Operating abroad
| Operating abroad | |
|---|---|
| Main routes | CEPT arrangements, the IARP, bilateral reciprocal permits, a local license |
| CEPT (T/R 61-01) | US Amateur Extra and Advanced licensees who are US citizens |
| CEPT novice level | US General licensees, only in countries that have adopted ECC Recommendation (05)06 |
| Technicians | Not covered by CEPT; check each country |
| On the air | |
| Usual call sign format | Host country prefix, a slash, then the home call, such as F/W6ABC |
| In Canada | Home call, a slash, then the Canadian prefix, such as W6ABC/VE3 |
| At sea | /MM (maritime mobile), with the master's approval |
Operating abroad means taking an amateur station, or just a license, to another country. An amateur license is valid only in the country that issued it, so a ham who wants to transmit while traveling needs the permission of the host country. That permission can come through an international arrangement, a bilateral agreement or a local license. Rules differ widely, so the first step is always to check the current rules for each country on the itinerary.
Ways to get permission
- CEPT. The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) recommendation known as T/R 61-01 lets licensees from participating countries operate during short visits to the others without applying for anything. The United States takes part as a non-CEPT country. US citizens holding an Amateur Extra or Advanced license qualify for full CEPT privileges. General licensees qualify for the more limited CEPT novice privileges under ECC Recommendation (05)06, but only in the countries that have adopted it. CEPT does not extend to Technician or Novice licensees. Operators must carry an official copy of their FCC license, proof of US citizenship such as a passport, and a copy of the FCC's public notice on CEPT operation, and show them on request. The ARRL keeps a list of participating countries.
- IARP. The International Amateur Radio Permit comes from an inter-American convention and allows operation in the participating countries of the Americas. In the US, it is issued to licensed US citizens by the ARRL.
- Bilateral reciprocal agreements. The US has reciprocal operating agreements with many countries. In those that participate in neither CEPT nor the IARP, the visitor applies to the host country's licensing authority for a permit, usually with copies of the license and passport and sometimes a fee. Processing can take weeks or months, so apply early.
- A local license. Some countries require visitors to obtain a local license, and a few do not admit foreign operators at all.
These arrangements depend on citizenship: a US licensee who is not a US citizen generally cannot use CEPT or the IARP on the strength of an FCC license.
Canada
The US and Canada have an automatic reciprocal agreement. A US citizen with a valid US license may operate in Canada without a permit, carrying proof of citizenship and the license, and Canadian amateurs may do the same in the US. Visitors follow Canadian rules, which set the privileges that correspond to their license; Radio Amateurs of Canada publishes details.
Identifying
Under CEPT and most reciprocal arrangements, a visitor puts the host country's prefix in front of the home call, separated by a slash: F/W6ABC in France, or DL/W6ABC in Germany. On voice the slash is said as "stroke" or "portable." The main exception is between Canada and the United States, where visitors put the host prefix after the call: W6ABC/VE3 for a US ham in Ontario, VE3ABC/W2 for a Canadian in New York. Some permits specify a different format or a local call sign, so follow the authorization's wording.
US possessions and territories such as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Guam are under FCC jurisdiction, so a US license is valid there. Adding a location indicator such as /KP4 is optional but popular, because DXers count many of these places as separate entities.
Planning the trip
- Bands differ. The world is divided into three ITU regions with different allocations. In Region 1, which includes Europe and Africa, the 40-meter band ends at 7.200 MHz, the 2-meter band is 144 to 146 MHz and the 1.25-meter band does not exist. Check the host country's band plan.
- Power. Limits abroad are often lower than in the US.
- Third-party traffic. Passing messages for non-hams to or from the host country is allowed only where agreements permit it.
- Customs and equipment. Some countries require transmitters to be declared, licensed or left at the border. A small transceiver and an end-fed wire make an easy travel station, and Parks on the Air includes parks in many countries.
- Repeaters. Offsets, tones and access conventions vary, so look up local repeaters before packing a handheld.
At sea and in the air
Under FCC rules, an amateur station aboard a ship or aircraft must be approved by the ship's master or the aircraft's pilot in command, must be separate from the vessel's own radio equipment, and must not create a hazard. Aboard a US-registered vessel in international waters, a US license is sufficient. Aboard a foreign-registered vessel, or inside another country's territorial waters, the flag state's or host country's rules apply. Maritime mobile stations sign "/MM" and are a familiar part of HF nets. Cruise lines often refuse permission, so ask well before sailing.
Aeronautical mobile operation, signed "/AM," is almost entirely the domain of private pilots in their own aircraft. Airlines generally do not allow passengers to operate transmitters.