UK Amateur Radio Licence Archive

Amateur Radio Wireless Telegraphy Licence Conditions Booklet OFW611

General notice of decision to vary amateur radio licences

Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate (HAREC) issued 2024

• 18 May 2021 Licence Terms and Conditions
  • Addition of Section 3 - Conditions relating to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Compliance

• IR 2028 Amateur Licence Interface Requirement January 2018
  • This contains only minor edits e.g. RSGB website URL replaced the reference to the 2007 RSGB Yearbook
  • Significantly it does not incorporate any of the 2015 licence changes, e.g. addition of 472 kHz band and 5 MHz segments
  • This Interface Requirement is still current at the time of writing, June 2025, however, none of the 2015 or 2024 licence changes have yet been included e.g. Foundation power level and additional bands

• uk-gb2rs-nov-2017-07-10.pdf
  • Sample Notice of Variation permitting broadcasting of RSGB news bulletins using the callsign GB2RS

• 17 July 2017 Licence Guidance Document
  • Changes included:
    • Addition of clause 1.19 signifying that Callsigns were no longer transferable. Transfer of callsigns had stopped in 2016
    • Clauses 2.2 and 2.3 combined into a single clause

• 8 April 2016 Licence Guidance Document
  • These policy changes were introduced:
    • Licence and Terms & Conditions now separate documents
    • The # symbol used to represent the RSL in the callsign in section 1 of the licence document, Guidance clause 1.12
    • Callsigns no longer transferable, Guidance clause 1.19
• 2016 Sample Licence Document
• 2016 Licence Terms & Conditions Document

• uk-licence-2015-04-20.pdf
  • The key changes to the licence were
    • Removal of the 2350-2390 MHz and 3410-3475 MHz allocations
    • Foundation and Intermediate were permitted to operate on vessels within UK and Crown Dependency Territorial Waters (12 mile limit) although licence wording still wasn't clear. Ofcom's Spectrum Policy Manager Fraser Murrey issued this clarification which implied this had been the case since 2006: See clause 2.14/2.15 of April 2016 Ofcom Licence Guidance Document and 2015 UK Territorial Seas and Internal Waters Map
    • Mandatory 15 minute Identification requirement scrapped, no longer have to ID every 15 minutes or when changing frequency. It became the responsibility of the licence holder to determine when to identify
  • Ofcom had wished to take advantage of this licence update to correct the error in the December 2006 licence that meant amateurs must use the Main Station callsign with Main Station RSL when visiting other regions within the UK&CD. Ofcom's proposed change meant amateurs would be able to use either the Core UK callsign (no RSL) or use an appropriate RSL when visiting other UK&CD regions. This provoked an outcry (see Consultation Responses) so Ofcom decided not to correct it in this update. The error wasn't corrected until the 2024 licence

• uk_lifetime_licence_2007-02-08.pdf
  • Licence came into effect 1 January 2007 with this amendment:
    • 75500-75875 MHz status changed from Primary to Secondary

• IR 2028 Amateur Licence Interface Requirement 9 January 2007
  • The changes covered:
    • Inclusion of Foundation allocations and power levels
    • Removal of obsolete licence references
    • Section 2 Forward changed to say “this UK Interface Requirement contains the requirements for the licensing and use of Amateur Radio in the specified frequency bands.” It is worth noting IR 2028 describes how the complete station as a whole should be operated (Table 3.1 Mandatory Elements (1-9)), it is not a specification that individual items of equipment must meet. Foundation had a licence requirement, clause 7(2) to “satisfy IR 2028”. kits or transceivers capable of 100 watts output or that also covered frequencies outside the permitted Foundation bands could be used as long as they were operated in accordance with the Foundation licence conditions e.g. power turned down to 10 watts.

• uk-licence-2006-12-15.pdf
  • The licence issued 1 December 2006 contained these additional changes to the licence format announcement made on 4 July 2006:
    • Foundation permitted to use:
      • Amateur Satellites
      • 10 GHz band
      • Wireless remote control of their station using a 500 mW ERP control link within a Foundation amateur band above 30 MHz
    • Intermediate permitted 500 mW ERP wireless remote control
    • Full holders would see the scrapping of the planned 100 metre restriction on wireless remote control
    • Club licences were permitted to continue using the special Club regional secondary locators (RSL) even though the original reason for having them, enabling an unlicenced person to send a greetings message, no longer applied
  • This licence permitted Foundation and Intermediate to operate on a vessel sailing in UK Internal Waters e.g. the Bristol Channel, the Solent and the Thames Estuary out to a line drawn from North Foreland, Margate, Kent via the Kentish Knock lighthouse to Harwich in Essex. That “Internal Waters” and “Inland Waters” were the same was not immediately apparent to some amateurs and led to Ofcom issuing a subsequent clarification. UK Internal Waters are clearly shown on this Admiralty map. The Maritime and Coastal Agency used the term Inland Waters for the same waters and in 2006 they detailed them here (select View the Full List). It's clear some amateurs were not aware just how far from shore some Inland/Internal waters could extend
  • Due to the incorporation of these last minute changes the originally planned Lifetime licence issue date of 1 October 2006 was deferred to 1 December 2006. All licences due for renewal in October and November were automatically issued the appropriate version (Fnd/Int/Full) of the BR68 licence free of charge. It is believed new licence applications were also free
  • An unintended consequence of a wording change (the removal of the previous BR68 clause 7(5)) meant the Main Station Address callsign complete with Main Station RSL e.g. MW0ABC, must be used when visiting another region within the UK and Crown Dependencies. This error was not noticed until 2013. A statement on the matter was given by Ofcom's Paul Jarvis G8RMM at the National Hamfest on 27 September 2013 and the RSGB Convention on 12 October 2013: https://web.archive.org/web/20150928061916/http://rsgb.org/main/archive/consultation-archive/ofcom-consultations/licence-review-preparation/regional-secondary-locator/

• lifetime_amateur_radio_licensing_-_format_of_new_licences_2006-07-04.pdf
  • The lifetime licence was published, but not issued, on 4 July 2006, principle changes over the previous BR68/F, BR68/I and BR68 licences were:
    • Combining the three separate licence terms and conditions into one document
    • Gender neutral language, previous licences had assumed the holder was male
    • Technology neutral, any mode with any bandwidth was permitted as long as the transmission was contained within an amateur band
    • The requirement to ID data transmissions by morse telegraphy or telephony, at the end of each 30 minute period during which transmissions are sent from the Station (BR68 clause 7(1)(f)) was scrapped
    • Content restrictions were relaxed, the prohibitions on music and political or religious discussion were scrapped.
    • Requirement to keep a log book abolished
    • Suffixes /P, /M, /MM became optional and an optional /A was added
    • Foundation were:
      • Permitted to use 28 MHz band
      • No longer had to use CE approved equipment. Instead kit or ready-built transmitters just had to be operated in a way that satisfied IR-2028. Transmitting equipment capable of operating in non-amateur bands was permitted as long as no transmissions were made out of authorised amateur bands
    • Full were permitted to supervise an unlicenced person on-air. Previously only Club stations using the special Club RSL had been permitted to do this
    • The licence was free and lifetime, annual renewals were no longer required
  • The lifetime licence didn't go as far as some amateurs wanted and still contained a number of unnecessary restrictions. This summary of the issues with the new licence was posted on the daily Southgate Amateur Radio News Service site on 5 July 2006:
    • OFCOM Amateur Radio Licence Statement – First Impressions
  • Although planned to start from 1 October 2006 this version of the licence was never issued to anyone. Significant last-minute changes were made that addressed some of the issues raised in the Southgate post

• Notices of Variation (NoV) all issued in July 2003
  • Full licence BR68 NoV (Morse) September 2003 revision
  • Intermediate licence BR68i NoV (Morse) September 2003 revision
  • Foundation licence BR68f NoV (Morse) July 2003
• The changes were:
  • Morse requirement for operation below 30 MHz was removed from Full and Intermediate BR68's
  • Intermediate holders were permitted to use Amateur Satellites. Note: Some Intermediate holders had been using Amateur Satellites since 21 June 1999 when they were allocated the 144 MHz band. Nothing in BR68i stated Amateur Satellite operation wasn't permitted so it had been widely assumed they could
  • Full and Intermediate allocation at 75500-75875 MHz planned to change to Secondary status from 31 December 2006
• It is believed revised BR68's incorporating these changes were printed but there is no record of PDF's of them being made available on the Ofcom site

• Public consultation published 12 June 2003 on proposed new licence NoV's
  • These changes were proposed:
    • remove Morse requirement
    • give Intermediate holders access to Amateur Satellites
    • change part of 75 GHz band from Primary to Secondary from 31 December 2006

• NoV for Internet Gateway 17 July 2002

• Amateur Radio (Intermediate) Licence (A) or (B) Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68/I Rev 8
  • BR68/I was issued from 1 October 2001. The previous BR68a/N and BR68b/N Novice licence documents were combined into a single booklet and renamed as Intermediate

• Amateur Radio (Foundation) Licence Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68/F
  • BR68/F was first used in the Foundation Pilot Scheme which started in October 2001. The Foundation Pilot Scheme training course was held at the RSGB Potters Bar HQ, did candidates have to wait until 1 January 2002 for their licence?

• IR 2028 Amateur Licence Interface Requirements version 1.0 created 11 July 2001, last modified 25 January 2002
  • Note this document references obsolete licence classes e.g. Class A/B & Novice, Notification number reads “to be added” and Foundation isn't mentioned. Despite that it was made publicly available on the RA's radio.gov.uk site and the Ofcom site in 2004-6

• Letter from Radiocommunications Agency (RA) offering 'M0' callsigns to former Class A/B holders 6 November 2001
  • On 1 October 2001 Class A/B ('M5' Prefix calls) became Class A following reduction of Class A Morse requirement to 5 WPM. On 6 November 2001 the RA offered them 'M0' callsigns

• Amateur Radio Licence (A) or (A/B) or (B) Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68 Rev 9 November 2000

• 17 August 2000 - Abolition of the requirement to be 14 or over or to have held a Novice licence for at least year before you were permitted to apply for a Full Class A or B licence External Link

• Edinburgh Gazette Notice of Class A/B licence published 23 July 1999

• Radiocommunications Agency announcement of Class A/B 15 June 1999
  • Class A/B licence available from 2 August 1999
  • Callsign prefix 'M5'
  • Required a pass in the City and Guilds Radio Amateurs Exam and a 5 WPM Morse test given by RSGB volunteers
  • Permitted 100 watts output on all HF bands and 400 watts on bands above 30 MHz
  • Reservation for M5AAA-M5AZZ callsigns were accepted from 15 June 1999

Amateur Radio Licence (A) or (B) Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68 Issue 1 Rev 0 March 1995

New frequency schedule published by DTI

Home Office - Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur Licence B

Home Office - Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur Licence A

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur (Sound Mobile) Licence A - Call sign G3xxx/M

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur (Sound) Licence B

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur (Sound) Licence B - Call sign prefix G8

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur (Sound Mobile) Licence

The Conditions of the Amateur (Sound) Licence - Appendix A

• 1954 Licence
  • The 1954 UK Amateur (Sound) Licence authorized individuals to establish and operate amateur radio transmitting and receiving stations for non-commercial, experimental purposes.
  • The licence specified technical restrictions, including permitted frequency bands, emission types, and power limits, and prohibited operation at sea, in moving vehicles, or aircraft.
  • Operators were required to use assigned call signs, follow identification procedures, and keep detailed station logs.
  • The licence allowed operation at a main address, temporary locations (for up to four weeks), or alternative premises with advance notice to authorities.
  • Only the licensee or other qualified, licensed individuals under direct supervision could operate the station.
  • The station, licence, and log were subject to inspection by Post Office officials, and the station could be ordered to close at any time.
  • The licence was valid for one year and renewable annually, but could be revoked or varied by the Postmaster-General at any time

• 1954 Amateur TV Licence
  • The 1954 UK Amateur Television (ATV) Licence allowed licensed amateur radio operators to experiment with television transmission and reception on designated frequencies.
  • It regulated technical parameters such as power limits and frequency bands to prevent interference with commercial and public broadcasts.
  • The licence supported the growth of amateur television as a hobby and technical pursuit, reflecting post-war advances in broadcasting technology and the increasing popularity of television.
  • It was issued under the framework of existing wireless telegraphy laws and required compliance with government conditions to ensure responsible use of the spectrum.

• 1946 Licence
  • The 1946 UK Amateur Wireless Licence officially permitted individuals to operate amateur radio transmitting and receiving stations under government regulation.
  • It set limits on transmitter power, frequency bands, and emission types, and banned outdated technologies like spark transmitters.
  • Operators were required to identify transmissions with assigned call signs, maintain detailed logs, and avoid causing interference with other radio services.
  • The licence allowed for government inspection of equipment and could be revoked if conditions were violated.
  • This licence reflected post-World War II efforts to regulate and modernize amateur radio, encouraging technical experimentation within a controlled and responsible framework

• 1938 Licence
  • The 1938 UK amateur radio licence was an official government document authorizing the holder to operate an amateur radio transmitting station.
  • It outlined the terms and conditions for legal operation, including permitted frequencies, power limits, and identification requirements.
  • This licence exemplified the formal regulation of amateur radio before World War II, promoting technical experimentation while ensuring responsible and controlled use of the radio spectrum.

• 1923 Constructor's Licence for a Receiving Station
  • The 1923 Constructor's Licence for a Receiving Station in the UK allowed individuals to legally build and operate their own wireless receiving equipment at home.
  • This licence was distinct from the standard broadcast receiving licence, as it specifically catered to hobbyists and experimenters who wanted to construct their own sets rather than purchase factory-made, BBC-approved receivers.
  • The licence imposed conditions to prevent interference with other stations and required compliance with technical and operational rules.
  • It reflected the growing interest in radio as a hands-on hobby and marked an important step in supporting technical experimentation by amateurs in the early days of British broadcasting.

• 1922 Wireless Broadcast Receiving Licence
  • The 1922 Wireless Broadcast Receiving Licence was introduced in the UK to permit individuals to legally own and use a radio receiver for listening to broadcasts.
  • Issued by the British Post Office, the licence cost 10 shillings per year and was required for all radio receivers, which had to be approved and marked with the BBC logo.
  • The fee helped fund the newly established British Broadcasting Company (BBC), making it possible to provide public radio broadcasts without relying on commercial advertising.
  • The licence strictly covered reception (not transmission) and came with regulations on equipment and use.

• 1907(!) Licence
  • The 1907 UK Amateur Radio Licence document is the earliest known license for amateur radio operation in the UK.
  • It was issued by the Postmaster General to regulate and permit experimental wireless telegraphy by private individuals.
  • The licence set out conditions to prevent interference with official and commercial communications and marked the formal beginning of regulated amateur radio activity in the UK