No, the radio station can only be used to convey information on technical research and related subjects in plain language. It is thus forbidden to tell your life story or to use encrypted or coded messages. However, after authorisation of the Institute, the holder of an authorisation for an automated station or for a remote-controlled station can use encrypted messages for the management of his/her station.
In case of exercises organised by a Belgian emergency service, the holder of an operator’s certificate of the 5th category can, with prior approval of the Institute, communicate on subjects related to these exercises.
Upon request from the relevant authorities responsible for crisis management, the holder of a 5th category certificate can help Belgian emergency services by deploying his/her 5th category stations in order to compensate for the failure of electronic communications. In this context only, the radio amateur can: transmit encrypted or coded messages, use any station of the 5th category, with the approval of the holder of the authorisation of the station concerned; and communicate regarding subjects related to the activities of the emergency services.