GeneralG1B07
What are the restrictions on the use of abbreviations or procedural signals in the amateur service?
B
Answer
General class rules and operating privileges
Type
A
Only “Q” signals are permitted
B
They may be used if they do not obscure the meaning of a message
C
They are not permitted
D
They are limited to those expressly listed in Part 97 of the FCC rules
Answer Notes
The FCC strictly prohibits the use of codes or ciphers intended to obscure the meaning of a message. However, standard abbreviations and procedural signals are perfectly legal and highly encouraged for efficiency, especially in CW (Morse code) and digital modes.
As long as an abbreviation is generally understood and not used as a secret code to hide the contents of a transmission, it is permitted. There is no official FCC list of allowed abbreviations, nor are operators restricted to using only 'Q' signals.
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When is it permissible to communicate with amateur stations in countries outside the areas administered by the Federal Communications Commission?