T1F Identification, repeaters, third parties and clubs

Station identification; Repeaters; Third party communications; Club stations; FCC inspection

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This group covers station identification, repeater responsibility, third-party communications, club station licenses and FCC inspection.

Identification

Under §97.119 you must give your FCC-assigned call sign at least every 10 minutes during a communication and at the end of it. Using a tactical call sign, such as a net control designation, does not replace this. You must still send your real call sign on the same schedule.

On phone you must identify in English, using either a phone emission or CW (§97.119(b)). No indicator such as “R” or “RPT” is required. Phonetics help but are not required. You may add a self-assigned indicator, such as KL7CC stroke W3. Stroke, slash and slant all mean the same character and all are acceptable on phone.

Repeaters

A repeater is an amateur station that simultaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different channel or channels (§97.3). It is different from a beacon and different from a remote control link. If a repeater inadvertently retransmits communications that violate the rules, the repeater’s control operator is not accountable (§97.205(g)). Accountability rests with the control operator of the originating station, not the repeater owner.

Third-party communications

Third-party communications are messages sent from a control operator to another station’s control operator on behalf of someone else. Apart from emergency or disaster relief messages, a person who is not licensed may speak through your station to a foreign station only when that country has a third-party agreement with the United States (§97.115(a)(2)). The person’s citizenship does not matter, and the licensed operator need not do the identification. The licensed control operator must be at the control point, monitoring and supervising (§97.115(b)).

Club station licenses

A club station license grant requires a trustee who holds an operator/primary license and a club of at least four persons. The club also needs a name, document of organization, management, and a primary purpose of amateur activities (§97.5(b)(2)). The trustee does not have to be Amateur Extra, and ARRL registration is not required.

FCC inspection

The licensee must make the station and its records available for inspection at any time upon request by an FCC representative (§97.103). No waiting period, written notice or warrant is part of the rule.

Key facts to memorize

§97.119: identify every 10 minutes during and at the end of a communication.
Tactical calls do not replace your FCC call sign.
Phone identification in English, by phone or CW.
Indicators such as stroke, slash or slant are all acceptable.
Repeater violations: the originating station’s control operator is accountable.
§97.205(g): a repeater’s control operator is not accountable for inadvertently relayed violations.
§97.115: third party with a foreign station only with a third-party agreement (or for emergency or disaster relief).
Club license: trustee with a license and at least four club members.
FCC inspection: any time upon request.

Memory hooks

“Ten and the end”: ten-minute identification plus at the end.

Questions in this group (11): answers shown

T1F01 · §97.103(c)

When must the station licensee make the station and the station records available for inspection?
- A. At any time ten days after notification by the FCC of such an inspection
- B. At any time upon request by an FCC representative ✓ Correct answer
- C. At any time after a written notification by the FCC of such inspection
- D. Only when presented with a valid warrant by an FCC official or government agent
The licensee must make the station and its records available for inspection upon request by an FCC representative, at any time (section 97.103). No waiting period, written notice or warrant is required.
T1F02 · §97.119(a)

How often must you identify with your FCC-assigned call sign when using tactical call signs such as “Race Headquarters”?
- A. Never, the tactical call is sufficient
- B. Once every hour
- C. At least every 10 minutes during and at the end of a communication ✓ Correct answer
- D. At the end of every transmission
Tactical call signs do not replace your FCC call sign. You must still identify with your assigned call at least every 10 minutes during, and at the end of, the communication (section 97.119).
T1F03 · §97.119(a)

When are you required to transmit your assigned call sign?
- A. At the beginning of each contact, and every 10 minutes thereafter
- B. At least once during each transmission
- C. At least every 15 minutes during and at the end of a communication
- D. At least every 10 minutes during and at the end of a communication ✓ Correct answer
Section 97.119 requires you to give your assigned call sign at least every 10 minutes during a communication and at its end. It is not required at each transmission or only every 15 minutes.
T1F04 · §97.119(b)(2)

What language must you use for identification when using a phone emission?
- A. Any language recognized by the United Nations
- B. Any language recognized by the ITU
- C. English ✓ Correct answer
- D. English, French, or Spanish
Phone identification must be in English (section 97.119(b)). Other languages recognized by the UN or ITU do not satisfy the rule.
T1F05 · §97.119(b)(2)

What method of call sign identification is required for a station transmitting phone signals?
- A. Send the call sign followed by the indicator RPT
- B. Send the call sign using a CW or phone emission ✓ Correct answer
- C. Send the call sign followed by the indicator R
- D. Send the call sign using only a phone emission
A station transmitting phone may identify using either a phone emission or CW (section 97.119(b)). Adding an indicator such as RPT or R is not required.
T1F06 · §97.119(c)

Which of the following self-assigned indicators are acceptable when using a phone transmission?
- A. KL7CC stroke W3
- B. KL7CC slant W3
- C. KL7CC slash W3
- D. All these choices are correct ✓ Correct answer
Section 97.119(c) allows self-assigned indicators such as KL7CC stroke W3. Stroke, slash and slant all name the same character, so all of them are acceptable on phone.
T1F07 · §97.115(a)(2)

Which of the following restrictions apply when a non-licensed person speaks to a foreign amateur radio station via a station under the control of an FCC-licensed amateur radio operator?
- A. The person must be a U.S. citizen
- B. The foreign station must be in a country with which the U.S. has a third-party agreement ✓ Correct answer
- C. The licensed control operator must do the station identification
- D. All these choices are correct
Except for emergency or disaster relief messages, a third party may talk to a foreign station only if that country has a third-party agreement with the U.S. (section 97.115(a)(2)). The person's citizenship and who does the identification are not the requirement.
T1F08 · §97.3(a)(47)

What is the definition of third-party communications?
- A. A message from a control operator to another amateur station control operator on behalf of another person ✓ Correct answer
- B. Amateur radio communications where three stations are in communications with one another
- C. Operation when the transmitting equipment is licensed to a person other than the control operator
- D. Temporary authorization for an unlicensed person to transmit on the amateur bands for technical experiments
Third-party communications are messages passed from a control operator to another station's control operator on behalf of someone else (section 97.3). Three stations talking together is not third-party traffic.
T1F09 · §97.3(a)(40)

What type of amateur station simultaneously retransmits the signal of another amateur station on a different channel or channels?
- A. Beacon station
- B. Remote control station
- C. Repeater station ✓ Correct answer
- D. Message forwarding station
A repeater simultaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different channel or channels (section 97.3). Beacons transmit their own information, and remote control stations are control links.
T1F10 · §97.205(g)

Who is accountable if a repeater inadvertently retransmits communications that violate the FCC rules?
- A. The control operator of the originating station ✓ Correct answer
- B. The control operator of the repeater
- C. The owner of the repeater
- D. Both the originating station and the repeater owner
Section 97.205(g) says a repeater's control operator is not accountable when the repeater inadvertently retransmits communications that violate the rules. Accountability stays with the control operator of the originating station, not the repeater's control operator or owner.
T1F11 · §97.5(b)(2)

Which of the following is a requirement for the issuance of a club station license grant?
- A. The trustee must have an Amateur Extra Class operator license grant
- B. The club must have at least four members ✓ Correct answer
- C. The club must be registered with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
- D. All these choices are correct
A club station license grant requires a trustee holding an operator/primary license and a club of at least four persons with a name, document of organization and management (section 97.5(b)(2)). The trustee need not be Extra, and ARRL registration is not required.