T1B Bands, modes and power limits for Technicians

Frequency allocations; Emission modes; Spectrum sharing; Transmissions near band edges; Contacting the International Space Station; Power output

Drill this topic (12 questions) Print flash cards

This group covers where Technician licensees may operate, which modes they may use, how spectrum sharing works, what to watch for near band edges, and how much power is allowed.

Band identification

Know the main bands by their frequency ranges.

Band	Range
10 meters	28 to 29.7 MHz
6 meters	50 to 54 MHz
2 meters	144 to 148 MHz
1.25 meters	219 to 220 and 222 to 225 MHz
70 centimeters	420 to 450 MHz

A frequency such as 52.525 MHz is on 6 meters, and 146.52 MHz, the national FM simplex calling frequency, is on 2 meters.

Technician HF privileges

Technicians have a small HF slice (§97.301(e), §97.305, §97.307(f)):

Band	Technician segment	Modes
80 meters	3.525 to 3.600 MHz	CW only
40 meters	7.025 to 7.125 MHz	CW only
15 meters	21.025 to 21.200 MHz	CW only
10 meters	28.000 to 28.300 MHz	CW, RTTY, data
10 meters	28.300 to 28.500 MHz	CW, single sideband phone

Ten meters is the only HF band with phone for Technicians, and they have no privileges on other HF bands such as 30 meters. HF power is limited to 200 watts PEP in these segments.

Modes and band segments

Digital modes such as FT8 are allowed on 10 meters, 6 meters and 2 meters in the proper segments. Some small segments are CW only: 50.0-50.1 MHz on 6 meters and 144.0-144.1 MHz on 2 meters. SSB phone is available in at least some segment of every band above 50 MHz.

Power limits

On their HF segments, the Technician maximum is 200 watts PEP (§97.313(c)). Above 30 MHz the general limit is 1500 watts PEP (§97.313(b)), with specific exceptions in a few bands. Always use the minimum power needed (§97.313(a)).

In some segments the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary user. Other services, such as government or non-amateur stations, have priority there, so you may encounter them and must avoid interfering.

Band edges

Do not set your transmit frequency exactly at a band or sub-band edge. Your display may be slightly off, the transmitter can drift as it warms up, and a modulated signal occupies bandwidth on both sides of the carrier. Stay inside the edge by enough margin to keep every part of the signal in the band, since §97.307(b) requires emissions from modulation to stay within the band or segment you are allowed to use.

The International Space Station

Any licensed amateur with Technician or higher privileges may contact the ISS on VHF/UHF. No extra FCC class or NASA approval is required for an ordinary contact.

Key facts to memorize

10 meters: Technician phone 28.300-28.500 MHz; CW/data 28.000-28.300 MHz.
6 meters 50-54 MHz; 2 meters 144-148 MHz.
CW only: 50.0-50.1 MHz and 144.0-144.1 MHz.
HF power limit for Technicians: 200 watts PEP; above 30 MHz: 1500 watts PEP.
Technicians have HF phone only on 10 meters.
Leave a margin at band edges for calibration, drift and sidebands.
Anyone with a Technician license or higher may contact the ISS.

Memory hooks

“Ten for phone, three to five”: Technician phone on 10 meters runs from 28.3 to 28.5 MHz.

Questions in this group (12): answers shown

T1B01 · §97.301(e)

Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?
- A. 28.050 MHz to 28.150 MHz
- B. 28.100 MHz to 28.300 MHz
- C. 28.300 MHz to 28.500 MHz ✓ Correct answer
- D. 28.500 MHz to 28.600 MHz
Technicians may use single-sideband phone on 10 meters from 28.300 to 28.500 MHz (section 97.305). Below 28.300 MHz they are limited to CW, RTTY and data.
T1B02 · §97.301, 97.207(c)

Which of the following U.S. amateur radio operators are allowed to contact the International Space Station (ISS) on VHF bands?
- A. Only amateurs with a General class or higher license
- B. Any amateur with a Technician class or higher license ✓ Correct answer
- C. Only amateurs with a General class or higher license, and NASA approval
- D. Any amateurs with a Technician class or higher license, and NASA approval
Any licensed amateur, including a Technician, may contact the ISS on VHF. No higher license class or NASA approval is needed; it is an ordinary amateur contact using your normal privileges.
T1B03 · §97.301(a)

Which frequency is in the 6-meter amateur band?
- A. 49.00 MHz
- B. 52.525 MHz ✓ Correct answer
- C. 28.50 MHz
- D. 222.15 MHz
The 6-meter band runs from 50 to 54 MHz, so 52.525 MHz falls inside it. 49.00 MHz is below the band, 28.50 MHz is on 10 meters, and 222.15 MHz is on the 1.25-meter band.
T1B04 · §97.301(a)

Which amateur band includes 146.52 MHz?
- A. 6 meters
- B. 20 meters
- C. 70 centimeters
- D. 2 meters ✓ Correct answer
The 2-meter band covers 144 to 148 MHz, so 146.52 MHz, the national FM simplex calling frequency, is on 2 meters. Neither 6 meters (50-54 MHz) nor 70 centimeters (420-450 MHz) includes it.
T1B05 · §97.301, 97.305

Which of the following bands include frequencies where Technicians are authorized to use digital modes such as FT8?
- A. 10 meters
- B. 6 meters
- C. 2 meters
- D. All these choices are correct ✓ Correct answer
Technicians may use digital modes such as FT8 in the 10 meter data segment (28.000-28.300 MHz) and on 6 and 2 meters as well. Since all three bands allow it, 'all these choices' is right.
T1B06 · §97.301(e), 97.305

On which HF bands does a Technician class operator have phone privileges?
- A. None
- B. 10-meter band only ✓ Correct answer
- C. 80-meter, 40-meter, 15-meter, and 10-meter bands
- D. 30-meter band only
Technicians have HF phone privileges only on 10 meters, in the 28.300 to 28.500 MHz segment. On 80, 40 and 15 meters they have only limited CW privileges, and they have none on 30 meters.
T1B07 · §97.305(a), (c)

Which of the following VHF/UHF band segments are limited to CW only?
- A. 50.0 MHz to 50.1 MHz and 144.0 MHz to 144.1 MHz ✓ Correct answer
- B. 219 MHz to 220 MHz and 420.0 MHz to 420.1 MHz
- C. 902.0 MHz to 902.1 MHz
- D. All these choices are correct
Section 97.305 limits 50.0-50.1 MHz and 144.0-144.1 MHz to CW only. The other ranges listed allow more than CW, so 'all these choices' is wrong.
T1B08 · §97.303

How are US amateurs restricted in segments of bands where the Amateur Radio Service is secondary?
- A. U.S. amateurs may find non-amateur stations in those segments, and must avoid interfering with them ✓ Correct answer
- B. U.S. amateurs must give foreign amateur stations priority in those segments
- C. International communications are not permitted in those segments
- D. Digital transmissions are not permitted in those segments
Where the amateur service is secondary, other services have priority and may be operating there. Amateurs must avoid interfering with them. Nothing here limits international contacts or digital modes, or gives foreign amateurs priority.
T1B09 · §97.101(a), 97.301(a-e)

Why should you not set your transmit frequency to be exactly at the edge of an amateur band or sub-band?
- A. To allow for calibration error in the transmitter frequency display
- B. So that modulation sidebands do not extend beyond the band edge
- C. To allow for transmitter frequency drift
- D. All these choices are correct ✓ Correct answer
A signal has sidebands on both sides of the carrier, your dial reading may be slightly off, and the frequency can drift as the radio warms up. Staying a little inside the band edge covers all three concerns.
T1B10 · §97.305(c)

Where may SSB phone be used in amateur bands above 50 MHz?
- A. Only in sub-bands allocated to General class or higher licensees
- B. Only on repeaters
- C. In at least some segment of all these bands ✓ Correct answer
- D. On any band if the power is limited to 25 watts
SSB is permitted in at least some segment of every amateur band above 50 MHz, including 6 meters, 2 meters and 70 centimeters. It is not limited to General class segments or to repeaters.
T1B11 · §97.313

What is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators in their HF band segments?
- A. 200 watts ✓ Correct answer
- B. 100 watts
- C. 50 watts
- D. 10 watts
Technician operators may run up to 200 watts PEP on their HF segments, such as 10 meters (section 97.313). 1500 watts is the general maximum on other bands, and 100 watts is not the limit.
T1B12 · §97.313(b)

Except for some specific restrictions, what is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators using frequencies above 30 MHz?
- A. 50 watts
- B. 100 watts
- C. 500 watts
- D. 1500 watts ✓ Correct answer
Above 30 MHz Technicians may use up to 1500 watts PEP, the same general limit as other classes, apart from specific band restrictions (section 97.313(b)). The 200 watt Technician limit applies to their HF segments, not to VHF and higher.