[PPRAANet] PPRAA Remote Station - ID Requirements

[Jim Harris via PPRAANet]

Hi Gang,
I've had some questions about ID'ing on the club's remote station.  You should ID the same as you learned when you studied for your license.  (You do remember that don't you?)  If the number in your license is a zero then just give your cal sign.  You may add "remote" after your call but it isn't necessary.  If the number in your call is other than zero, when using the remote station, you should follow your call sign with "slash zero' (/0) regardless of where you are operating from.  If you are going to transmit on a remote station outside the USA you must follow the agreement, if any, that is established between the FCC and the host country.  There is a variety of agreements so summarizing them would be difficult in this space.  See http://www.arrl.org/international-operating for information on individual countries.  The agreements are for transmitting only.  You may listen on a remote station regardless of it's location in the USA or any where in the world.  Only transmitting is regulated and licensed.  For USA stations remember to ID every ten minutes and at the end of each QSO.
Remember your license serves two purposes.  First it authorizes you to operate per the privileges and limitations of your license.  Second it is the station license for what ever station you establish.  In establishing a station you assure it meets FCC requirements.  For a remote station, you license authorizes you to operate it per the privileges and limitations of your license.  As you have no control of the equipment installed at the remote station your station license does not apply to the remote station.  The FCC requires the license of the person who established and controls the station to be posted at the physical location of the station.  As such the remote station administrator's license is posted at the station as the station/control license.  Should someone else assume those responsibilities that person would post their license at the physical location of the remote station.
Remember you as the operator are responsible for your own activities on the station as you would on any station you use.  The remote station administrator is responsible to assure the equipment meets FCC requirements; which it does as the transceiver is type accepted by the FCC.
Also, the FCC requires a remotely operated station to have a three minute transmit time-out timer to cause the transmitter to cease transmitting should the transmitter become "stuck" in transmit.  This is the same requirement imposed on all repeaters.  The function on the remote station is controlled by the station's server software.  A countdown timer is immediately above the "S" meter on the client (user) software radio display.  When you use the transmitter note the counter incrementing down from 180 seconds when transmitting.
The above will be included in an upcoming revision to the station tutorial.
Enjoy this club provided membership benefit.
Dan, W0RO you might want to consider using this as an article in a future 0-Beat.

Jim H.,  W0EM