LESSON 8

Operating another person's station, guest operators at your
station, third party communications, autopatch, incidental
business use, compensation of operators, club stations, station
security, station inspection, protection against unauthorized
transmissions


Ham radio clubs are a great way for local amateur radio operators to get together and fellowship, share ideas, swap parts or rigs, and plan emergency preparation or other community assistance using ham radio. Sometimes a club will decide to set up a club station. The FCC will issue a license and call for a club with a minimum membership of 4 people.

Sometime after you get your new license you may have the opportunity to operate a club station or the station of a friend. Or you may have someone ask it they may use your station. If any of these scenarios happen there are some things that you must realize and remember.

When you use someone else’s station or if you allow someone else use your station you both are responsible for proper operation while transmitting. This means before you allow anyone use your station you need to be sure they can be trusted. It would be a shame if you lost your operating privileges because someone else misused your station.

When an amateur radio operator holding a higher class license then the owner is the control operator the higher class control operator is allowed all privileges granted by the higher class license but if the control operator is a lower class then the owner the control operator is only allowed those privileges granted by the license held by that operator.

It is extremely important that you protect your equipment from being used by non hams. The recommended way of doing this is to disconnect the power and microphone cables when not using your equipment. It may sound like a bit of a hassle but remember you are responsible if a non ham should transmit on your station. Only a licensed person may operate the transmitter so not even family member who are not licensed hams are allowed to transmit.

If there is a licensed ham control operator present to control the operations of the transmitter then it is legal for a non ham to talk on the unit.

A message sent between two amateur stations for someone else is known as third party traffic and is legal in the United States with other stations in the United States but it is only legal to pass third party traffic in or out of countries which have a third party agreement with the Untied States. It may surprise you who does and who does not be sure you know before doing it.

While third party traffic is legal using amateur radio for conducting business is not legal so the third party traffic must be personal and not business. It is also not legal to accept compensation for handling third party traffic.

It is permissible for the control operator of a club station to accept compensation for sending information bulletins or Morse code practice when the station makes those transmissions for at least 40 hours per week.

Operating a ham radio from an aircraft can be a lot of fun. When other hams hear you are aeronautical mobile they will want to work you. To operate aeronautical mobile you must have authorization from the pilot in command and you are not allowed to use the aircraft’s communication or navigational equipment to do such operations.

If the FCC thinks for some reason you are operating illegally they are not required to get a search warrant to inspect your station and its records. The right to make such search at anytime upon request was given by accepting the radio station license.


1. T2D01 [97.103(a)]
Who is responsible for proper operation if you transmit from another amateur's station?
A. Both of you
B. Only the other station licensee
C. Only you as the control operator
D. Only the station licensee, unless the station records shows another control operator at the time
~~
2. T2D02 [97.105(b)]
What operating privileges are allowed when another amateur holding a higher class license is controlling your station?
A. All privileges allowed by the higher class license
B. Only the privileges allowed by your license
C. All the emission privileges of the higher class license, but only the frequency privileges of your license
D. All the frequency privileges of the higher class license, but only the emission privileges of your license
~~
3. T2D03 [97.105(b)]
What operating privileges are allowed when you are the control operator at the station of another amateur who has a higher class license than yours?
A. Any privileges allowed by the higher class license
B. Only the privileges allowed by your license
C. All the emission privileges of the higher class license, but only the frequency privileges of your license
D. All the frequency privileges of the higher class license, but only the emission privileges of your license
~~
4. T2D04 [97.113(a)(3)]
Which of the following is a prohibited amateur radio transmission?
A. Using amateur radio to seek emergency assistance
B. Using amateur radio for conducting business
C. Using an amateur phone patch to call for a taxi or food
Delivery
D. Using an amateur phone patch to call home to say you are
running late
~~
5. T2D05 [97.3(a)46]
What is the definition of third-party communications?
A. A message sent between two amateur stations for someone else
B. Public service communications for a political party
C. Any messages sent by amateur stations
D. A three-minute transmission to another amateur
~~
6. T2D06 [97.5(b)(2)]
How many persons are required to be members of a club for a club station license to be issued by the FCC?
A. At least 5
B. At least 4
C. A trustee and 2 officers
D. At least 2
~~
7. T2D07 [97.11(a)]
When may you operate your amateur station aboard an aircraft?
A. At any time
B. Only while the aircraft is on the ground
C. Only with the approval of the pilot in command and not using the aircraft's radio equipment
D. Only when you have written permission from the airline and only using the aircraft's radio equipment
~~
8. T2D08 [97.103(c)]
When is the FCC allowed to inspect your station equipment and station records?
A. Only on weekends
B. At any time upon request
C. Never
D. Only during daylight hours
~~
9. T2D09
How might you best keep unauthorized persons from using your amateur station?
A. Disconnect the power and microphone cables when not using your equipment
B. Connect a dummy load to the antenna
C. Put a "Danger - High Voltage" sign in the station
D. Put fuses in the main power line
~~
10. T2D10 [97.109(b)]
Why are unlicensed persons in your family not allowed to transmit on your amateur station if you are not there?
A. They must not use your equipment without your permission
B. They must be licensed before they are allowed to be control operators
C. They must know how to use proper procedures and Q signals
D. They must know the right frequencies and emissions for transmitting
~~
11. T2D11 [97.113(d)]
When is it permissible for the control operator of a club station to accept compensation for sending information bulletins or Morse code practice?
A. When compensation is paid from a non-profit organization
B. When the club station license is held by a non-profit
Organization
C. Anytime compensation is needed
D. When the station makes those transmissions for at least 40 hours per week

Answers to today’s questions:
A A B B A B C B A B D