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These notes apply to General papers taken between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2027.
While there is discussion about the difficulty of the exam, if you are able to pass practice Technician exams with a decent margin, you should be able to understand and learn the content to pass this exam. The maths is similar. Some take both exams together.
Compared to the previous pool, there are 431 questions*, rather than 456. While a few questions are longer, many have had words which are not necessary removed (including in one case, "necessary"). Upper-case use, such as "Amateur" have been revised to "amateur". The Oxford / Harvard comma has also been introduced, giving the form, "This, that, and the other thing". The sun becomes the Sun; the moon, the Moon; and our home "Earth", rather than "the Earth".
* Reduced from 434 by two in December 2023, and by one in March 2024.
These first three pages cover the regulations you need to know to pass the US General exam. They include rules regarding operating on HF. Initially I will provide an overview of the new bands you will gain access to.
General class operators have access to all LF and MF amateur spectrum; and to significant amounts of HF spectrum, meaning most or all of each HF amateur band. In some cases it is most of the RTTY and data segment, and most of the voice and image segment. In others the entire band is available. Generals have full access to 6 metres and up. You will remember that, at times, 6m propagation benefits from ionospheric support.
Old Advanced licence holders have access to further portions of the bands; and Extra licence holders, access to all Amateur spectrum, noting the restriction on 219-220 MHz.
I would suggest downloading one of the PDF versions of the Frequency Allocation Charts, and printing it. Note that the colour-coded mode bars represent compulsory mode rules, unlike those shown on the WIA band-plans in Australia, which are mostly voluntary, or the ARRL Band Plan, discussed under "Operations". The colours are mainly red, indicating RTTY and data; and green, indicating voice and image. If operating in the US, placing a copy within view of your operating position is a great idea.
Often 160 metres is lumped together with HF in informal use, such as saying "Going for the General is a good idea, as it lets you get on HF"; or that "International Marconi Day is an HF event", when 160 is permitted, but VHF+ isn't.
Morse is permitted in all segments of all bands, except 219-220 MHz. You may however find the most activity in the VHF bands where it is the only mode permitted, or on HF in areas where it is the only mode permitted for Novices and Technicians; or by referring to various operating guides. A couple of crystal locked channels used as often QRP Morse frequencies are 1.8432 MHz, 3.579 MHz, and 10.116 MHz. For HF bands, it is most often the lowest parts of the bands where CW is used. These use cheap crystals with use outside Ham radio, such as in NTSC TVs.
That said, sending CW, as opposed to MCW (a tone on a carrier, with the carrier sustained for the period of transmission) on a repeater input frequency would probably qualify as deliberate interference. MCW can be used for Morse practice over repeaters. It is however treated as "phone" rather than data or CW. MCW is only permitted about 50.1 MHz, except for 144.0-144.1 and 219-220 MHz.
Morse can be sent using a straight key, where a tone is sent by depressing the key; or by a side-swipe keys, "bugs", Vibroplex keys; or by using an electronic keyer with iambic keys, using a sideways or squeeze motion. Computer systems, from full-sized PCs to small systems like Raspberry Pis allow sending from a keyboard, as do dedicated devices from 1970s and 1980s.
2200 metres, 135.7 to 137.8 kHz, is a narrow Low Frequency band, available to Generals. Operation is often using beacons, rather than for communications. It is not on the exam, as access has only just been granted. Power is 1 Watt EIRP (Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power). I understand that getting near this limit would require a large input to the matching network.
The non-Amateur LowFER (Low-Frequency Experimental Radio) allows all to experiment in the 160 to 190 kHz range, within Region 2. This is in the Longwave (LW) Broadcasting band in Africa and Europe (Region 1), which includes eastern Russia, although operation in the last area has ceased.
630 metres, 472 to 479 kHz, is a newly granted medium-frequency band, which would behave like the big city ABC (national broadcaster) transmitters at the bottom end of the MW / AM band Down-under, with good ground-wave coverage during the day, and interstate skywave coverage from dusk on. Power is 5 Watt EIRP, reduced to 1 Watt within 496 miles (798.235 km) of Russia. Big old ship transmitters will operate here. Generals have full access.
Until recently, the only MF band was 160 metres, and it was termed "Top Band", as the one with the longest wavelength.
It runs from 1.800 to 2.000 MHz in the US. As the name suggests, large antennas are required for efficient use of this band. The band behaves like the upper portions of the AM broadcast band, or 2180 kHz, the SSB maritime channel (until recently the last AM channel). This means that it provides local coverage in the day, and regional coverage at dusk, and in the evening. The entire band is available to Generals; and thus to Extras. I have made contacts from Sydney into NZ in the evening, as part of what is now the Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest. Serious operators on the band have several antennas, such as towers (often top-loaded), four-square arrays, long-wires, and "Beverage" antennas; often using one for reception, another for transmitting, to match conditions. From 1900 to 2000 kHz you need to be aware of radio-location beacons. The band is often narrower, such as in Australia.
Note that 160 is the lowest band currently included as a transmit band on HF transceivers. For the bands above either transverters, or home-brew or kit transmitters. Some, but not all, transceivers receive below 500 kHz. 630 metres may appear on SDRs, and initially on Chinese devices in black extruded cases.
The original bands were 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 metres, with 15 metres added in the early 1950s. 30, 17, and 12 metres are the WARC bands, added in 1979. 60 metres dates from early in this century.
In most cases voice is SSB; LSB below 10 MHz, USB above. DSB, meaning double sideband without carrier may also be used, as it is simple to home-brew such equipment, and the signal is compatible with SSB. The NE602, NE612, or similar double-balanced modulator IC can be used to generate such a signal.
80 metres, from 3.500 to 4.000 MHz is a good band for regional coverage in the evening. Generals are allowed portions in the data and voice segments. The voice segments are sometimes termed 75 metres in the US. You may hear some "SPAM" activity, that is, the Society for the Preservation of Amplitude Modulation members (and others) using AM, in addition to the regular LSB voice on this band. See: SPAM (NZ)
Off the exam, Alaska Emergency Channel, 5.1689 MHz (the suppressed carrier frequency displayed on Ham rigs) is permitted at 150 Watts PEP in Alaska, or within 92.6 km (50 nautical miles) of the state, using USB for emergency communications. It is shared with stations in the Alaska-Private Fixed Service, including state police and emergency agencies, as well as people working and travelling in the area. On many radios it can be activated by turning on the "Emergency" channel in the menus, and it becomes one of the memory channels.
60 metres is available in many countries, either as a regular band, or as in the US, as specific channels. The first has a suppressed carrier (Ham display) frequency of 5330.5 kHz, the fifth and last 5403.5 kHz. Each is 2.8 kHz wide, and originally USB only. CW, RTTY, and data are now also permitted. Power is 100 Watts PEP into a dipole, or the same effective radiated power (ERP). Generals can use all channels. A diagram is on the following page. Note that while several narrowband mode channels could fit in a single channel, only one station should use a channel at once, I suppose to save confusing non-ham users. WRC-15 (World Radiocommunication Conference 2015, Geneva) approved a band from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz at restricted power, on a secondary basis (see below). This has not been implemented yet in the US, and many other administrations are dithering too.
40 metres, from 7.000 to 7.300 kHz is a good regional daytime band, with DX at night. Generals have only portions of the voice and RTTY / Data / CW segments. I have gotten to Oregon from rural NSW on the band, with just 100 watts and a low dipole.
In certain areas voice is permitted from 7.075 to 7.100 MHz. This includes Region 1, Region 3, and the west and south of Region 2. While East Coast people might think of Region 1 as across the Atlantic in Europe, and maybe Africa, it wraps around towards Alaska, taking in all of Russia. Region 3 is Asia, from Iran east, and Oceania. Thus Guam and American Samoa are in Region 3. The areas in Region 2 are those west of 130° West, taking in Alaska, and Hawaiʻi; and those south of 20° North including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. This rule also applies to operation on US vessels or aircraft in the areas discussed. If operating in another country their allocations apply.
The above, and rules regarding 70 cm, are however summarised to "allocations may differ" in these areas, although the question on 40 metres has been snipped from the new pool. Part of the reason for this is that the upper part of the band coincides with the 41 metre shortwave broadcast band outside region 2. Thus you may hear music, news, etc in this segment.
Of course, you are NOT going to make an embarrassing Farcebook rant about "pirates", music, or "foreign languages" on these frequencies.
30 metres, covering 10.100 to 10.150 MHz is a fairly narrow band, and as such, in most countries, voice is prohibited, and in the US, also image modes. Power is limited to 200 Watts PEP, and Generals get access to the whole band. Voice is permitted in Australia, and as an indication of propagation, at 11:00 am the ARNSW site in Sydney tries to be off the band, to avoid possible interference with the Perth-based broadcast, which starts at 9:00 am their time. At times the WA service is certainly audible in Sydney. This is the first of the "WARC Bands" we are discussing, bands which became available following the World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979, in Geneva, following preparatory meetings in Panama.
20 metres, 14.000 to 14.350 MHz is an important DX band. Even a wire dipole allows lunch-time (eastern) contacts from Sydney to Perth, and from Sydney to Europe during the afternoon. This is the lowest band at which yagis or "beams" become practical for back-yard use. Generals have access to most of both the data and voice segments.
17 metres, 18.068 to 18.168 MHz is a WARC band, which has similar characteristics to 20m. Generals get access to all of the band.
15 metres, 21.000 to 21.450 MHz has performance which varies with the sunspot cycle. It can provide Trans-Tasman and DX contacts in the daytime. A benefit is that it is a harmonic of 40 metres, so many 40 m antennas can be used on this band. Generals have access to most of the band.
12 metres, 24.890 to 24.990 MHz is the third WARC band, it is mainly a daytime band, but can work at night too. Like the other WARC bands, generals get access to all of the band.
10 metres, 28.000 to 29.700 MHz works well during solar activity maximums, and during spring and summer. Repeaters are available on this band. Gain antennas, such as beams, can be valuable, and applying some of the ideas from VHF-DXing helps. Generals get access to all of the band. Standard FM is permitted from 29 MHz up, with US calling on 29.600 MHz. There are CB style single band radios for this band, based on the Uniden President HR2510 device. Many similar devices include CB coverage, and may not be sold commercially in the US. If you can get a new or well cared for multi-band radio, this is a better use of your funds.
Be aware that the HR2510 uses a Motorola MRF477 as the final transistor, and these can be blown fairly easily in this radio. They cost over $100 for genuine pre-1995 replacements. Those sold cheaply on various online marketplaces are fraudulent. A transistor marked RF2510 likely is too (it is a real IC part number).
On this band mobile antennas, including re-tuned CB ones, can be efficient, depending on size.
The bands for for which the whole band is available to Generals are 160 metre (MF); the five channels at 60 metres (5 MHz); the "WARC bands", being 30m, 17m, and 12m; and the 10 metre band.
From the chart (you did download one, didn't you?), where Generals are not allowed the entire voice segment, it is the upper portion of the band which is permitted. Off the exam, the same rule applies to General and Advanced hams in several data segments.
Those with restrictions for Generals are the traditional 80, 40, and 20 metre bands, and 15 metres.
The pattern is something like this, with red for RTTY & Data, Green for Voice and Image. Frequencies of each point are included. Some bands have an additional row, with "N,T" to the right of allocations to Novices and Techncians, with a black sinewave on white indicating CW.
| 20 Meters (14 MHz) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | |||||
| A | |||||
| G | |||||
In each band where Extra operators have more access than Generals, there is an intermediate amount of access for grand-fathered Advanced operators.
27 MHz CB was once a Ham band in many countries, including the US, hence its nickname, 11 metres. NZ allows Amateur telemetry in the band, but now also allows it to be used as a second CB band, using Australian channel numbers, as well as their original 26 MHz one.
You will notice that the original bands follow a a pattern of doubling in frequencies. This was deliberate, as it meant that harmonic content from one ham band tends to end up in another ham band. For example, twice 3.5 MHZ is 7 MHz.
21 MHz is 3 times 7 MHz, meaning 40 metre band antennas may work well on 15 metres.
10 metres is the only HF band where repeaters are permitted. Specifically, this is from 29.5 to 29.7 MHz. As this segment is the top 200 kHz of the band, the shift is only 100 kHz. Generally the repeater's receiver is located on a different site to the transmitter, to prevent the transmitted signal getting into the receiver.
In some bands Amateurs are the primary users, meaning they typically have exclusive use. On other bands, Hams are secondary users, and must avoid interfering with the primary users, such as by ceasing transmission, or changing frequency.
These structures have two purposes in Ham radio: One is that the vertical structure is the radiating element, the other that it supports an antenna such as a yagi or other "beam" antenna. In some cases they do both. They can also support wire antennas, including "slopers".
If you erect a tower over 60.96 metres (200 feet) high, it may need to be registered with the FCC and FAA, although the exams says it must. This is near airports, and is covered in more detail in Part 17. This may apply if you gain access to the roof of large building (exceeding this height) to erect a short mast, or otherwise mount an antenna for a repeater, or other Ham operations. Be aware that lower restrictions may apply close to airports, and that even adding to a building height by a small amount, by adding an antenna could be a problem within 3 or 5 km of some airports.
This does not preclude operation of your HT or similar from your office or condo in a tall building, or even pointing an upper-VHF or UHF yagi, or small dish / horn through the glass, etc. I operated from the CN Tower in 2012 (but under canadian law), but the ESB operators are grumpy sods, who don't like radios.
For most amateur activities 30 metres (or around 100 feet) is sufficient, unless you are need an efficient antenna for 160 metres. There is also a restriction of 60 metres for 2200 m and 630 m band antennas.
If Part 97 (the rules for Ham radio) does not have a rule on a particular topic, then "good engineering and good amateur practice" applies; and who determines what this is? The FCC.
Beacons are primarily used for evaluating propagation, and determining if communications are possible to a certain location. They are most often used on 10 metres, VHF, UHF, and SHF. There are also the IARU beacons on a range of upper HF frequencies. The power limit is 100 W PEP.
In the US any ham of Technician or higher grade can operate one or more beacons under their personal callsign, provided that there is only one per band.
The rules are listed here: 47 CFR § 97.203 - Beacon station
In Australia permanently running or unattended beacons must be licensed, with a call such as VK2RXX.
The § symbol means section number in the US and Europe, §§ means sections, say §§ 57-73. Australians just use s., as in s.51 (v), the section of the Constitution which allows the Commonwealth to regulate radio communications.
Nah! Music, except as part of re-broadcasting material from manned space-craft (NASA-TV), is prohibited.
If you hear Amateur news from overseas, this may include short periods of theme music, with the VK1WIA news from Australia's WIA being an example.
Remember, that if you hear an activity which is not authorised by US regulations, it is possible that it is authorised in the country in which that operation is taking place. This can include operation by government or other users in the US "75-meter" band, which is more extensive than the 80 metre band elsewhere. Likewise, 5 MHz spectrum is much sort after, as it is a reliable band for military, aviation, and other users.
Unfortunately however, there is unlawful operation on bands such as 10 metres, including by fishing vessels to Australia's north, and by "free-banders".
By the way, some words offensive to Americans may be merely impolite in other countries, or have a general meaning in a different language, such as the Norwegian for "dirt", or agricultural byproduct.
Amateur Radio can't be used for general news-gathering, but if a situation causes a risk to life or property, then it is acceptable to send a message for broadcast by a radio or TV station.
Codes which obscure the the meaning of the message, whether spoken, or in a digital system is prohibited, unless sending commands to a space vehicle (satellite).
However, Q-codes and pro-words are permitted. Q-codes are a set of 3 letter terms, such as QTH, meaning location. The 10-code, discouraged on Amateur bands, is used on CB and some police systems. 10-20 is location, hence "What is your 20?", and 10-4, for confirm. Informal terms include OM, for Old Man, applying to all male hams.
US Hams interface with the FCC. The ITU, in part via World Radio Administrative Conference, formulates policies and regulations which the governments are under varying degrees of obligation to implement. The FCC regulates civilian radio use in the US, and its territories.
An example is implementing access to a larger band at 60 metres. The FCC is under no obligation to do so, and it may well be opposed by the NTIA, which regulates government frequencies, given the value of 5 MHz to the military, and probably to "three letter agencies".
In Australia the agency is ACMA, in the UK it is Ofcom.
These are actual questions from the General exam pool.
G1A01 [97.301(d)]
On which HF and/or MF amateur bands are there portions where General class licensees cannot transmit?
A. 60 meters, 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters
B. 160 meters, 60 meters, 15 meters, and 12 meters
C. 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, and 15 meters
D. 80 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters
The bands on which there are restrictions are the big-3 HF DX bands, 80m 40m, 20 metres, and long-standing, 15m band; answer C.
G1A02 [97.305]
On which of the following bands is phone operation prohibited?
A. 160 meters
B. 30 meters
C. 17 meters
D. 12 meters
Remember, in the US, neither phone nor image is available on 30 metres, answer B.
You could perhaps visualise the red-stripe (RTTY & data) with 200 Watts PEP on it, but no green (voice and image) area, as seen in the band-plan.
G1A03 [97.305]
On which of the following bands is image transmission prohibited?
A. 160 meters
B. 30 meters
C. 20 meters
D. 12 meters
Remember, in the US, neither phone nor image is available on 30 metres, answer B.
| 200 Watts PEP | E,A,G |
G1A04 [97.303 (h)]
Which of the following amateur bands is restricted to communication only on specific channels, rather than frequency ranges?
A. 11 meters
B. 12 meters
C. 30 meters
D. 60 meters
The newer 60 metre (5 MHz) band is the only Amateur bands channelised, answer D.
Should access to the whole band, as per WRC-15, be implemented, then either this question will stand as is, or it will be withdrawn. It cannot be changed until mid 2027.
You should ignore the slang name of the Citizens' Band, as it is not an Amateur Band, while in any country where it may remain one channelisation is unlikely to be enforced.
G1A05 [97.301(d)]
On which of the following frequencies are General class licensees prohibited from operating as control operator?
A. 7.125 MHz to 7.175 MHz
B. 28.000 MHz to 28.025 MHz
C. 21.275 MHz to 21.300 MHz
D. All of the above
7.125 MHz is the transition from data to voice for Advanced and Extra licence holders, and 7.175 MHz the start of the General allocation; answer A.
10 metres has no restricts for Generals, removing B and D as options; and C is in permitted spectrum.
G1A06 [97.303]
Which of the following applies when the FCC rules designate the Amateur Service as a secondary user on a band?
A. Amateur stations must record the call sign of the primary service station before operating on a frequency assigned to that station
B. Amateur stations are allowed to use the band only during emergencies
C. Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to primary users and must accept interference from primary users
D. Amateur stations may only operate during specific hours of the day, while primary users are permitted 24-hour use of the band
You must not cause interference to primary users, and must "accept interference" from these stations, which in practice would mean moving away from their frequency, or pausing operation; answer C.
G1A07 [97.305(a)]
On which amateur frequencies in the 10-meter band may stations with a General class control operator transmit CW emissions?
A. 28.000 MHz to 28.025 MHz only
B. 28.000 MHz to 28.300 MHz only
C. 28.025 MHz to 28.300 MHz only
D. The entire band
CW is permitted anywhere in the band, and Generals have full access to the band, so answer D.
Avoiding repeater inputs is however a good idea.
G1A08 [97.301(b)]
Which HF bands have segments exclusively allocated to Amateur Extra licensees?
A. All HF bands
B. 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, and 15 meters
C. All HF bands except 160 meters and 10 meters
D. 60 meters, 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters
Each of the long-standing bands, 80, 40, 20, and 15 metres have Extra-only RTTY and data areas, answer B.
Since 60 metres is currently just 5 channels, all open to Generals, this makes all wrong answers wrong, as does the WARC bands being unrestricted for Generals.
G1A09 [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General Class portion of the 15-meter band?
A. 14250 kHz
B. 18155 kHz
C. 21300 kHz
D. 24900 kHz
Easy: only 21300 kHz is in the 15 metre band, answer C.
Should you have a nervous moment during the exam, 300 ÷ 15 = 20 MHz, the nearest to C.
G1A10 [97.205(b)]
What portion of the 10-meter band is available for repeater use?
A. The entire band
B. The portion between 28.1 MHz and 28.2 MHz
C. The portion between 28.3 MHz and 28.5 MHz
D. The portion above 29.5 MHz
Repeaters are confined to the uppermost portion of 10 metres, above 29.5 MHz, answer D.
This band has a RTTY & data area, and a portion where Novices and Technicians are permitted SSB only, all at 28-point whatever MHz. The other aid to remembering is that repeaters are in the area above 29.200 MHz, where voluntary band-plans allow FM.
G1A11 [97.301]
When General Class licensees are not permitted to use the entire voice portion of a particular band, which portion of the voice segment is available to them?
A. The lower frequency end
B. The upper frequency end
C. The lower frequency end on frequencies below 7.3 MHz and the upper end on frequencies above 14.150 MHz
D. The upper frequency end on frequencies below 7.3 MHz and the lower end on frequencies above 14.150 MHz
It is the upper end, in frequency terms, answer B.
The long ones are conflating this with the the LSB / USB selection issue.
G1B01 [97.15(a)]
What is the maximum height above ground for an antenna structure not near a public use airport without requiring notification to the FAA and registration with the FCC?
A. 50 feet
B. 100 feet
C. 200 feet
D. 250 feet
The height is 60.96 metres, or 200 feet, answer C.
The regulation text is "60.96 meters (200 feet)", lest you think I am using metric gratuitously.
G1B02 [97.203(b)]
With which of the following conditions must beacon stations comply?
A. No more than one beacon station may transmit in the same band from the same station location
B. The frequency must be coordinated with the National Beacon Organization
C. The frequency must be posted on the internet or published in a national periodical
D. All these choices are correct
In the US, there is no need for a special beacon licence, but your beacon can only have one transmission in each band, at each location, answer A.
G1B03 [97.3(a)(9)]
Which of the following is a purpose of a beacon station as identified in the FCC rules?
A. Observation of propagation and reception
B. Automatic identification of repeaters
C. Transmission of bulletins of general interest to Amateur Radio licensees
D. All these choices are correct
Beacons are used to observe the radio propagation, and can be used to see if reception is possible over a path, answer A.
If an Aussie hears "dah-dah-di-dit - di-dah-di-dit", meaning ZL, it is time to try to work New Zealand stations!
G1B04 [97.113(c)]
Which of the following transmissions is permitted for all amateur stations?
A. Unidentified transmissions of less than 10 seconds duration for test purposes only
B. Automatic retransmission of other amateur signals by any amateur station
C. Occasional retransmission of weather and propagation forecast information from US government stations
D. Encrypted messages, if not intended to facilitate a criminal act
Weather and propagation information can be transmitted occasionally, answer C.
The rule contains the stipulation that it be originated from a US Government station.
G1B05 [97.111((5)(b)]
Which of the following one-way transmissions are permitted?
A. Unidentified test transmissions of less than 10 seconds in duration
B. Transmissions to assist with learning the International Morse code
C. Regular transmissions offering equipment for sale, if intended for amateur radio use
D. All these choices are correct
Transmissions to assist learning Morse are permitted, answer B.
G1B06 [97.15(b), PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)]
Under what conditions are state and local governments permitted to regulate amateur radio antenna structures?
A. Under no circumstances, FCC rules take priority
B. At any time and to any extent necessary to accomplish a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity, provided that proper filings are made with the FCC
C. Only when such structures exceed 50 feet in height and are clearly visible 1000 feet from the structure
D. Amateur Service communications must be reasonably accommodated, and regulations must constitute the minimum practical to accommodate a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity
State and local government must allow reasonable antennas necessary for amateur operations, answer D.
G1B07 [97.113(a)(4)]
What are the restrictions on the use of abbreviations or procedural signals in the Amateur Service?
A. Only "Q" signals are permitted
B. They may be used if they do not obscure the meaning of a message
C. They are not permitted
D. Only "10 codes" are permitted
Appropriate procedural terms and abbreviations may be used, as long as they don't hide the meaning of the message answer B.
Wilco, for "will comply" is an example, and Q-codes are fine, as they are in a published list. Using 10-codes tends to annoy people, so should be avoided, but they are not prohibited. I suppose "QOD 8" could be used by some of Mr Trump's associates.
G1B08 [97.111(a)(1)]
When is it permissible to communicate with amateur stations in countries outside the areas administered by the Federal Communications Commission?
A. Only when the foreign country has a formal third-party agreement filed with the FCC
B. When the contact is with amateurs in any country except those whose administrations have notified the ITU that they object to such communications
C. Only when the contact is with amateurs licensed by a country which is a member of the United Nations, or by a territory possessed by such a country
D. Only when the contact is with amateurs licensed by a country which is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union, or by a territory possessed by such a country
This is permitted, except where the country has notified the ITU that they object to such communications, answer B.
G1B09 [97.203(d)]
On what HF frequencies are automatically controlled beacons permitted?
A. On any frequency if power is less than 1 watt
B. On any frequency if transmissions are in Morse code
C. 21.08 MHz to 21.09 MHz
D. 28.20 MHz to 28.30 MHz
Only on the indicated segment of 10 metres, answer D.
Note that the 4U1UN beacon may be in NYC, but it is under United Nations jurisdiction.
G1B10 [97.203(c)]
What is the power limit for beacon stations?
A. 10 watts PEP output
B. 20 watts PEP output
C. 100 watts PEP output
D. 200 watts PEP output
100 watts, answer C.
This is a reasonable balance between stations being able to hear the beacon, and it being too powerful to have practical use for indicating that a regular station can communicate over the path. It is also the power output of many off-the-shelf HF Ham radios.
G1B11 [97.101(a)]
Who or what determines "good engineering and good amateur practice" as applied to the operation of an amateur station in all respects not covered by the Part 97 rules?
A. The FCC
B. The control operator
C. The IEEE
D. The ITU
The FCC is the authority relating to radio operations, so answer A.
If you didn't find "QOD 8", it means "I can communicate with you in Russian", from the Maritime Q-codes; not that there is anything wrong with being multi-lingual. I am much more 1 (English), with a little 7, or in plain language, "Snakke litt Norsk".
A few more are:
QRM - Interference (man-made)
QSL - Confirm, with the variation, QSL card, confirming a contact
QTH - Location, and thus the informal QTHR, home address.
QRN - Static, lightning crashes, and other natural noise - "Q-R-Nelly"
QRP - Reduce Power, hence low power operation or low power equipment
It is possible transceivers become available on Chinese online marketplaces which will operate on 630 metres.
At the other end of the spectrum while some HF transceivers stop at 29.7 MHz, many operate on bands up 54 MHz or 70.5 MHz. Others include 2 metres and 70 cm. There are also dedicated UHF-VHF "all-mode" transceivers which in some cases include 23 cm (1.2 GHz).
Icom has now added the IC-905 which covers 2m, 70 cm, 23 cm, 12 cm (2.4 GHz), and 6 cm (5.6 MHz), plus optionally 3 cm (10 GHz) using an extra module, with the potential of a 24 GHz module coming. It differs from other units in that the "radio" in front of the user is a control unit connected to the RF gear via an Ethernet (POE) cable. This technique means that RF loss in feedlines is not an issue. This method is used in most modern microwave systems.
On to: Regulations 2 - Power, Data, and Volunteer Examiners
You can find links to lots more on the Learning Material page.
Written by Julian Sortland, VK2YJS & AG6LE, May 2024.
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