Question For UK/Canadian Hams re GOTA/TDOTA

[VA7HYD]

I've got a question for the UK and Canadian hams out there...

I've been approached by a Girl Guide troop about them using my station to participate in the GOTA/TDOTA in Feb this year.

I thought it might be prudent to review third party regulations prior to agreeing as they would like to try and contact Guides in the UK.

The only applicable Canadian regulation I can find comes from RIC-3, "...Any foreign administration may permit its amateur stations to communicate on behalf of third parties without having to enter into any special arrangements with Canada.

Canada does not prohibit international communications on behalf of third parties.

So... can any UK hams shed some light on the UK regulations regarding third party comms with Canada?

Thanks and 73

VA7HYD


 

[PA3GVQ]

I am not sure but UK stations ask for a special callsign for the TDOTA. As I know the RA in the UK gives there OK for 3rd party traffic during JOTA and TDOTA.

We got the same in Holland with the JOTA. Hope to hear you in 3 weekends from Holland.

Edwin PA3GVQ
Scouting Netherlands

[VA7HYD]

Thanks. That's pretty much in-line with feedback I've received in other forums. So.... we hope to be on the air from 16-20 Z on the 17th.

73
VA7HYD

[PHILIP_EX_KC7FWB]

I don't think UK amateurs can pass third party messages, and don't seem to be able to allow non- amateurs to speak.

From the current UK license:

3. Operators and qualifications
3(1) Subject to Clauses 1(2), 3(2) and 3(3), the Licensee shall ensure that the Radio Equipment shall only be operated by the Licensee personally and by no other persons.
3(2) The Licensee may permit the operation of the Radio Equipment by a person who holds a current United Kingdom Amateur Radio Licence provided that any such operation of the Radio Equipment is carried out in the presence of and under the direct supervision of the Licensee and that such persons are made aware of, and of the requirement to comply with, the terms, conditions and limitations of this Licence.

...

11 Messages
11(1) The Licensee shall be permitted to use the Radio Equipment to discuss any topics of mutual interest with other Amateurs, and to seek to receive and impart any information and any ideas7.

11(2) The Licensee shall only address Messages to other Amateurs or to the stations of those Amateurs and shall not encrypt these Messages for the purpose of rendering the Message unintelligible to other radio spectrum users.

[PHILIP_EX_KC7FWB]

Continued from above -- not mentioned in the license, I did find this:

What is a special event call sign, and when and how can I obtain one?

This type of call sign (using the special "GB" prefix) is administered on our behalf by the RSGB using Notices of Variation (NoVs). Special event stations permit the amateur to pass third party messages from unlicensed people. Such messages must not be longer than five minutes and the station must remain under the direct control of the licensed amateur who obtained the NoV. Using these NoVs, the RSGB is able to provide a service to radio amateurs, which is intended to promote the amateur service in the public eye. Each NoV is valid for 28 days only. These special call signs are not available for Intermediate or Foundation licensees.

[VA7HYD]

Thanks for the info... as it turns out because of time differences (8hrs)to the UK and poor band conditions we only ended up talking to one Canadian group on HF and a bunch on UHF via IRLP... although we did talk to a scout master in Curacao (on IRLP) which the girls were pretty excited about once I showed them where Curacao was on the globe.

They were also quite pleased to receive QSL cards in the mail and had great fun showing them all off to the rest of the troop.