateur stations authorized to transmit signals related to

broadcasting, program production, or news gathering, assuming no other means available? (T1D09)

• A. Only when such communications directly relate to the immediate safety of human life or protection of property

• B. Only when broadcasting communications to or from the space shuttle

• C. Only where noncommercial programming is gathered and supplied exclusively to the National Public Radio network

• D. Only when using amateur repeaters linked to the Internet

Under which of the following circumstances are amateur stations authorized to transmit signals related to

broadcasting, program production, or news gathering, assuming no other means available? (T1D09)

• A. Only when such communications directly relate to the immediate safety of human life or protection of property

• B. Only when broadcasting communications to or from the space shuttle

• C. Only where noncommercial programming is gathered and supplied exclusively to the National Public Radio network

• D. Only when using amateur repeaters linked to the Internet

What is the meaning of the term broadcasting in the FCC rules for the amateur services? (T1D10)

• A. Two-way transmissions by amateur stations• B. Transmission of music• C. Transmission of messages directed only to

amateur operators• D. Transmissions intended for reception by the

general public

What is the meaning of the term broadcasting in the FCC rules for the amateur services? (T1D10)

• A. Two-way transmissions by amateur stations• B. Transmission of music• C. Transmission of messages directed only to

amateur operators• D. Transmissions intended for reception by

the general public