Editorial Note

Censorship
in ham
radio?

I was disappointed when I found out the RSGB blocked this article from being published in Radcom Basics (May 2026). Everything was ready—the article itself, photographs, details, links, maps, and all necessary permissions. I had worked closely with one of the editors to finalize it, and the only thing left was for the Radcom team to typeset it and send me a PDF for review.

Imagine the surprise when we were informed that they were unwilling to publish it:

"…it covers licensing in a non-standard way, not following usual procedures…"
Dark dramatic rock face — Penya Foradada, Alicante

You might agree with the RSGB if you're the type who wears socks with sandals—but most amateur radio operators see this as a great opportunity, made possible by FediEA and the Spanish licensing authorities.

To be clear, your ham radio licence is issued by Ofcom, not the RSGB. In Spain, temporary operating permits are granted by local district authorities on behalf of the national authority. A sovereign nation's decision to permit non-HAREC hams to operate within its borders is admirable. The RSGB have no jurisdiction.

Think of it like this: you can apply for a temporary driving permit abroad, but imagine the RAC hides this from you (because of their political agenda)—even though it's none of their business.

That's why I've chosen to publish this article on a dedicated website—because Foundation and Intermediate licence holders absolutely have the right to apply for a temporary operating permit in Spain.

Legal Confirmation FediEA Confirms: Article 15 Applies to UK Foundation & Intermediate Licensees Read the legal analysis →
Panoramic north-easterly view descending from Montcabrer, Alicante province, Spain

Descent from Montcabrer (EA5/AT-003). North-Easterly view across Alicante province.

Operating Overseas  ·  Foundation & Intermediate Licence Holders

Breaking the
CEPT Barrier

How UK Foundation & Intermediate Licensees Can Operate Legally in Spain

M9OMS
EA5/AT — Alicante Province
SOTA · POTA · Portable HF

For years, many UK amateurs have believed that overseas holiday operating is only possible with a Full licence under CEPT T/R 61-01. That assumption is widespread — and completely wrong when it comes to Spain.

While Foundation and Intermediate licences aren't recognised under CEPT, there is a legitimate and straightforward way to obtain a temporary Spanish permit. With a little planning, lower-tier licence holders can enjoy some of Europe's finest portable operating opportunities.

Spain is vast, diverse and spectacular. With more than 2,500 POTA [1] (Parks On The Air) references and over 4,000 SOTA [2] (Summits On The Air) summits, it offers almost endless options. Securing a temporary authorisation opens that world to operators who might otherwise assume they have to stay home.

Map of the Spanish districts and prefixes EA1 through EA9

Map of the Spanish districts/prefixes (with numerous provinces within). Courtesy of www.ultimaps.com

01 Why Spain Works for Non-CEPT Licensees

During a visit to Alicante (Alacant) province (EA5/AT) in 2024, I found myself surrounded by dozens of summits I had previously hiked — many of them perfect for SOTA. I wanted to share those experiences with the amateur community, but one obstacle remained: I only held an Intermediate licence.

Whilst planning that trip, Mikel (EA5IYL) pointed me toward the FediEA website [3] and its page for "Authorisation for non-resident foreigners." At the time, I wasn't sure whether it applied to me.

Later reports from other UK amateurs confirmed that temporary permits were indeed being issued successfully. Further online research revealed that M0YGL had documented this on his blog [4] , which sealed my decision to apply.

EA(1–9) are Spanish districts (each having a prefix, akin to RSLs in the UK). For this trip, my call sign would be EA5/M9OMS. Spanish SOTA summit references utilise these prefixes followed by the province, so summits in Alicante province are listed as EA5/AT .
Map of SOTA summits in the EA5/AT Alicante province with highlighted favourites

Map showing the sheer number of summits in Alicante province, highlighting my favourites of the trip. From SOTA Database, Maps © www.osm.org/copyright

02 How I Obtained the Temporary Permit

For my trip, I chose to work through FediEA (Federación Digital EA), who liaise directly with the Spanish ministry and make the process smooth for a modest membership fee (10 € paid online, for standard annual membership). You can apply independently, but having a local representative greatly simplifies things. Plan several weeks ahead to prevent disappointment.

To apply, I provided:

The official permit — with the callsign EA*/M9OMS — arrived soon after. I was thrilled.

The document specifies prefixes (1–9), allowed bands, frequency allocations, and power limits. Importantly, you must still obey the restrictions of your UK licence while abroad. Spanish allowances (such as 60 m at 1 kW) do not override your home licence conditions.

I let Mikel know the application had succeeded, and he immediately offered both advice and a joint summit activation during my stay. His local knowledge proved invaluable.

03 Cracking the Portable Power Puzzle

With licensing sorted, the next challenge was ensuring my portable station was flight-friendly.

I left my 3S LiPo at home and instead planned to buy a battery in Spain, pairing it with my linear VLDO regulator [5] set at 11.9 V, to keep my radio happy regardless of battery chemistry.

Before committing, I experimented with a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) power bank plus a 12 V PD trigger cable (I would be carrying a power bank anyway).

For the uninitiated, USB-C PD is very useful. Devices can now negotiate voltages with compatible PD sources, unlike the old USB standard which only supplied 5V. Furthermore, it can deliver higher currents (fast-charging laptops, for example).

In my case, I purchased a trigger cable that was designed to negotiate 12 V.

Unfortunately, my PD bank appeared to be built for charging, not the rapidly changing current demands of an SSB signal.

Testing it with my friend M7GFJ, we observed the following:

We concluded the switching topology of this power bank caused ripple noise, which compromised the radio's field reliability.

Running the power bank through my VLDO cleaned things up considerably (it has some inherent ripple rejection). It worked — but I wouldn't recommend the setup. Use a clean power source.

Some hams report better results with PD, but if you want to try this route, use known-good hardware tested by trusted amateurs. As for me, next time I'll stick with a "dumb" battery.

"Outdoor activity has always been my primary motivation, and amateur radio adds an entirely new way to experience a landscape."

04 Lightweight Travel Kit

Once power was sorted, the rest came together easily. I kept the kit deliberately simple:

No backup rig. No VHF/UHF radio. Minimal baggage.

The plan was to operate exclusively on 20 m SSB — ideal for European coverage while avoiding local-language voice traffic on 40 m and VHF.

QRP Labs QMX transceiver with log book and accessories on a green mat

An extremely light and compact station. To improve protection from gusts (and stability on slopes), I intend to use something other than a sit-mat on my next trip.

05 Activation Highlights

Outdoor activity has always been my primary motivation, and amateur radio adds an entirely new way to experience a landscape. Instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of peaks, the prospect of activating them helped me narrow my choices and view the terrain differently.

EA5/AT-057
Penya Foradada

A rarely visited summit — I became only the third operator ever to activate it. The ascent is spicy, but the reward is a spectacular view across La Serella, along with ruins atop the peak and intriguing local history.

Without SOTA, I might never have chosen this one.

Penya Foradada: the meaning of this Catalan/Valencian name is "perforated rock". La Serella: literally means "the little mountain range" (with "serra" meaning "mountain range").

Beautiful south-easterly view towards the Guadalest reservoir from Penya Foradada

Beautiful South-Easterly view towards the Guadalest reservoir, atop Penya Foradada (EA5/AT-057).

Westerly view descending from Penya Foradada showing La Serella and Alto de Tronca ridges

Westerly view, descending from Penya Foradada (EA5/AT-057). La Serella on the left, and a cluster of summits including Alto de Tronca on the right.

EA5/AT-004
Pla de la Casa

Here I logged 28 QSOs. Though it's roughly 200 m lower than the highest points on the Aitana ridge, it delivered the best view of the entire trip: a 360-degree panorama that feels like standing above the world.

The summit is beautiful, spacious, and well worth the effort.

Beautiful panoramic views atop Pla de la Casa EA5/AT-004

Beautiful panoramic views atop Pla de la Casa (EA5/AT-004).

Very interesting rock features descending on the west side of Pla de la Casa

Very interesting features, descending on the West side of Pla de la Casa (EA5/AT-004).

Don't wait
for your
Full Licence.

The amateur radio community is extraordinary, and this trip was no exception. Alicante province offers everything from mellow walks to technical scrambles; all crowned with unforgettable views.

For UK Foundation and Intermediate licensees, the message is simple: don't wait for your Full licence to enjoy portable operating in Spain.

A temporary permit makes world-class amateur radio not just possible — but easy.

My thanks go to Mikel (EA5IYL) for his support, guidance, and summit companionship.