General RadioTelephone license

[Moleculo]

Anyone know about this...what it's useful for, why someone would want one, and where you would test for it?

 

[nightrider]

?????????? what is it mole ??

 

[CDX8412]

You would need a GROL to maintain certain maritime and aeronautical radios. The average person would not need to hold this license.
You can find out more about it here
W5YI.org

 

[Happy_Hamer]

I am studying for it so I can be an examiner, thye charge $50 bucks in my area to take the test and unlike amateur radio, the examiner can keep the $$$$ for giving the test

 

[Beetle]

The GROL (General Radio Operator's License) is what used to be the First Class Radiotelephone Operator's License ("First Phone", as it was usually abbreviated). There were originally three classes: First, Second and Third, and there were also three classes of Radiotelegraph Operator's Licenses, also First, Second and Third.

Time was, up through the 70s or so, the FCC required every commercial radio and TV broadcasting station to have at least one "First Phone" licensee actually at the station any time the station was on the air. He was in charge of transmitter frequency, bandwidth, modulation percentage and such things. The folks who worked directly under him usually held Second Class Radiotelephone ("Second Phone") licenses, and the folks at the microphones usually held "Third Phones".

The First Phone tests were TOUGH. They were like the Amateur Extra tests in the 1960s, but with about three times the number of questions. The tests for the Radiotelegraph licenses were killers, too. They were aimed more at shipboard operating, and they had Morse code requirements: 25 groups per minute for the First Telegraph (random five-letter groups). Ships needed licensed Radiotelegraph operators aboard before they could cast off lines and get underway.

Both the phone and the telegraph licenses could be "endorsed" for Shipboard Radar and for Aviation Systems. With a First Phone and both of these endorsements, you could pretty much write your own ticket.

I had both a First Phone and First Telegraph in 1965, and the license certificates are still on my wall even though they've been expired for years because they aren't issued any more. Just the "GROL". I have one of them also, but somehow the "glitz" is gone.

Sorry for the long post, but I've been reminiscing!

 

[Moleculo]

Cool info. I noticed after some searching around that only a GROL is authorized to repair CB radios. Are the tests still as difficult as they used to be, or is it pretty much the same as some of the amateur tests?

 

[Beetle]

Moleculo - you want GROL practice tests?

Google it >grol practice tests<

First thing that comes up is the FCC's own website, with sample tests for just about everything non-amateur. For the GROL, concentrate on Element 3 (again, this is NOT related to the ham Element 3).

Have fun!

 

[C2]

Once I had a discussion about who was actually authorized to repair CBs?

So you DO need a GROL?

The end result of our discussion let to some statement that said that it had to be someone authorized by a committee of one's peers. So our group unanimously authorized me to do so.

Just curious where it actually states the requirement?

It is interesting because for years I worked as an RF tech and calibration specialist. I would test, calibrate, and repair sweep frequency synthesizers (amongst a whole host of other related RF/microwave test and measurement equipment) and issue certificates of calibration (Z540), much of which is used by calibration labs, our military, the communications industry, the cell phone industry, etc...but I can't legally mechanic on a CB radio?

 

[AudioShockwav]

So far this is what I got, but I will dig some more.



Snip

RULE 24 - Service to Transmitters and Antennas {A} You may adjust an antenna to your CB transmitter and you may make radio checks (One-way transmissions for a short time in order to test the transmitter).
{B} Each internal repair and each internal adjustment to your FCC type-accepted CB transmitter must be made BY or under the DIRECT SUPERVISION of a person licensed by the FCC as a GENERAL RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR.
{C} Except as provided in paragraph D below in this section, each internal repair and each internal adjustment of a CB transmitter in which signals are transmitted must be made using a NON-RADIATING antenna (Dummy Load).
{D} Brief test signals (signals not longer than one minute during any five minute period) using a radiating antenna may be transmitted in order to:
[1] adjust an antenna to a transmitter;
[2] detect or measure radiation of energy other than the intended signal;
or
[3] tune a receiver to your CB transmitter.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Part 95 - Subpart D - Rules for CB Service
Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service






/Snip

Our thanks to Rob Bellview for preparing this
in html format for publishing on the web.


73
Jeff

 

[C2]

I took the tests, 58% on element 1 and 72% on element 3.