LESSON 5

Prohibited communications: music, broadcasting, codes and
ciphers, business use, permissible communications, bulletins, code
practice, incidental music

When a radio transmitter sends out a signal it can be for several intended purposes.

Most of the signals sent in the amateur radio bands are for the purpose of being heard by one or more licensed hams who are expected to respond to that transmission when it is complete. That type of activity is known as two way radio communication and is what most people think of when the term ham radio is used but there are other types of radio transmissions allowed by ham radio operators.

Amateur radio transmissions can be used to control a model aircraft, boat, car or some other device. When using amateur frequencies for radio control models it is not necessary to transmit a radio station identifying. Normally an amateur radio station must identify every 10 minutes during communications and at the end of each communications. The only other time when an amateur station is not required to identify itself during a transmission is when that signal is sent from a space station.

The transmission of codes or cipher used to hide the meaning of messages transmitted is forbidden on the ham bands with two exceptions. The two exceptions are when these codes or ciphers are used to transmitted control commands to a space stations or radio controlled craft.

There are short hand expressions and abbreviations commonly used which are understood in the ham community and that do not fall within the above prohibition. These will be discussed in a later lesson.

So sense most of us will never operate a station from space in general we could say if you are not using your transmitter as a means to control a radio controlled model then you must identify by giving the call letters of the transmitting station. The same could be said about codes or ciphers used to hide the meaning of a message being transmitted.

Though this will not appear on the test this might be a good time to mention, if you are use to the slang and terms used on the CB radio frequencies they are not the same as those used on the ham bands. Most of these expressions will not be well received by other hams.

When transmitting it is the responsibility of the control operator to protect what is being transmitted. With only one exception music is not allowed to be transmitted on an amateur radio station. When operation CW (Morse code) ambient sounds will not be transmitted but when you are using a mike you must be sure that there is no music in the back ground that can be picked up by the mike and transmitted. Do not operate where the TV, radio, or any other source of music can be heard. If that music is transmitted even in very low level it is a violation of FCC regulations.

As was mentioned earlier there is one exception to the music transmission prohibition. The FCC has authorized some amateur radio stations to rebroadcast to space shuttle communications. Sometimes, such as wake up call, music is sent to the space shuttle. The transmission of music is not prohibited when it is incidental to an authorized rebroadcast of space shuttle communications.

While speaking of background sounds the mike must also be out of the hearing range of indecent and obscene language. While music has one exception the prohibition of indecent and obscene language has no exception.

False or deceptive transmissions are never permitted on the ham bands. Do not send a distress or emergency message unless there is an actual distress or emergency. I have personally had the privilege of assisting the FCC to send a ham to a long prison term for transmitting a false distress signal.

Transmissions intended for reception by the general public, either direct or relayed is called broadcasting. Broadcasting on an amateur radio station is prohibited by FCC regulations.

There are some one way communications to a specific group such as code practice transmissions that are permitted. If you are planning to make such transmissions be sure to check with part 97 of the FCC regulations to see if your type is permitted.

A few of the regulations may seem a little ambiguous and different people see them differently. The distinction between an illegally compensated transmission and a legitimate use of the ham bands can sometimes be in this category. There is nothing like an amateur radio repeater where someone thinks that another ham is abusing these regulations to start an interesting discussion.

Some repeaters have a telephone interconnect called an autopatch that allows the repeater to be used to make telephone calls. These have started a few arguments as to which calls are legal and which are not.

It is legal to call your family, it is legal to call a friend, and it is legal to call for a tow truck if your car breaks down on the road. A call to your employer requesting directions to a customer's office or calling to order a pizza is not legal. Fortunately the common use of cell phones today has reduced the questionable use of autopatches but other uses of the amateur bands for compensation can still be in question to some.


It is legal to use your ham radio to tell others about a piece of amateur radio equipment you have for sale or trade on an occasional basis. Receiving any compensation for a transmission whether it is monetary or material is permitted by the FCC only when in accordance with part 97 rules. And for the most part that is never.


Part 97.113 of the FCC rules and regulations covers prohibited transmissions and I strongly encourage, before you go on the air, you to obtain a copy of part 97 and read it. You can find them and down load them at: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/cfr/1998/47cfr97.pdf .

Even for me to tell others about these lessons using the amateur bands is not legal because of the ad found on this page. Others hams can go on the air and tell or talk about it but I can not.






1. T2A01
When is an amateur station authorized to transmit information to the general public?
A. Never
B. Only when the operator is being paid
C. Only when the transmission lasts more than 10 minutes
D. Only when the transmission lasts longer than 15 minutes
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2. T2A02
When is an amateur station authorized to transmit music?
A. Amateurs may not transmit music, except as incidental to an authorized rebroadcast of space shuttle communications
B. Only when the music produces no spurious emissions
C. Only to interfere with an illegal transmission
D. Only when the music is above 1280 MHz
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3. T2A03
When is the transmission of codes or ciphers allowed to hide the meaning of a message transmitted by an amateur station?
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
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4. T2A04
When may an amateur station transmit false or deceptive signals?
A. Never
B. When operating a beacon transmitter in a "fox hunt" exercise
C. Only when making unidentified transmissions
D. When needed to hide the meaning of a message for secrecy
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5. T2A05
When may an amateur station transmit unidentified communications?
A. Only during brief tests not meant as messages
B. Only when they do not interfere with others
C. Only when sent from a space station or to control a model craft
D. Only during two-way or third party communications
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6. T2A06
What does the term broadcasting mean?
A. Transmissions intended for reception by the general public, either direct or relayed
B. Retransmission by automatic means of programs or signals from non-amateur stations
C. One-way radio communications, regardless of purpose or content
D. One-way or two-way radio communications between two or more stations
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7. T2A07
Which of the following are specifically prohibited in the Amateur Radio Service?
A. Discussion of politics
B. Discussion of programs on broadcast stations
C. Indecent and obscene language
D. Morse code practice
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8. T2A08
Which of the following one-way communications may not be
transmitted in the Amateur Radio Service?
A. Telecommand of model craft
B. Broadcasts intended for reception by the general public
C. Brief transmissions to make adjustments to the station
D. Morse code practice
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9. T2A09
When does the FCC allow an amateur radio station to be used as a method of communication for hire or material compensation?
A. Only when making test transmissions
B. Only when news is being broadcast in times of emergency
C. Only when in accordance with part 97 rules
D. Only when your employer is using amateur radio to broadcast advertising
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10. T2A10
What type of communications are prohibited when using a repeater autopatch?
A. Calls to a recorded weather report
B. Calls to your employer requesting directions to a customer's office
C. Calls to the police reporting a traffic accident
D. Calls to a public utility reporting an outage of your telephone
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11. T2A11
When may you use your station to tell people about equipment you have for sale?
A. Never
B. When you are conducting an on-line auction
C. When you are offering amateur radio equipment for sale or trade on an occasional basis
D. When you are helping a recognized charity
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Answers: A A C A C A C B C B C