Laws
- Thread starter KCIRREDZ
- Start date
In the United States, amateur radio is governed by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC gets its authority from the U.S. Congress through the Communication Act of 1934, which is a law, and subsequent laws passed by Congress. The FCC makes rules in order to fulfill Congress's wishes. FCC rules are enforceable through fines and license revocation.
According to FCC rules, you, or a control operator who is with you, are required to have an amateur radio license to transmit on any amateur radio frequency. Amateur radios can use off the shelf transmitters made for the amateur radio service or they can build their own transmitters.
There are other personal radio services such as Citizens Band which does not require a license, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) which does require a license, Family Radio Service (FRS) which does not require a license, and Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) which does not require a license. All of these services require that transmitters that have been certified by the FCC.
According to FCC rules, you, or a control operator who is with you, are required to have an amateur radio license to transmit on any amateur radio frequency. Amateur radios can use off the shelf transmitters made for the amateur radio service or they can build their own transmitters.
There are other personal radio services such as Citizens Band which does not require a license, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) which does require a license, Family Radio Service (FRS) which does not require a license, and Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) which does not require a license. All of these services require that transmitters that have been certified by the FCC.
K4EET
Chaplain
Hello @KCIRREDZ and welcome to Radio Reference! Besides asking questions here and getting a lot of good answers in a timely fashion, check out the following resource.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the organization established by and for Amateur Radio operators in the United States. On their website (https://arrl.org/), you will find all sorts of useful information. If you are in the United States, the ARRL also has a club finder lookup box where you can scout out local ham radio clubs in your area. Take a look around the ARRL's website and see if you have any questions. We are here ready to answer them for you.
If you really want to know what the laws are that govern Amateur Radio in the United States, take a look at Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Chapter I - Subchapter D - Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service.
Finally, with respect to the other services that @AK9R mentioned, the laws that govern those services can be found in Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Chapter I - Subchapter D- Part 95 - Personal Radio Services.
Sooooooo... Let us know where in the world you are. If in the United States, then all of the above apply. If outside the United States, you'll have to let us know what country you are in and we'll step aside and let some hams in your country give you an intro like we did for the United States.
Again, welcome to Radio Reference!
73 (stands for "Best Wishes" in ham radio lingo), Dave K4EET
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the organization established by and for Amateur Radio operators in the United States. On their website (https://arrl.org/), you will find all sorts of useful information. If you are in the United States, the ARRL also has a club finder lookup box where you can scout out local ham radio clubs in your area. Take a look around the ARRL's website and see if you have any questions. We are here ready to answer them for you.
If you really want to know what the laws are that govern Amateur Radio in the United States, take a look at Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Chapter I - Subchapter D - Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service.
Finally, with respect to the other services that @AK9R mentioned, the laws that govern those services can be found in Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Chapter I - Subchapter D- Part 95 - Personal Radio Services.
Sooooooo... Let us know where in the world you are. If in the United States, then all of the above apply. If outside the United States, you'll have to let us know what country you are in and we'll step aside and let some hams in your country give you an intro like we did for the United States.
Again, welcome to Radio Reference!
73 (stands for "Best Wishes" in ham radio lingo), Dave K4EET
You need to be licensed to transmit on the amateur bands. If you're looking for unlicensed radio ops:
Family Radio Service (FRS)
Citizens Band (CB)
Welcome to the RR forums
Yes I am from the USA.
Amateur radio, sometimes called "ham radio" for reasons that are lost to history, has access to frequencies in specified bands from 135.7 kHz to above 275 GHz. By comparison, the AM broadcast band goes down to 535 kHz, so amateur radio can go below that. And, many local law enforcement and fire/EMS personnel use frequencies in the 800 MHz band, so amateur radio goes above that. On most bands, amateur radio operators in the U.S. can use up to 1500 watts of RF output power. Amateur radio operators can build their own transmitters. Ham radio is just a name, not an acronym, so it doesn't need to be capitalized, i.e. "HAM". If you think of the available radio spectrum as a national resource, you can then think of amateur radio bands as "national parks" that are mostly free from commercial development.
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) has access to 22 specific channels between 462.550-462.725 MHz and between 467.550-467.725 MHz. GMRS operators can use up to 50 watts of RF output power. GMRS operators must use FCC certified transmitters. In other words, GMRS is much more restrictive than amateur radio.
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) has access to 22 specific channels between 462.550-462.725 MHz and between 467.550-467.725 MHz. GMRS operators can use up to 50 watts of RF output power. GMRS operators must use FCC certified transmitters. In other words, GMRS is much more restrictive than amateur radio.
@AK9R summed it up pretty well.
I'll add that, for the most part, ham radio isn't channelized like FRS, GMRS or CB. These services are required to operate on specific frequencies or channels. These frequencies are hard coded into the radio and users aren't supposed to change them.
Hams can technically operate on any frequency between the lower and upper limits of a particular band. In reality, especially in the higher (VHF and above) bands, there are various agreements specifying the spacing between frequencies and the offset for repeater frequencies. Most ham radios have memory channels, but it's up the user to program as they see fit. Most radios designed for the ham market allow the user to easily change operating frequencies, power output or emission type directly from the control panel (or programming software).
FRS, GMRS and CB are also limited (by rule) to specific emission types. FRS/GMRS are FM (with FRS being narrow band FM), CB can be AM,, narrow band FM or single sideband (SSB). Amateur radio has emission (or more accurately bandwidth) limits on some bands, but overall there are many more emission modes available, including various digital modes.
A few commercial radios have the necessary FCC type acceptance to operate on GMRS frequencies (462 and 467 MHz), UHF Part 90 commercial frequencies and the 70 cm (UHF) ham band (which doesn't require type acceptance). So in a very limited context, a single radio could be used in multiple services providing the operator held the appropriate licenses.
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wtp
Member
and you do not need a license to listen !
i think every programmable scanner covers some of the ham bands.
and i tell many that think about joining, listen, listen, listen.
who knows, you might not like it.
i knew someone who hated scanner listening because they did not talk all the time.
i think every programmable scanner covers some of the ham bands.
and i tell many that think about joining, listen, listen, listen.
who knows, you might not like it.
i knew someone who hated scanner listening because they did not talk all the time.
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Just to add. Most of what you need to know is online:
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is described here: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
The FCC doesn't doesn't have a Ham Radio Service. (The word is just a nickname for amateur radio operators). The Amateur Radio Service is described here: Amateur Radio Service
If you're just looking for simple short range communication with family or friends, then GMRS is your best bet.
Amateur (ham) radio requires that you pass a written exam before you can get on the air. This also goes for anyone that you might want to talk to.
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is described here: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
The FCC doesn't doesn't have a Ham Radio Service. (The word is just a nickname for amateur radio operators). The Amateur Radio Service is described here: Amateur Radio Service
If you're just looking for simple short range communication with family or friends, then GMRS is your best bet.
Amateur (ham) radio requires that you pass a written exam before you can get on the air. This also goes for anyone that you might want to talk to.
One key difference between ham or amateur radio and GMRS is amateur radio was intended to be for hobby use from its inception. Licensed ham radio operators can design and build their own transmitters and receivers if they wish to use anywhere within the designated bands and there are lots of them. GRMS, FRS, CB and MURS were not originally intended to be for hobby use, they were for personal communications between friends and family members and for light business use. Over the years GMRS, FRS, MURS and especially CB have been used mostly as a hobby but on the few fixed frequencies or channels available only for those services and at the low power designated for those services.
There is a technical test required to get an amateur radio license due to the broad nature of the service and the potential for transmitters to operate out of band or in a way that might cause harmful interference. The test is there to help make sure amateur operators know what they are doing and operate within some specifications. GMRS, FRS, CB and MURS radios are on fixed frequencies and are not intended to be used on any other frequencies or services. You need a license for GMRS but its just some $$ and no technical test required. CB, FRS and MURS are licensed by rule and you don't need to apply for any license, just buy the radio and use it.
There is a technical test required to get an amateur radio license due to the broad nature of the service and the potential for transmitters to operate out of band or in a way that might cause harmful interference. The test is there to help make sure amateur operators know what they are doing and operate within some specifications. GMRS, FRS, CB and MURS radios are on fixed frequencies and are not intended to be used on any other frequencies or services. You need a license for GMRS but its just some $$ and no technical test required. CB, FRS and MURS are licensed by rule and you don't need to apply for any license, just buy the radio and use it.
K4EET
Chaplain
During the onslaught of the COVID-19 virus, it was possible to take an amateur radio test online when group meetings were banned. I don't believe that online testing is permitted anymore. If I'm wrong, somebody please chime in and set the record straight.
There are quite a few study guides for the Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class licenses for Amateur Radio. A Google search using the phrase "Amateur Radio License Guides" will find most of them. I personally would recommend the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) study guides which can be found HERE.
nd5y
Member
You will have to contact the VECs (volunteer examiner coordinators) and see which ones have VE teams that do testing in your area.
Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs)
VECs coordinate the efforts of Volunteer Examiners (VEs) in preparing and administering amateur service operator license examinations. The coordinating VEC screens collected information, resolves all discrepancies, and forwards all required data to the FCC electronically. All VECs are authorized...
nd5y
Member
That's only good for the ARRL VEC. They aren't the only VEC and may not have VE teams everywhere.
Laurel VEC and W5YI VEC also list exam sessions.
We all learn in different ways and at different speeds. There are many paths to learning the material necessary to pass your Technician licensing test.
Both the ARRL and Gordon West have well respected books that will guide you through the course material. Personally, I like Gordon West's writing style over that of the ARRL.
I can also strongly recommend Dave Casler's, KE0OG, video series,
IF you have an amateur radio club near your home, they may offer periodic license classes with an exam session at the end of the series. If the club doesn't currently offer a class, sometimes members will take you under their wing and "Elmer" you with some one-on-one instruction.
Ladn is on target!
ARRL's materials read a bit like a military training manual from 1962. Gordon West's materials are more conversational and more engaging.
ARRL's materials read a bit like a military training manual from 1962. Gordon West's materials are more conversational and more engaging.
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