FCC license

[Ray H]

Ive got a couple questions about FCC license and Ham radio license.
On another thread I saw some people on here operate Ham radios.
Whats the difference between Ham radio license and FCC General Radiotelephone operator license and do they expire?

I have a General Radiotelephone operators license that I got about 14 years ago. I was going to school to get my A&P license and took night classes to get my FCC license so I could work on aircraft radios and radar as well as the other parts of an aircraft. So I passed the test (very involved test) and got my FCC General Radiotelephone Operators license. Is this what I need to operate a Ham radio station?
Its been too many years, I dont even know what I can do with this thing anymore.

 

[Mudderoy]

Ive got a couple questions about FCC license and Ham radio license.
On another thread I saw some people on here operate Ham radios.
Whats the difference between Ham radio license and FCC General Radiotelephone operator license and do they expire?

I have a General Radiotelephone operators license that I got about 14 years ago. I was going to school to get my A&P license and took night classes to get my FCC license so I could work on aircraft radios and radar as well as the other parts of an aircraft. So I passed the test (very involved test) and got my FCC General Radiotelephone Operators license. Is this what I need to operate a Ham radio station?
Its been too many years, I dont even know what I can do with this thing anymore.

Ham radio license isn't a commercial license, Radio telephone operator license is.

According to the FCC site, the Radio telephone operator license expires when you do.

No, you need "surprisingly" an Amateur Radio license. :roflmao:

How to become a HAM

You must renew "no new testing" your HAM license every 10 years.

 

[Ray H]

Ham radio license isn't a commercial license, Radio telephone operator license is.

According to the FCC site, the Radio telephone operator license expires when you do.

No, you need "surprisingly" an Amateur Radio license. :roflmao:

How to become a HAM

You must renew "no new testing" your HAM license every 10 years.

Yep, I did a little internet reading after I posted that and I did indeed find that my GROL is good until death do us part. I didnt find anything that compared the two (HAM and GROL) to tell me specifically if I still need to take a HAM test or if my GROL is sufficient to operate HAM.

 

[Mudderoy]

Yep, I did a little internet reading after I posted that and I did indeed find that my GROL is good until death do us part. I didnt find anything that compared the two (HAM and GROL) to tell me specifically if I still need to take a HAM test or if my GROL is sufficient to operate HAM.

I don't think the two licenses have anything to do with one another.

It's a fair question. I think once you get into looking at the HAM licenses you'll see there's a big difference between the two.

 

[Ray H]

I did find a HAM test site that would allow you credits for certain FCC license tests if you already had other licenses ( I didnt see GROL mentioned), like you said, it seems that the FCC keeps commercial licensing and Amateur licensing totally seperate.
On another thread there was discussion about the testing. Ive read that they have completely done away with the morse code part of the test for HAM as of some time in 07.
I was hoping my GROL would suffice for a HAM license. I know the thing was a bitch to pass. I was a radio operator and a telegraph operator in the Marine Corps, which helped me some on the GROL tests, but alot of it was still way over my head. I think the only reason I passed on my first attempt is I have a very good short term memory and I got very lucky with guessing.

 

[Captain Ron]

Your RT certificate is good only for ground or aircraft based Single Side Band. Same as a Maritime RT ticket. You are only authorized to operated SSB, and on the allocated frequencies.

Ham, is different, your RT ticket does not authorize you to use the bands, frequencies, or modes available to hams license holders at various levels..

A RT ticket requires only a simple application. To get a Ham ticket requires taking a test.

73 de K0IOA/6 /MM

--ron

 

[Mudderoy]

I did find a HAM test site that would allow you credits for certain FCC license tests if you already had other licenses ( I didnt see GROL mentioned), like you said, it seems that the FCC keeps commercial licensing and Amateur licensing totally seperate.
On another thread there was discussion about the testing. Ive read that they have completely done away with the morse code part of the test for HAM as of some time in 07.
I was hoping my GROL would suffice for a HAM license. I know the thing was a bitch to pass. I was a radio operator and a telegraph operator in the Marine Corps, which helped me some on the GROL tests, but alot of it was still way over my head. I think the only reason I passed on my first attempt is I have a very good short term memory and I got very lucky with guessing.

Look into the Technician license. I think you'll find that the multiple guess test is something you can easily pass with a minor amount of effort.

 

[Ray H]

Your RT certificate is good only for ground or aircraft based Single Side Band. Same as a Maritime RT ticket. You are only authorized to operated SSB, and on the allocated frequencies.

Ham, is different, your RT ticket does not authorize you to use the bands, frequencies, or modes available to hams license holders at various levels..

A RT ticket requires only a simple application. To get a Ham ticket requires taking a test.

73 de K0IOA/6 /MM

--ron

What you are saying about the bands makes good sense. As far as no testing for the GROL, they must of really been messing with me when they dropped the element 1 and element 3 tests on the desk in front of me.

 

[Stihl029]

I just got my Tech licence a few weeks back and I did my studying and what not on www.eham.net its a pretty kool site.
KL7LQ if you are ever in the area, I pretty much stick w/ LMR since it reaches further than cell phones do round these parts.

 

[Mudderoy]

I just got my Tech licence a few weeks back and I did my studying and what not on www.eham.net its a pretty kool site.
KL7LQ if you are ever in the area, I pretty much stick w/ LMR since it reaches further than cell phones do round these parts.

Congrats! Welcome aboard!
N5FNH (Fried Nose Hairs)

 

[WB9YZU]

Ive got a couple questions about FCC license and Ham radio license.
On another thread I saw some people on here operate Ham radios.
Whats the difference between Ham radio license and FCC General Radiotelephone operator license and do they expire?

I have a General Radiotelephone operators license that I got about 14 years ago. I was going to school to get my A&P license and took night classes to get my FCC license so I could work on aircraft radios and radar as well as the other parts of an aircraft. So I passed the test (very involved test) and got my FCC General Radiotelephone Operators license. Is this what I need to operate a Ham radio station?
Its been too many years, I dont even know what I can do with this thing anymore.

The FCC license for Amatateur Radio is different from the General Radio Telephone.

The General Radio Telephone is a operator license which allows you to repair, align, test, and operate Commercial transmitters as long as it is part of your employment.
To work on RADAR, you also need an add on to the GROL certifying you for RADAR.
The Commercial Radio Telephone licenses used to be good only as long as you could show employment, but that changed to lifetime when they changed the 1st and 2nd class licenses to a General Radio Telephone.


The Amateur Radio Service has it's own certifications, and the license is a station License and an operators license rolled into one. Stations are licensed to individuals at a geographical location. Station privilages are dependent on the station licensees demonstrated knowledge of radio theory. A holder of a GROL may repair a ARS radio, but may not operate it without the presence of the station licensee because they do not have a station call sign. Staion Licenses have a term. Presently it is 10 years and then you need to renew your license

Yah, I hold both.

The GROL is virually useless in an aircraft environment. If you repair an aircraft radio, it may be fixed, but it can not go back in the aircraft without being certified as airworthy.
You don't need an operators license to operate an aircraft radio, as those radios are Station licensed based. Each aircraft has a station license as do the ground radios.

Ray, if you passed a GROL, you can pass a Amateur Radio test.

Sorry for the long post as it appears most of that was covered while I was composing this. God I type slow!

 

[Ray H]

I appreciate it. That explained it well.

 

[5-90]

I did find a HAM test site that would allow you credits for certain FCC license tests if you already had other licenses ( I didnt see GROL mentioned), like you said, it seems that the FCC keeps commercial licensing and Amateur licensing totally seperate.
On another thread there was discussion about the testing. Ive read that they have completely done away with the morse code part of the test for HAM as of some time in 07.
I was hoping my GROL would suffice for a HAM license. I know the thing was a bitch to pass. I was a radio operator and a telegraph operator in the Marine Corps, which helped me some on the GROL tests, but alot of it was still way over my head. I think the only reason I passed on my first attempt is I have a very good short term memory and I got very lucky with guessing.

The "Technician" liicense is a no-code, and I think there's a "no-code Novice" license as well. The other licenses allow you to operate in more bands, but most of those bands are CW/code only (we're talking HF on down.)

The Tech and no-code Novice license give you what mainly amount to line-of-sight and repeater operation, but that's enough for a lot of people. I can't even remember my Morse anymore (fmr AF Radioman, among other things...) so I might get a Technician one of these days.

I believe an Amateur Radio license is good for ten years, at which time you have to retest. The Novice and Tech tests are rather easier than the GROL or .MIL radioman teses, tho, and there are quite a few study guides out there for them (I like Now You're Talking! from Radio Shack. There are also a few PalmOS utilities out there for taking practise tests, giving you questions drawn on the current exam pool. You tell it what level you want to test for, and it generates a test for you.)

 

[jpcherokeekid]

yeah im studdying for my ham tech. licence right now. 35 questions, got the studdy guide book from barns and noble as it actually explains more about ham stuff then you will find online. gunna take the test on the 21st. my buddy gave me one of his new icom vc8000's. awsome radio.

 

[WB9YZU]

5-90, your info is dated.

There are no code requirements for an Amateur Radio License in the US.

Only 3 of the 5 classes of privilages remain.
Technician: 10meter CW or Digital modes plus all VHF/UHF frequencies
General: Technician privilages plus full coverage of 10,12,17,30 and 160meter bands and restricted access to other bands.
Extra: All privilages on all bands.

If you could pass a radio operation and theory test 20 years ago, you can pass the extra. If you want to ace it, get a book and read up on the new stuff like satelite modes that they ask questions on. The ARRL, Amateur Radio Relay League has all the latest poop on licensing and also practice manuals and study guides. www.arrl.org

 

[5-90]

Yep - sounds like it! Thanks for the update...

I've been meaning to take my HAM for years, but I've not gotten around to it. The theory is the easy part - it's been the emissions allowed per band and all that rot (the manmade stuff...) that's had me vexed...

 

[w_howey]

Yep - sounds like it! Thanks for the update...

I've been meaning to take my HAM for years, but I've not gotten around to it. The theory is the easy part - it's been the emissions allowed per band and all that rot (the manmade stuff...) that's had me vexed...

A friend just took his Technician test.. He said there were quite a few questions relating to good operating practices rather than the old test which was more theory and rules..

 

[Mudderoy]

I believe an Amateur Radio license is good for ten years, at which time you have to retest.

It's a minor thing, but we don't want to scare anyone off from getting their Amateur Radio license.

You DO NOT have to re-test to renew your license every 10 years. You just go online and renew. It doesn't even cost anything.

The last test I took was in 1977!

 

[xjtrailrider]

This all good info guys, I need to get off my a** and get my tech licsense. Here in the mountains cell service is terrible and CB is too short and unreliable in case of an emergency. We have a repeater less than 5 miles from Roanoke on Poor Mtn.

I think I will pick up that book and study.

What is a good radio to start out with that will be easy to use, affordable and reliable?

 

[WB9YZU]

What is a good radio to start out with that will be easy to use, affordable and reliable?

I think the answer to that question depends on your skill level and what bands and modes you want to operate.

Also remember that vertical real estate has an effect on how far you can go on VHF and UHF. The ability to errect a tower enhances your possibilities.

Single band 2 meter FM mobile radios are relatively cheap due to their popularity with all licensees. Expect to pay around $140 new. Single band HTs (Handi-Talkies) are a little less.

70cm FM is becoming more popular with Single band radios in the same price range as 2 meter equipment.

If you want to get into distance work, 6 meters (50MHZ) and 2 meters CW and Sideband have possibiities, though you will need to lay out more dough for that equipment, even on the used market.

10 meters is an interesting band, and since the Tech license has CW & Data privilages on that band, it would be worth looking into.

If you want everything from HF to 440 in all modes, you could get an IC-706 MKII. Very reasonably priced considering what you get in one box.

Used equipment is certainly an option. Local Hamfests and local Hams which are holding onto equipment they no longer use are options. Check ebay, and there are quite a few internet based for sale forums floating around.

The local SKYWARN nets have been very active the last couple of days around here.
Yesterday we had severe wind sheer and large amounts of convective activity. We had a good 3 short lived Tornados in the area. Today it's heavy rain, and lots of it. Flash flooding seems to be the word of the day.