27 MHz handphone stations class licence

This class licence lets you use a 27 MHz handphone station.  

Handphones have a built-in antenna and you can carry them by hand. They make it easy to talk to another person who is a short distance away.

They are often used:

• by bushwalkers and firefighters
• during sporting events and group activities
• to communicate with someone who is less than 1km away

All users operate on shared frequencies.

You don't need to apply for a class licence or pay any fees.

But you must follow all the rules in the:

• 27 MHz Handphone Station Class Licence 2015
• Radiocommunications Act 1992

Power output

Your equipment cannot exceed the maximum power stated in the class licence.

You will break the rules if you attach equipment to increase power.

You can find the frequencies for 27 MHz handphones in schedule 1 of the class licence.

If you use the frequencies in item 2 of schedule 1, you:

• must not interfere with citizen band (CB) radio stations
• may get interference from CB equipment that uses the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency band

If you want to use other frequencies, you must apply for an apparatus licence.

Problems with interference or reception

You may get interference if you use 2 handphones near each other on the same frequency.

If this happens, try changing to another frequency.

Handphones can interfere with nearby TV and radio equipment. If your equipment causes interference, you must try to fix it.

You can use selective calling under this class licence.

Call signs are a unique series of letters and numbers. They make it easy to identify a station.

We do not give call signs for class licences. But we recommend you identify yourself when you communicate by radio.

The device or equipment you operate under the class licence must comply with our technical standards. 

These include:

• some general standards – see Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
• the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Standard 2017
• the Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Standard – see Schedule 4 to the General Equipment Rules.

Read more about our technical standards including our general radiocommunications standards, the EMC standard and the EME standard.

If your device or equipment does not meet the rules in our technical standards, you will need a permit to supply, use or have it. This is separate from a licence. Find out about permits and fees under the General Equipment Rules.