Although it is no longer a FCC requirement to state if you are operating “mobile” or “portable” when identifying, these terms are still often used. Frequently they are incorrectly used after a call sign. To help alleviate some of the confusion (and misuse) we offer this:

The terms mobile and portable have nothing to do with the type of radio being used. If you are at your home location (the location given on your FCC license), you are not “mobile” even if you’re in your car in the driveway or parked on the street in front of your house. Also, you are not “portable” if you are using a Handie-Talkie in your back yard.

Here is how the terms have been traditionally defined*:

Fixed operation: Radio communications conducted from a specific geographical land location shown on the station license.

Portable operation: Radio communications conducted from a specific geographical location other than that shown on the station license. For example, a vacation home, or a friend’s house. A portable station is a solitary hiker using an HT camping at Beaver Lake for a few days. Or, it could a multi-band, multi-mode, multi-operator Field Day Station, with multiple tents, numerous antennas and several transmitters running up to full legal power with a 12 KW diesel generator running 24 hours a day!

Mobile operation: Radio communications conducted while in motion or during halts at unspecified locations. (Note: It’s important to make the distinction between portable and mobile operation. Mobile refers to talking on your 2-meter rig while driving your pick-up truck, while jogging or while backpacking. Portable means operation for an extended period of time at a specific, definable location, such as your retreat cabin.”

Maritime mobile and aeronautical mobile are occasionally heard. You may also hear pedestrian mobile, wheel chair mo-bile, bicycle mobile, equestrian mobile, railroad mobile, or other such definitive terms. These terms attract attention, add to the interest and the magic of radio, and are fun to contact.

— Editor *Source: The FCC Rule Book. A Guide to the FCC Regulations. ARRL 1989