Radio amateur classes
Bulgarian radio amateurs, depending on their theoretical and practical training, are classified into two radio amateur classes:
- Class 1 – equivalent to CERT license;
- Class 2 – national class.
Persons exercising only amateur radio listening activity are radio amateur listeners and receive a listener number, not an initial, as an identification sign.
The differences in the rights and obligations of the individual classes are regulated in the “Rules”.
What is a radio amateur license?
A ham license for hams is like a driver’s license for drivers. It certifies the legal capacity of a citizen who is an adult or has reached the age of 14 with the permission of a guardian to be a radio amateur. It is issued after passing an exam.
For the necessary knowledge and skills, as well as for the dates of the next exam for radio amateurs, those interested can search on the CRC website (http://www.crc.bg / ).
With the acquisition of this legal capacity, the radio amateur receives certain rights and obligations regulated in the “Rules”.
Certain administrative fees are due for taking the radio amateur exam and obtaining the license. For obtaining and using an identification mark, the radio amateur or the club does not owe additional fees. A good solution is that with the issuance of a radio amateur license, the radio amateur should also receive an identification mark (initial, call sign).
Procedure for issuing a radio amateur license
To take an exam for obtaining the license of a radio amateur; to provide an identification mark for use; for the issuance of documents in a foreign language (HAREC and/or CEPT), as well as for the reissuance of a radio amateur license, the applicant submits an application to the KRS according to a form published on the commission’s website.
The application contains:
- identification data of the applicant;
- data for desired identification mark (initial, call sign);
- data on the held radio amateur license (if one has already been issued);
- data for owned amateur radio station (required when providing for the use of an identification mark);
- data for a person in charge of a radio club (repeater) (required when providing an identification mark).
The following are attached to the application for natural persons:
- a copy of the individual’s amateur radio license or Harmonized Amateur Radio Certificate (HAREC);
- photograph (required for the preparation of the radio amateur license);
- written consent of guardian (required for persons aged 14 to 18);
- copy of fee paid document;
The following apply to the application for legal entities and natural persons – sole traders:
- a document from the legal entity indicating a designated person in charge of the radio club;
- a copy of the radio club manager’s amateur license (required for a radio club).
When assigning personal listener marks to amateur radio listeners and temporary identification marks, a written request containing only the applicant’s identification data is submitted to the KRS.
All documents are submitted in Bulgarian in two copies.
Persons wishing to issue documents in a foreign language (HAREC and/or CEPT) additionally fill in the three names and addresses from the identification data in Latin.
Within 30 days of the successful passing of the exam for the acquisition of legal capacity of a radio amateur, the commission issues a permit for the acquisition of legal capacity of the radio amateur.
In the case of a stated wish by the radio amateur, the commission provides him with a letter to use an identification mark (initial, call sign).
The Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) issues a radio amateur license for the relevant radio amateur class and/or a Harmonized Radio Amateur Certificate (HAREC) under CERT Recommendation T/R 61-02 after successfully passing an exam on:
- electrical and radio engineering;
- codes and amateur radio abbreviations, rules and procedures for making amateur radio connections;
- regulations – ITU Radio Regulations, Electronic Communications Act and Regulations for the Use of Radio Frequency Spectrum for Radio Equipment by the Amateur Radio Service.
The exam is written and conducted on a test basis according to a program corresponding to Recommendation T/R 61-02 of the CEPT and approved by the chairman of the commission.
Each test contains 60 questions and is approved by the chairman of the committee.
The exam is considered successfully passed if the candidate has correctly answered no less than 48 questions.
Radio amateurs upgrade their qualifications starting with Class 2. A condition for applying for Class 1 is to hold a Class 2 Amateur Rating Permit for at least six months from the date of the exam.
The examinations are conducted by a committee appointed by the chairman of the committee.
The examination committee has the following composition:
- two representatives of the CRS, one of whom is the chairman of the commission;
- one member – a radio amateur with a radio amateur license – class 1.
Candidates for taking an exam submit an application for taking an exam to the CRC no later than 2 days before the announced date of the exam, paying the specified fee.
The exams are held according to the schedule and at the places determined by the chairman of the committee.
For the results of the exam, the commission draws up a protocol, which is approved by the chairman of the commission.
The written papers of the examination are stored in the CRC for one year.
For the issuance of a duplicate license, the radio amateur submits a written request to the chairman of the commission and submits one photograph and a copy of a receipt for the fee paid.
