Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
Amateur Radio Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [united-states]

Questions specific to rules, regulations, and practices in the United States of America.

This tag should be used for any questions about US-specific regulations, including questions about operating privileges, secondary users, regulatory rules about interference caused by or to amateur operators. It can also be used for questions about clubs or other organizations using ham radio in the USA or for questions about nets that specifically target the USA.

This tag should not be used simply because the person asking the question is in the USA, it should only be used if the answers need to be specifically directed towards US rules or practice.

301 questions
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4 answers

What's the difference between national calling frequency and national simplex calling frequency in the 2m and 70cm band plans published by ARRL?

On the 2 meter and 70 centimeter band plans published by the ARRL, what is the difference in intended use between the calling frequencies (144.200, 432.10 MHz) and the simplex calling frequencies (146.52, 446.00 MHz)?
Andrew N5ITM
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What is the body of knowledge the U.S. written exams test?

I'm considering getting a U.S. amateur radio operator license. If you want to study to pass a license test, there are many resources to learn the answers to the entirety of the question pool: online practice exams and study aids, “ham cram” courses,…
Kevin Reid AG6YO
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Why do people say, "get a nickel," on repeaters?

Sometimes, I'll hear someone say "wait a moment, I'm getting a nickel," and then drop the carrier only to resume talking. Why?
webmarc
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What defines music, per amateur radio regulations?

Sometimes when I access IRLP nodes, they have a very short melody telling you that you are connected; or when my local repeater's net begins, it does the famous doorbell 8-note sequence. What is the fine line of prohibited and allowed with respect…
Skyler 440
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Using my Baofeng UV-5R to talk to walkie talkies

I have a few walkie talkies at home and sometimes I connect my UV-5R to them to talk to them and act as another walkie talkie. At one time, I built a little simplex repeater out of it. Should I not be doing this? I don't think the other walkie…
Skyler 440
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Are amateur radio call signs unique among all radio call signs?

Idle curiosity: Are the call signs of amateur radio operators distinct from call signs in all other radio services, such that there can be no ambiguity even if the relevant license and band(s) of operation is disregarded? If they are not distinct…
Kevin Reid AG6YO
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Why are proprietary codecs used in amateur radio?

This may be slightly off topic (maybe there's a Legal Stack Exchange :-D), but how is it that codecs like Yaesu's C4FM are allowed to be proprietary while still being used on Amateur bands? At the very least, this does not seem to be in keeping with…
Joshua Nozzi W4JLN
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4 answers

Does a FCC amateur license cost money?

If I wanted a FCC Amateur license, is this going to cost me anything? That includes tests, application fees, filing fees, and anything else but hardware.
AwesomeUser
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Can a licensed ham use or modify CB equipment to work the 10 Meter Amateur bands?

Can a licensed ham use or modify CB equipment to work the 10 Meter Amateur bands? If so, are there any advantages/disadvantages to this?
Timtech
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4 answers

FCC tracking of unlicensed FRS/GMRS transmissions

If a transceiver such as the BaoFeng UV-5R is used to transmit over FRS/GMRS frequencies (unlicensed), it is illegal in the United States due to FCC regulations that state that the power must be <0.5W and that the radio must not have a detachable…
J. Taylor
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Are there federal laws (US) protecting antenna installation?

Are there any federal laws or FCC guidelines that allow ham radio operators to install antennas? I live in an apartment building in a large city that bans outdoor antennas. I recall reading that the FCC protected the installation of satellite…
Brad
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14
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5 answers

How to operate IEEE 802.11 WiFi AP within the amateur radio service?

How can I properly use my ham radio license to operate an IEEE 802.11 WiFi access point within the US amateur radio service, rather than the US "part 15" regulations for unlicensed transmissions?
David Anastasio
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1 answer

How do I change my registered address with the FCC?

I just moved, and I want to change my registered address with my call-sign. Is there a form or something somewhere that I can fill out? Do I have to mail it, or can I turn it in to the FCC or something electronically? Does it cost anything? What…
Skyler 440
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How To Join Packet Radio BBS

I'm a complete newbie here, and on the Southeast Coast of the USA. I don't even own a ham radio yet. Some preppers and I got to talking about a dystopian time of Internet collapse where shortwave radio might be an important factor of survival. This…
Radio1
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Why is an exemption for music given to NASA broadcasts of manned space flight missions?

FCC 97.113 Prohibited transmissions reads: (e) No station shall retransmit programs or signals emanating from any type of radio station other than an amateur station, except propagation and weather forecast information intended for use by the…
PearsonArtPhoto
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