ASOC Application & Exam Preparation Guidelines
ASOC Application & Exam Preparation Guidelines
ASOC Application & Exam Preparation Guidelines
Any Indian citizen above 12 years of age can appear for the ASOC Restricted Grade
examination.
1) Please fill the online form below with great care as this data will be sent to
monitoring station along with your application form.
2) Have all the data ready before attempting to fill the form.
3) The data filled here and that in the application form should match 100%.
4) Fill the State Code using the below table
4. Ensure you have attached two pass port size photo graphs (3 X 4 cm size) which is
a. signed in the front bottom half of the photo,
b. Name written on back of photo and
c. enclosed in a small transparent plastic cover.
d. ONLY PROPER PHOTO’s, NO CUT COLOR XEROX OF PHOTOS ACCEPTED
5. Ensure you have attached four Copies of Personal Details of Applicant.
a. Filled with the same data as the main application form
b. Signed individually (DONOT print one form, sign and take 3 photocopies)
c. See sample personal particular form for filling instructions to various column.
6. One self addressed, un-stamped envelope of size 27 × 12 Cms for correspondence
7. 2 copies of Result sheet with name and address and filled in to be attached
8. Print and use the ASOC Application Check List to ensure you have completed all that
needs to be done. After completion, ask another person to independently verify the
application with this check list and sample forms
9. If the applicant is between 12 to 18 years of age, a No Objection Certificate from
Parent/Guardian/Head of Institution is to be included. Print fill and attach the Use
Undertaking.doc attachment to your application form
10. Applicants holding degree in Engineering Science or Diploma in Engineering and having
studied electronics or telecommunications shall be exempted from appearing in Section A
of Part 1 of the test.
a. In effect, only those with BE/ME - Electronics & Communication Engineering
(ECE), are eligible for this exemption.
b. If you hold this degree, please attach attested copy of degree certificate.
c. No other qualification is accepted for this exemption.
d. For other relevant degrees/diploma’s (BSC Physics, B. Tech), one has to provide
proof of the syllabus studied covers the Section A – Part 1 – Radio Theory and
Practice completely, which is a very tedious process and hence will not be taken
up by the organizers.
11. Print and use the 2 checklist pages for self verification.
12. After self verification, give the application form set to a third person and ask
him/her to verify that you have done all that is necessary using the check list and this
guideline and attach the same to the application.
1. The exam is of Objective Type questions comprising of 2 sections, for one hour duration.
You need to obtain atleast 40 % in each section and 50 % aggregate to pass the exam
2. Sincere and consistent effort going through reading material in a focused and exam
oriented manner is the only way of succeeding in the ASOC exam.
3. This is evident from the previous exams result conducted by us during March 2010 (these
students underwent a 2 month course with 5 – one hour sessions each week)
a. Exam forms submitted – 54
b. Examinees who actually attempted the exams – 38
c. Number of successful examinees – 24
4. Attending both the day classes on 2nd and 9th October, devoting the whole of 3rd October
and at least 2 hours each during 4th to 8th October for self study and completing the self
assessment tests emailed daily will ensure you comfortably pass the ASOC exam.
5. No malpractice of any sort will be allowed as the exam will be conducted under a vigilant
and strict staff. So don’t bank on any underhand tactics to help you pass the exam.
6. The examination syllabus covers only a bare minimum domain area of what you are
expected to know while operating an amateur radio station. So you are better off
preparing well for the exam as you will anyway have to learn these when setting up and
operating an amateur radio station.
1. Reading the study material at least thrice. This is the only method which will help you
confidently appear for the exam. This is especially true for the Section 2 – Rules and
regulations.
2. You are expected to do the necessary pre class reading and self assessment test and
come with all your doubts written down for clarification during classes. THE CLASSES
ARE PRIMARILY FOR GIVING EXAM ORIENTATION AND DOUBT CLEARING. ALL
PREPARATION ARE EXPECTED TO BE DONE VIA SELF PREPARATION ONLY.
DONOT EXPECT SPOON FEEDING. DONOT APPLY IF YOU EXPECT SPOON
FEEDING.
3. Since the syllabus is new and the examination type is also new, we DONOT HAVE
exactly matching study material and model question paper. Links to the new syllabus,
study material based on old syllabus and model question paper based on old syllabus are
give elsewhere.
4. Since there is only a little change in syllabus, the old study material will cover over 90 %
of the syllabus.
5. If you are well prepared non-availability of model question papers will not be a barrier at
all and MCQ type examination is in fact easier to pass.
6. Only exam related matters will be discussed during the class. Avoid asking generic Ham
radio related material, to make best use of the time.
7. No lunch / snacks / water/ notepad / pen will be provided, but the center will be at the
location in the center of the city. You are expected to bring your own stuff.
8. Be in time for all classes and returning for all breaks.
9. No smoking will be allowed in the class or in the premises where the class is conducted..
10. Outstation candidates are encouraged to come for the 9th October 2010 class to
fine tune their preparation & clear any last minute doubts.
Recommended reading
http://www.qsl.net/vu2msy/
http://www.vu2.in/ham-radio/65-ham-radio-exam-practice.html
All the above WPC documents have been merged and available in the next section
THE INDIAN WIRELESS TELEGRAPH (AMATEUR SERVICE)
RULES, 1978 as amended by The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur
Service)
Amendment Rules, 1984 - G.S.R.No.1225/84,
Amendment Rules, 2005 – GSR 280(E) dt 1-4-2010
G.S.R. No. 1499/78.- In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 and section 7 of the Indian Telegraph
Act, 1885 (13 of 1885), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules for the conduct of wireless
telegraphs in the amateur service, established, maintained, and worked by persons licensed under the said
Act.
2. Definitions :
In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
a) `Act' means the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885)
b) `amateur service' means a service of self training, inter-communication and technical investigations
carried on by amateurs that is, by persons duly authorised under these rules interested in radio technique
solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest; `amateur station', and `station' shall have the
meaning respectively assigned to them in the Convention;
c) `Amateur Radio Beacon’ means a station in the Amateur Service having transmitter (s) emitting carrier
wave along with identification signals at regular interval. Such beacons can be directional or non-directional;
d) `Amateur Station’, and “Amateur Satellite Service” `Station’ shall have the meaning respectively assigned
to them in the Convention;
e) `Convention' means the International Telecommunication Convention, Malaga=Torremolinos, 1973, for
the time being in force and the Radio Regulations and the Additional Radio Regulations annexed thereto but
does not include any portion of the said Convention or Regulations regarding which the Central Government
makes any reservation;
f) `Licence' means a licence granted under section 4 of the Act for an amateur wireless telegraph station.
4. Categories of licence :
There shall be TWO categories of licences, namely :
(i) Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (GENERAL)
(ii) Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, (RESTRICTED)
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-clause (b) of clause (i) of sub-rule (1), the Central
Government may grant, to bonafide experimenters between the ages of 14 and 18 years, Amateur Wireless
Telegraph Station Licence GENERAL and to those between the ages of 12 and 18 years, Amateur Wireless
Telegraph Station Licence, Grade RESTRICTED.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-clause (c) of clause (i) of sub-rule (1), the Central
Government may recognize, subject to any conditions it may prescribe from time to time, such other
radiotelegraph operators' certificates or Amateur Station Operators' Certificates as are issued by a
competent authority in any other country as equivalent to qualifications referred to in aforesaid sub-rule for
the purpose of grant of licence under these rules.
8. Examinations :
(1) The examinations for the grant of a licence shall be held at a place and on a date as may be notified by
the Central Government from time to time.
(2) An application for licence in Annexure II or, as the case may be, in Annexure III to the rules shall be
submitted not later than the 15th of the month preceding that in which it is desired to take the examination.
(3) Any person admitted to the examination and found guilty of impersonation or of submitting fabricated
documents or documents which have been tampered with or of making statements which are incorrect or
false or of suppressing material information or of using or attempting to use unfair means in the examination
hall or otherwise resorting to any other irregular or improper means for obtaining admission to the
examination may, in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution, be debarred either
permanently or for a specified period from appearing in any of the examinations held for the award of licence
under these rules:
Provided that no order under this sub-rule shall be made unless the person concerned has been given a
reasonable opportunity or making a representation against the action proposed to be taken.
(4) If any person is found guilty of any malpractice referred to in sub-rule (3) after the grant of a licence to
such person, the Central Government may, in addition to prosecuting him cancel the licence so given :
Provided that the Central Government may, pending the cancellation of the licence, suspend or endorse
such licence :
Provided further that no order under this sub-rule shall be made unless the person concerned has been
given a reasonable opportunity of making a representation against the action proposed to be taken.
9. Grant of licence :
Every category of licence shall be in the form set out in Annexure IV to these rules.
10. Observance of conditions of licence, Convention and rules under the Act :
(1) Every licensed amateur wireless telegraph station shall be established, maintained and worked in
accordance with -
(a) the conditions contained in Annexure I to these rules;
(b) the provisions of the Convention;
(c) the rules made by the Central Government under section 7 of the Act for the conduct of wireless
telegraphs in so far as they are applicable.
(2) Notwithstanding sub-rule (1) the Central Government may modify, vary, cancel or revoke any of the
conditions of licence contained in the said Annexure I at any time either by specific notice in writing to the
licensee, or by means of a general notice published in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper published in
New Delhi.
(3) The licensee shall at his own expense, give effect to any variations in the conditions of licence,
Category of licence
20 YEARS LIFE TIME
(i) Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (GENERAL) 1000.00 2000.00
(2) The licence fee shall not be refundable on ground of licensee`s inability to establish or make use of the
licensed Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station or for adjustment towards higher category of licence.
(2) The licence fee shall not be refundable on ground of licencee’s inability to establish or make use of the
licenced Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station or for adjustment towards higher category of licence.
(3) The document showing the renewal of licence issued by the Central Government shall be kept along with
the licence to which it refers.
(4) It shall not be obligatory for the Central Government to issue a notice that the licence is due for renewal.
(2) The special authorisation shall, in addition to the conditions specified in rule 10, be subject to following,
namely:-
(i) The special authorisation shall not be issued for a period more than 90 days. (ii) The licensee's amateur
station at the fixed location and the mobile station shall not communicate with each others; (iii) the suffix
`MO' shall be added to the callsign already authorised to the licensee's amateur station at the fixed location
for use by the portable or mobile station. Such callsign shall be followed by the location of the station. (iv)
Such other conditions as the Central Government may determine from time to time.
(3) The special authorization may be withdrawn or the conditions contained therein varied at any time by the
Government.
(2) The establishment, maintenance and working of amateur stations on board ships shall, in addition to the
conditions specified under rule 10, be subject to such other conditions as the Central Government may
determine from time to time and such conditions, among others, shall include the following, namely :-
(i) The amateur station on board ship shall be operated only while the ship is in International waters or
Indian territorial waters. Its operation within the territorial waters of another country shall be in conformity
with laws and regulations of the country concerned. (ii) It shall not be operated whilst the ship is in any
harbour in India.
(iii) The callsign allotted to such stations shall have suffix `MS' followed by the callsign of the ship in case of
radiotelegraphy or the official name of the ship in case of radiotelephony. (iv) The amateur station on board
a ship shall discontinue operation at any time on request of an officer of the Central Government, the Master
or Radio Officer of the ship or any land station.
20. Loss and Issue of Duplicate of Licence and Document showing the Renewal
of Licence :
(1) A person whose Licence or the document showing the renewal of licence has been lost, mutilated or
distroyed shall notify the same to the Central Government. An application in Annexure VII of these rules for
the duplicate shall be made to the Central Government embodying a statement of the circumstances
involved in the loss, mutilation or destruction of the licence or the document showing the renewal of licence
for which a duplicate is required. If the licence or the document showing the renewal of licence has been
lost, the applicant must state the circumstance in which it was lost and the reasonable search has been
made for it, and further that in the event it be found, either the original or the duplicate shall be returned for
cancellation. The mutilated licence or the document showing the renewal of licence for which the duplicate
is required should be forwarded alongwith the application for cancellation.
(2) The Central Government may issue duplicate copy of any licence or the document showing the renewal
of the licence and the following charges shall be levied for such issue-
(i) For duplicate of licence . . ……………… Rs. 100.00
(ii) For duplicate of the document showing the renewal of licence…… Rs. 100.00
(2) The licensee shall not be entitled to any compensation arising out of revocation of his licence nor will any
part of the fees paid for the licence shall be refunded for the period a licence stands revoked.
Provided that the Central Government may permit the transfer of a licence granted to an authorised official
of an amateur radio society or club or a school, college or an institute or a University in India in favour of his
successor if such successor holds a category of licence appropriate to the transmissions to be conducted by
the amateur station.
II. Messages :
(1) (a) Radio communications may be exchanged with other stations similarly authorised. The amateur
stations are forbidden to communicate with amateur stations of countries whose administrations have
notified the International Telecommunication Union of their objection to such radio communications.
(b) Transmissions shall be made in plain language and limited to messages of a technical nature relating to
tests and to remarks of personal character (excluding business affairs or transactions) in which the licensee,
or the person with whom he is in communication, are directly concerned and for which, by reason of their
unimportance, recourse to the public telecommunication service is not justified.
(c) Special recordings for reproduction sinusoidal tone or tones within the audio frequency spectrum which
may be either constant or steadily changing in frequency may be used.
(3) Notwithstanding clause (a), sub-condition (1) and clause (d), sub-condition (2) the licensees in case of
failure of normal telecommunication facilities, are permitted to handle third party messages, pertaining to
natural calamities such as earthquake, floods, cyclones and wide spread fires, originating from and
addressed to a competent civil authority namely, (a) District Magistrates or Deputy Commissioners or
Collectors of the district and (b) any other officer authorised by authorities mentioned at (a) above. The
licensee shall inform by letter addressed to the licensing authority regarding the use of his amateur station
for such purposes on each such occasions.
V. Non-Interference :
(1) The amateur station shall be so designed, constructed, erected, maintained and worked as not to cause
interference with any wireless telegraph service functioning, within or without India, in accordance with the
provisions of the Convention or the wireless signaling between any fixed, land or mobile stations of Indian
Land, Naval or Air Force or between such stations and any station abroad :
Provided that in the event of interference being caused by the station the licensee shall discontinue or
restrict transmissions, pending adjustment of the equipment, on request from,-
(a) the Central Government; or (b) any land station.
(2) The licensee shall deploy all necessary means to ensure that the radiated frequency is free from
harmonics, key clicks, hum and other forms of spurious emissions.
(3) The licensee shall ensure that the transmitter is not over modulated.
(2) All times in the log shall be stated in the Indian Standard Time.
(3) No gaps shall be left between entries in the log and they shall be made and initialed at the time of
receiving and transmitting.
(4) In case the station is operated by a person other than the licensee (see rule 23), the licensee shall
ensure that log is signed by that person indicating his name, call sign and licence number.
(5) Licensee shall preserve the log for a period of one year from the date of last entry therein before it is
destroyed: Provided that no log shall be destroyed for such further period as the Central Government may
direct.
(6) The form of log is shown in the Table attached to these conditions.
(2) The Wireless telegraphy apparatus and other accessory equipment used or intended to be used by the
licensee shall be so arranged as not to endanger the safety of licensee or other persons.
(3) The wireless telegraph apparatus shall be kept in a safe condition and housed in such manner as to
preclude access to unauthorised persons.
(4) The transmitter shall be of a type that has a frequency stability comparable to that of a crystal control.
(5) Meters of standard accuracy shall be installed to measure the d.c. power input to the anode circuit of the
final radio frequency stage of the transmitter.
(6) The aerial used or intended to be used shall be so erected, fixed, or placed as not to cross above or fall
on to any power, telegraph or telephone line.
(4) Tests :
(a) When it is necessary to make test signals either for the adjustment of a transmitter or a receiver or for
any experiment, such signals shall not be continued for more than 30 seconds and shall be composed of
series of VVV followed by the call sign of the station emitting the test signals. In case of radiotelephony
series of VVV shall be replaces by the figures 1,2,3,4...... spoken in the figure code.
(b) For tests exceeding 30 seconds an artificial aerial shall be used.
(c) Emission of carrier wave is forbidden unless such wave is subjected to intelligible modulation.
X. Inspection :
(1) Any officer authorised by the Central Government in that behalf in writing by them, may at all reasonable
times enter the station solely or jointly with any other person or persons for the purpose of inspecting and
may inspect, examine or test any apparatus conduct of such inspections and tests and making available the
licence, the station log or other records for examination by the inspecting officer.
(2) The licensee when called upon to do so by the Central Government shall arrange to forward the licence,
the log book, or any other record or data for examination by that Government.
XI. Powers to take possession of the Amateur Station and to order interception of
messages :
(1) On the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety, the Central
Government or a State Government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the Central
Government or a State Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, take
temporary possession (for so long as the public emergency exists or the interest of the public safety requires
the taking of such action) of the Amateur Station.
(2) On the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety, the Central
Government or a State Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the
interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign state
or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence, for reasons to be recorded in
writing, by order, direct that any message of class of messages relating to any particular subject, shall not be
transmitted or received or shall be intercepted by the station or shall be disclosed to the Government making
the order or an officer thereof mentioned in the order.
(3) The licensee shall not be entitled to any compensation in respect of the exercise of the powers conferred
by sub condition (1) and (2) or this condition.
XII. The licensee shall indemnify the Central Government against all actions, claims and
demands which may be brought or make by any person, body corporate or company in respect
any injury arising from any act licensed or permitted by the licence.
XIII. A copy of the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules., 1978 with further
amendments shall be kept at the Amateur Station.
SYLLABUS AND THE DETAILS OF EXAMINATIONS FOR THE AWARD OF
AMATEUR STATION OPERATOR’S LICENCE (Restricted) and (General)
1. The examination shall consist of the following two parts:
PART 1 - Written Test
It shall comprise of one paper containing two sections as under:
Section A: Radio Theory and Practice
Note - Applicants holding degree in Engineering/Science or Diploma in Engineering and
having studied electronics or telecommunications shall be exempted from appearing in
Section A of Part-I of the test.
Section B: National and international Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio
Regulations applicable to the operation of amateur station and those relating to the
working of station generally.
PART II - Morse (Only for General Certificate)
Morse reception and sending (8 wpm)
2 Detailed syllabus:
2.1 Amateur Station Operator’s Licence (Restricted) Examination
Part I - Written Test
Section A: Radio Theory and Practice:
(I) Elementary Electricity and Magnetism:
1. Elementary theory of electricity- Passive Devices (Resistors; Inductors, Transformers,
Capacitors) and Active Devices (Diodes; Transistors).
2. Kirchoff’s current and voltage laws- Simple applications of the law.
3. Conductors and Insulators — Properties; units of circuit elements, Ohm’s Law.
4. Conductance — Definition of self and mutual inductance;
5. Power and energy- Definition, Units and simple applications.
6. Permanent magnets and electromagnets — Definition, properties and their use.
(ii) Elementary Theory of Alternating Currents:
1. Sinusoidal alternating quantities - Definition of peak, instantaneous, R.M.S., average
values and its simple application.
2. Phase, reactance, impedance, power factor- Definition, units and simple •
applications.
3. Parallel and Series Circuits series and parallel circuits containing resistance,
inductance, capacitance; resonance in series and parallel circuits, coupled circuits.
4. Rectifiers, voltage regulation and smoothing circuits - Their basic knowledge and
simple application.
(III) Elementary theory of Semiconductor Devices:
1. Diodes and transistors- Properties use of these devices for construction of amplifiers,
oscillators, detectors and frequency changers.
(IV) Radio Receivers:
1. Principles and operation of T.R.F. and super heterodyne receivers.
2. CW reception.
3. Receiver characteristics-sensitivity, selectivity, fidelity, adjacent channel and image
interference, A.V.C. and squelch/circuits signal to noise ratio.
(v) Transmitter:
1. Principles and operation of low power transmitter, crystal oscillators, stability of
oscillators.
2. Basic knowledge about construction of Semiconductor based transmitters.
(VI) Radio Wave Propagation:
1. Basic knowledge of Electromagnetic Spectrum.
2. Wave length, frequency, frequency bands.
3. Nature and propagations of radio waves, ground and sky waves, space waves, skip
distance, skip zone and fading.
(VII) Aerials: Common types of transmitting and receiving aerials.
(VIII) Frequency Measurement: Measurement of frequency and use of simple frequency
meters.