Why this ORIENTATION -

SEMINAR ?

ü Required by law prior to

allowing individuals to take
Amateur Radio examination
ü To introduce participants to the
world of Amateur Radio
MINISTRY CIRCULAR NO. 87-174

Pursuant to the provisions of the Radio

Control Law, Act 3846 which was
enacted November 11, 1931 as amended
by Commonwealth Act no. 571 and no.
546, the following rules and regulations
governing the Amateur Radio Service to
be known as the Revised Amateur Radio
Regulations, are hereby promulgated.
 WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO?
Amateur radio (also called ham radio) is the use of designated radio
frequency spectra for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial
exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and
emergency communication. The term “amateur” is used to specify persons
interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without direct
monetary or other similar reward. Amateur comes from the latin word
Amatore means for the love of.

To simplify:
It’s called “Amateur” because it is not being done for commercial
or professional (i.e. as part of a job) purposes, but rather for personal and
unpaid use.
Talking on the radio is but one of the many ways to enjoy this hobby.
Amateur Radio is both a hobby and a public service.
We’re here to get in touch with friends, make new ones, help out when
needed, but most importantly: to HAVE FUN!
 THE AMATEUR’S CODE
The Amateur is Gentlemanly…
He never knowingly uses the air for his own amusement in such a way to lessen the pleasure of
others.
The Amateur is Loyal…
Offering loyalty, encouragement, and support to fellow radio amateurs, local clubs and to the
Philippine Amateur Radio Association through which Amateur Radio is represented in the
Philippines.
The Amateur is Progressive…
He keeps his station abreast of science. It is built well and efficiently. His operating practice is clean
and regular.
The Amateur is Friendly…
Slow and patient sending when requested, giving friendly advice and counsel to the beginner,
kindly assistance and cooperation for the broadcast listener; these are marks of the amateur spirit.
The Amateur is Balanced…
Radio is a hobby. He never allows it to interfere with any of the duties he owes to his home, his job,
his school, or his community.
The Amateur in practice is Patriotic…
His knowledge and his station are always ready for the service of his country and his community.
Amateur ACTIVITIES
 Self-training
 “Homebrewing” - constructing
one’s equipment
 Actual radio operations:
§ Voice
§ Data/Digital

§ Satellite

§ Earth-Moon-Earth
 Amateur ACTIVITIES
 DX-ing/Awards hunting

 Contests & DX-peditions

 Experimentation

 Amateur Radio Emergency Service

 Camaraderie among fellow

amateurs not only within the club
AMATEUR RADIO EXAMINATION
Every amateur must thoroughly understand his responsibility to
develop the skills that are needed to operate his radio station
properly. The examination to be taken by a prospective amateur or
an upgrading amateur shall determine whether he is qualified for
the privileges conveyed by a license or certificate.
1. Submission of Application for Amateur Examination—Applicants
for amateur examinations must submit the appropriate application
forms to the NTC.
2. General Qualifications for Examinees – An applicant for
examination must possess the following general qualifications:
2.1 A citizen of the Philippine or a citizen of other countries
that provide the same privilege extended to Filipino nationals in
their country as far as examination is concerned.
2.2 At least twelve (12) years old for Class A, B and C. For
Class D, the minimum age shall be nine (9) years old provided
there is an affidavit of parental consent.
2.3 Ability to transmit and/or receive messages either in
Filipino, English, or any of the Philippine languages.
AMATEUR RADIO EXAMINATION
Examination Coverage – The examination shall cover the
rules, procedures and technical materials that an amateur will
need to know in order to operate a station properly. The
examination for amateurs shall cover the following general
subjects:
1. Element I - Morse Code
2. Element II - Rules and Regulations
3. Element III - Fundamentals of Electronics and Electricity
4. Element IV - Amateur Radio Practice
5. Element V - Signals, Frequencies and Emission
6. Element VI - Circuit Components
7. Element VII - Operating Procedures
8. Element VIII - Practical Circuits
9. Element IX - Antenna and Transmission Lines
10. Element X - Radio Wave Propagation
Legend: Class D Element 2 only; Class C; Class B; Class A
 NTC Examination for Amateurs
For Filipino Applicants

1. Photocopy of any documents such as birth certificate, voter's I.D, passport, PRC license,
driver's license which can show proof of age and citizenship (note: to present original)
2. Copy of any of the following for those taking the exams directly to Amateur Class B, PRC I.D,
BSECE College Diploma, 1 RTG, 2 RTG or 1 PHN NTC Certificates.
3. Proof of attendance to an orientation seminar conducted by NTC accredited amateur club
(MC No. 06-07-97 dated 30 July 1997)
4. Two (2) copies of recent (taken within six months from the date of application) 1"x1" I.D
picture
5. Two (2) pieces self-addressed stamped envelopes (long, white)
6. Payment of examination fee - P 50.00

For Non Filipino Applicants

1. Certification of Good Moral Character from concerned embassy

2. Two (2) copies of recent (taken within six months from date of application) 1"x1" I.D picture
3. Two (2) pieces self-addressed stamped envelopes
4. Payment of examination fee - P 50.00
 TO PASS THE EXAM
• WRITTEN EXAM (Elements 2,3,4)
– One must obtain an average
rating of 70% provided that a
rating of not less than 50 % is
received for any of the prescribed
elements.
• No MORSE CODE test for Class B, C,
and D
CLASSES OF AMATEURS IN THE PHILIPPINES

DIFFERENT CLASSES ELEMENTS CLASS

Class A – Advance or Extra Class 1, 8, 9 and 10 DU, 4F
5 words per minute CW

Class B – General Class 5, 6 and 7 DV

Class C – Technician Class 2, 3 and 4 DW

Class D – Novice Class 2 only DY

 Scope of Examination to pass
Class D

• Element 2 – Rules and Regulations

Scope of Examination for Class C

• Element 2 – Rules and Regulations

• Element 3 – Fundamentals of
Electronics and Electricity

• Element 4 - Amateur Radio Practice

 Special Candidates
1. Registered ECE
2. Commercial First / Second Class
RadioTelegraph Operator
3. Commercial First Class
RadioTelephone Operator
o Submit proof
o Take Element 2 exam
o Direct Class B
 Radio Station License (RSL)
 An amateur Radio Station License (RSL), together
with a call sign, is issued to an individual who has
passed the corresponding exam at the National
Telecommunications Commission, and has existing
radio equipment.
 A Radio Operator Certificate (ROC), together with
a call sign is issued to an individual who has passed
the exam, but has no radio equipment.
 Licenses are effective up to 3 years, and at the age
of 60, a licensed amateur may avail of a lifetime
license if he has been a Class A operator for at least
15 years.
 License Class
 Class A (Extra Class) – has the highest privileges of all amateur licenses in the Philippines.
Class A license holders are issued the call prefixes 4F or DU, and are able to legally operate
at ALL bands prescribed by the National Telecommunications Commission. The applicant is
required to pass a five word per minute (5WPM) morse code test, and Elements 8, 9, 10 of the
written exam.
 Class B (General Class) - has the second highest privileges of all amateur licenses in the
Philippines. Class B license holders are issued the call prefix DV, and are able to legally
operate at MOST bands prescribed by the National Telecommunications Commission. The
applicant is required to pass Elements 5, 6, 7 of the written exam.
 Class C (Technician Class) - Class C license holders are issued the call prefix DW, and are
able to legally operate at SOME bands prescribed by the National Telecommunications
Commission. The applicant is required to pass Elements 2, 3, 4 of the written exam.
 Class D (Foundation Class) - Class D license holders are issued the call prefix DY, and are
able to legally operate at the VHF Band (144-146MHz),as prescribed by the National
Telecommunications Commission. The applicant is required to pass Element 2 of the written
exam.
 Amateur Radio Operator License Examination
 All amateur radio operators must thoroughly understand their responsibility to develop the
skills that are needed to operate their station properly. The examination to be taken by an
amateur radio operator will determine if they are qualified for the privileges provided by an
Amateur Radio License.
Prefix for Amateur Radio Operators in the Philippines

Class A DU, 4F
Class B DV
Class C DW
Class D DY
Club Station DX
Special Event DZ
Radio Station License (RSL) of DW7NGW
CALLSIGN : The need to identify

§ It serves as the name of the

station

§ Call signs are from the ITU

listings

§ For the Philippines -

4DA – 4IZ , DUA - DZZ
AA/AL United States of America MA/MZ Great Britain
PREFIX FOR COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD
A6 United Arab Emirates NA/NZ United States of America
BA/BZ China P2 Papua New Guinea
CA/CE Chile S6 Singapore
CF/CK Canada VH/VN Australia
DA/DR Germany 4Z Israel
DU/DZ Philippines V8 Brunei
HL South Korea XV Vietnam
HM North Korea XY Myanmar
HS Thailand ZR/ZV South Africa
UA/UI Russia 4P/4S Sri Lanka
VT/VW India 4U United Nations
GA Great Britain 9M Malaysia
JA/JS Japan 9U Burundi
JY Jordan 9V Singapore
JZ Indonesia 9VV Malaysia
KA/KZ United States of America
 Club Station Call Sign

Club Prefix (Philippines)

HAM RADIO CEBU, INC.

Suffix supplied by NTC

 Personal Call Sign

Class “C” (Philippines)

District 7
Suffix MYK given by NTC
 Posting of Callsign
The call sign of a fixed amateur
station with characters at least
10 cm high shall be posted at
the entrance to the premises
where the fixed station is
located.
 Posting of Callsign
In the case of a mobile station,
the call sign with characters
at least 5.08 cm shall be
posted on the windshield of a
vehicle or vessel.
 Posting of Callsign
In the case of a portable
radio, the call sign with
characters at least 0.635 cm
shall be posted on the
equipment itself.
Posting of Callsign
 RF Power Output Privileges

CLASS D
50 Watts VHF fixed, 10 watts mobile or
portable, can operate on a two meter
vhf band 144.00 mhz to 146.00 mhz.
 RF Power Output Privileges

CLASS C
• HF fixed w/ 100 W maximum RF Power
on CW

• 200W PEP on SSBSC

• 100 Watts VHF fixed, mobile or portable

 RF Power Output Privileges

CLASS B
• HF fixed w/ 500 W maximum RF Power
on CW

• 1KW PEP on SSBSC,

• VHF/UHF fixed, mobile or portable,

state-of-the-art
 RF Power Output Privileges

CLASS A
• HF fixed or mobile, 1KW maximum RF
Power on CW

• 2 KW PEP on SSBSC,

• VHF/UHF fixed, mobile or portable,

state-of-the-art
Ø Reason why the
Philippines is
using Districts
not Regions.
Ø Philippines is
under IARU Reg
Ø The Philippines is
under IARU region 3

Ø Governed by the
National
Telecommunications
Commission (NTC)

Ø The Philippines is
divided into NINE (9)
amateur radio
districts
Ø District 1
§ NCR
§ Region 4 - CALABARZON
§ Region 4 B - MIMAROPA

Ø District 2
§ Region 1 - ILOCOS
§ Region 2 – CAGAYAN VALLEY
§ CAR

Ø District 3
§ Region 3 – CENTRAL LUZON
Ø District 4
§ Region 5 - BICOL

Ø District 5
§ Region 8 – EASTERN
VISAYAS

Ø District 6
§ Region 6 – WESTERN
VISAYAS
Ø District 7
§ Region 7 – CENTRAL
VISAYAS

Ø District 8
§ Region 9 – ZAMBOANGA
PENINSULA
§ Region 12 - SOCSARGEN

Ø District 9
§ Region 10 – NORTHERN
MINDANAO
§ Region 11 – DAVAO
§ Region 13 – CARAGA
§ ARMM
 Club Station
Registered with Securities and Exchange
Commission

Minimum of 25 licensed members – NTC

15 licensed members - PARA

Supervised by a TRUSTEE

MOA with NTC

 Club Trustee
 Class A amateur who is operating
his own station for at least five
(5) years
Duly appointed by the board of a
club or association to supervise
and control the proper use and
operation of the fixed station of
the club
Philippine Amateur Radio Association, Inc.

Under Section 1.4 of MC 87-174 of the

(PARA)
NTC there shall only be one recognized
national amateur radio organization or
society which may represent the
Philippine amateurs in all conferences,
either local or international
Affiliation of a club requires at
least 15 licensed members
 Emergency Frequency
145.000 MHz ± 25kHz

All transmissions should be kept to a

minimum and shall not exceed one minute.

Except for a station in distress, a

station should listen for a reasonable
period to make sure there are no
distress traffic being sent.
 Emergency Call
Any amateur station in the frequency
which has knowledge of the distress
traffic and which cannot itself assist the
station in distress is forbidden to
transmit on the frequency in which the
distress traffic is taking place, until such
station receives the message indicating
that normal working may be resumed.
 Emergency Call
Distress signal MAYDAY/Break

The name, or other identification

spoken three (3) times

Particulars of location
of the mobile station in distress

Nature of distress and kind of

Any other information which might

assistance needed

facilitate the rescue

 Emergency Call (Example)
Break Break Break
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
This is 4F7MHZ
QTH is SAN MIGUEL BREWERY COMPLEX,
MC BRIONES ST. NATIONAL HIGHWAY,
MANDAUE CITY
There is an explosion at the main lobby,
3 hurt.
Please call the police and send an ambulance.
 Use of BREAK
 Break – join an ongoing conversation
 Break Break – priority traffic; urgency
 Break Break Break – extreme emergencies;
matter of life and death; all stations should
standby and listen
In joining a conversation
Always listen first, before calling a station or
CQ.

“Break” with your call sign during the

pause of a conversation

It is also allowable to join only with Break,

but including the call sign saves time
because other users need not ask for your
identification
Joining a Conversation
Within the same district -
Break DW7MYK or
Break DW7MYK mobile or portable

Within a different district from your prefix

Break DW7MYK stroke 2 or
Break DW7MYK mobile or portable 3
 Calling a station
• Make a maximum of three calls to make
sure that the person is on stand by or not.

• Wait for 5 minutes before making the

next call.

• Make your call as short as possible.

• Each club has its own calling or working

frequency.
 Calling a station
DX7CA DX7HAM
or
DX3AA DW7MYK Stroke 3
or
DW7MTJ Mobile DW7MYK Mobile
or
DW7NGW DW7NGW Mobile
 RSL Renewal
Late renewal of licenses expired
for more than 2 years but less
than 5 years shall pay 100% of the
annual fee for every year that the
license has expired and 50% for a
fraction of a year.

The applicant will receive a

different call sign.
 RSL Renewal
Late renewal of an expired license
for more than 5 years will require
the licensee to pass an exam.

The applicant will receive a

different call sign.
PENAL PROvISIONS (INdIvIdUAL)
 Section 12. Any person who shall violate any
mandatory or prohibitory provision of this
Act, or any mandatory or prohibitory
provision of the regulations prescribed by
the NTC under this Act, or any mandatory or
prohibitory provision of the International
Radio Regulations, upon conviction thereof
by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall
be punished by a fine of not more than two
thousand pesos (P 2,000.00) or by
imprisonment for not more than two (2) years
or both, for each and every offense.
PENAL PROvISIONS (CORPORATION)

 Section 13. Any firm, company, corporation

or association failing or refusing to
observe or violating any provision of this
Act, or any provision of the International
Radio Regulation, shall be punished by a
fine of not more than five thousand pesos
(P 5,000.00) pesos for each and every
offense.
 Proof of Amateur Activities
1. DXing – log extracts, QSL cards, DX Awards

2. Technical Experimentation – documented propagation tests

& exploration, electronic innovations, homebrewing of
equipment and accessories

3. Emergency Communications – certificates, commendation

letters, pictures, etc., ARES participation

4. Active Membership in an Amateur Radio Club

5. Field Expedition
 Portable/Mobile Operation
Portable operation must not last more than one
(1) month in any area outside the licensee’s
district.

Continued operation requires a specific authority.

If the operation exceeds four (4) months in a

location, a modification of the station license
must be applied for.
Portable/Mobile Operation

The licensee shall make available the

portable/mobile equipment of the
station for inspection upon request of
the NTC or its authorized representative.
 Portable/Mobile Operation
The licensee of a portable or mobile station
may communicate with his own fixed station
provided that said fixed station is manned by
another duly licensed amateur operator and
identified with the use of the authorized call
sign of that fixed station.
 Field Operation

Any amateur desiring to operate his

radio station for a special field trip or
DXpedition shall submit a written
request to the NTC to obtain a
temporary permit to operate the
station for the duration of the event.
 üAlways keep a LOGBOOK
TIME CALL HIS MY QTH NAME FREQ MODE DATE REMARKS

1712 Z or UTC S51AP 539 559 IVAN 14.011 CW 8-Apr-99

1739 Z or UTC T88CW 599 599 14.027 CW 8-Apr-99
1754 Z or UTC UN7VX 519 559 14.014 CW 8-Apr-99
1800 Z or UTC 9A3TG 549 569 CLOATEO DADO 14.016 CW 8-Apr-99
1806 Z or UTC RV9WB 519 559 ANDY 14.016 CW 8-Apr-99
1515 Z or UTC 9V1GYL 55 57 SINGAPORE VINCE 14.280 USB 10-Apr-99 QSB/QRM
1543 Z or UTC KH0HE 59 55 SAIPAN HERMIE 14.277 USB
1508 Z or UTC LY8X 599 599 14.007 CW 11-Apr-99 CONTEST
1639 Z or UTC JS4UYB 599 599 14.004 CW
1649 Z or UTC JA5APU 599 599 14.006 CW
1654 Z or UTC EV6M 599 599 14.005 CW
1703 Z or UTC GB0GLD 599 599 14.009 CW DX ONLY
1300 Z or UTC 3B8FG 599 599 14.015 CW 12-Apr-99
1639 Z or UTC K6BF 55 53 CALIFORNIA 14.277 USB 16-Apr-99

o Log sheets must be o Time should be

kept for at least 2 years. recorded in UTC
o Logs with EMERGENCY (Universal Time
entries must be kept Coordinated)
for at least 5 years.
Temps Universel Coordonné or UTC

• All log book entries must be in UTC

• +8 hour difference from Manila Time

• Represented by a suffix Z or UTC

Example: 01:00 A.M is 1700Z or UTC

 UTC (Z) - Coordinated Universal Time
UTC Local Time UTC Local Time
0000 UTC 8:00 A.M. 1200 UTC 8:00 P.M.

0100 UTC 9:00 A.M. 1300 UTC 9:00 P.M.

0200 UTC 10:00 A.M. 1400 UTC 10:00 P.M.

0300 UTC 11:00 A.M. 1500 UTC 11:00 P.M.

0400 UTC 12:00 noon 1600 UTC 12:00 midnight

0500 UTC 1:00 P.M. 1700 UTC 1:00 A.M.

0600 UTC 2:00 P.M. 1800 UTC 2:00 A.M.

0700 UTC 3:00 P.M. 1900 UTC 3:00 A.M.

0800 UTC 4:00 P.M. 2000 UTC 4:00 A.M.

0900 UTC 5:00 P.M. 2100 UTC 5:00 A.M.

1000 UTC 6:00 P.M. 2200 UTC 6:00 A.M.

1100 UTC 7:00 P.M. 2300 UTC 7:00 A.M.

2400 UTC 8:00 A.M.

The RST Signal Reporting System
Readability (R)
1 – unreadable
2 – barely readable occasional words distinguished
3 – readable with considerable difficulties
4 – readable with practically no difficulty
5 – perfectly readable

Strength (S) Tone (T)

1 – faint, signal barely perceptible 1 – extremely rough, hissing signal
2 – very weak 2 – very rough AC signal
3 – weak signal 3 – rough, low pitched AC signal
4 – fair signal 4 – rather rough AC signal
5 – fairly good signal 5 – musically modulated signal
6 – good signal 6 – modulated signal, slight whistle
7 – moderately strong signal 7 – near DC signal, smooth ripple
8 – strong signal 8 – good DC signal, traces of ripple
9 – extremely strong signal 9 – purest DC signal
 Radio Signals
Signal Telephony Telegraphy
Distress Mayday SOS
Urgency/Priority PAN XXX
Safety Securite TTT
Amateur Frequency Bands

160 meters HF 1800 to 2000 kHz

80 meters HF 3500 to 4000 kHz
40 meters HF 7000 to 7100 kHz
20 meters HF 14000 to 14350 kHz
15 meters HF 21000 to 21450 kHz
10 meters HF 28000 to 29700 kHz
2 meters VHF 144 to 146 MHz
70 centimeters UHF 430 to 440 MHz
Q Codes- prevent language barrier
 HAMSPEAK
Morse Code Abbreviation
DE – from, this is
CQ – calling any/all station
DX – distant country
OM – old man, ham operator
YL – young lady, lady ham operator
XYL – wife
WX - weather
73 – regards
88 – hugs / kisses
 HAMSPEAK

Morse Code Abbreviation

CW – continuous wave; Morse code
DR – dear
TX – transmit / transmitter
RX – receive / receiver
Phonetic Alphabet – prevents spelling barrier
 Some procedural errors
• use of Break when there is NO ongoing
conversation
• use of “short break” or “interruption break”
• not saying the complete callsign
• excessive use of Q-codes instead of plain
language (on 2m FM mode)
• use of 73 or 88 with an “s”
• use of “radio check” instead of “signal
check”
• use of CB lingos like MamaBear
(teddybears), SquareT, 10-codes, pencil
area, pencil pushing, Big Tango, Big Sierra,
good buddy and other unacceptable
expressions
QSL CARD
 Ham Radio Cebu, Inc.
Copyright © 2008 No reproduction or modifications may be made without the express permission of the owner.