Introduction
Amateur Radio Service exists in nearly every country and utilizes the same frequencies as in Malaysia. In Malaysia, the amateur radio is regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM). To operate an amateur radio station in Malaysia, the operator must have an Amateur Radio Operator’s Certificate and an Amateur Station Apparatus Assignment (ASAA) or a foreign amateur radio licensed from countries that have a reciprocal arrangement with Malaysia. Please refer to Appendix 8 to obtain the list of countries that have a reciprocal arrangement with Malaysia.
About Amateur Radio
Amateur radio service is defined in the Communications and Multimedia (Spectrum) Regulations 2000 as “a radio communications service (covering both terrestrial and satellite) in which a station is used for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by authorized persons who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without any pecuniary interest”.
Millions of amateurs’ radios communicate daily with each other directly or through relay systems and amateur satellites. Amateur service may provide alternative for emergency communication in time of natural disasters. Radio amateur communication able to provide support communication during a disaster where commercial communications system is unavailable, due to the uncomplicated deployment of an amateur radio station.
Radio amateur has been recognized as an important part of the radio community. ITU has allocated common frequency bands for amateur radio service internationally on a sharing basis to all amateur radio stations around the globe.
Things That You Can Do With Amateur Radio
Amateur radio operators are often called “ham radio operators” or "hams". Activities that amateur radio operators can do with their radios are diverse. The following are examples of the activities carried out by hams:-
- Communicate around the world. With HF radio, hams can talk to each other at any part of the globe.
- Converse around town. With small portable VHF or UHF transceivers, hams can enjoy wireless communications within their local community.
- Help in emergencies and natural disasters situations by providing immediate communications whenever normal communications service is failed or unavailable.
- Build own radio, transmitter, receiver and antenna.
- Communicate through amateur satellites. Ham can use amateur satellites operated by the amateur community without any cost.
- Communicate with astronaut while they orbiting the earth.
- Experimental with Amateur TV (ATV), Slow-Scan TV (SSTV), or send still-frame pictures.
- Participate in “transmitter hunt games” or “Fox Hunt” or maybe build their own directional finding equipment.
- Participate in the search and rescue activities by providing communication required.
Specifically, there are few things that amateur radio operators are not allowed
to do:
- Amateur radio operators are not allowed to do anything with their radios that can generate financial income.
- Amateur radio operators are prohibited from broadcasting to the public. The amateur radio transmission is meant to be received by other amateur radio operators/stations only.
- Amateur radio services shall not be used for the expansion of business, religion and politics.
You can start you hobby in amateur radio by joining a local amateur radio club. Clubs can provide information about licensing in their respective area, local operating practices and technical advice.
In Malaysia, amateurs are required to pass an examination to demonstrate technical knowledge, operating competence and awareness of legal and regulatory requirements in order to avoid interference with other amateurs and other radio services. There are two types of exams available. Passing in the examination entitled you to apply for the Amateur Station Apparatus Assignment (ASAA) or in general you can call it as Amateur Radio License (license).
If your ASAA application is approved, SKMM will issue a call sign with “9W” or “9M” prefix depending on your eligible operating class. This call sign is unique to amateur radio operator. You must use it on the air to legally identify your amateur station during any and all radio communication. The entry level to obtain the ASAA (or in general it’s call as the Amateur License) is ASAA Class B (“9W” prefix). You must operate on Class B for at least one year before eligible to upgrade your license to Class A (“9M” prefix).
Privileges of the Amateur
In contrast to most commercial and personal radio services, radio amateur operators are not restricted to use type approved equipment, and therefore some radio amateur equipment are home constructed or modified equipment in any way, so long as they meet all the technical requirement such as its operating frequency, power level, classes of emission and the national and international standards on spurious emissions.
SKMM has published an Authorization Notice pursuant to Regulation 16(2) of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 to authorise a person who holds an Amateur Station Apparatus Assignment (ASAA) for either Class A or Class B, to import and use any amateur radio equipment listed in the notice without need to obtain Type Approved or Compliance Certificates from SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd (SQASI).Importation of amateur radio equipment listed in the notice only requires an Import Permit from SQASI. You can obtain the notice from our official website at www.skmm.gov.my.
For amateur radio equipment which is not included in the notice, importation of such equipment is subjected to Certification or Type Approval (compliance approval). The equipment must have a proper certificate or compliance approval issued by SQASI before it is eligible to be considered for the issuance of its import permit. To be certified, the equipment must comply with all of the requirements stated in the Technical Specifications for Amateur Radio Equipment (Document SKMM WTS ARE, Rev. 1.01:2007) which is also available on our official website.
Amateurs who wish to include other amateur radio equipment in addition to those listed in the current notice may submit printed copies of the amateur radio equipment brochures/catalogues with detail technical specifications such as but not limited to its frequency ranges, output power, emission mode, modulation type, frequency stability, spurious emission and receiver sensitivity to SKMM. Please send your submission to the Director of the Industry Development and Standards Division. Only equipment that complies with the technical specification will be approved.
Spectrum Plan and Frequency Allocations
In Malaysia, SKMM has the overall responsibility for managing radio frequency spectrum under the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA98). Among other responsibilities of the SKMM include the task of developing a spectrum plan in respect of all or any part of the spectrum. TheCMA98, as the main legislation which regulates the communications and multimedia industries, also sets out the national policy objectives for the development of the communications industries.
The Spectrum Plan will provide a guide on how the spectrum is currently used and how the SKMM plans to develop it further in the near future. The technological convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology means that management of the spectrum has become an even more complex issue. The main challenge is how SKMM are to manage this finite resource in the best manner possible and to ensure that it is utilised efficiently to fulfil the society’s needs and the demands of the technology.
More details on the Spectrum Plan are available at SKMM official website for free access and download.
Band Plan
In general, a band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on in those channels.
A band plan with regards to Amateur Radio service in Malaysia is voluntary plans established by SKMM to manage the use of a particular radio frequency band assigned (sharing basis) for amateur radio services, to be use in harmonize among all of the amateurs. It defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are arranged and what will be carried on those channels. The band plan is designed to maximize the utilization, minimize interference and optimize the usage of the band. In short, band plan is a better way to organize the use of allocated bands efficiently.
Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP)
SKMM has also developed a series of documents that is part of the spectrum plan to provide guidance on efficient spectrum usage namely Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP). It is designed to provide information on the minimum requirements in the use of the frequency band as described in the Spectrum Plan. It provides information on technical characteristics of radio systems, channelling of frequencies and coordination initiatives.
For example the SRSP “MCMC SRSP 536 AS” states the requirements for the utilization of the frequency band 144 MHz to 148 MHz for Amateur Service in Malaysia.This SRSP covers the minimum key characteristics considered necessary in order to make the best use of the available frequencies. You can access and download the document from our official website. Sample Band Plan for the above band is shown on Appendix 13.
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