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For data operation on 60 metres (5 MHz) bandwidth is limited to 2.8 kHz. This is the same bandwidth as voice in these channels.
This is just a limit, so narrower modes are permitted.
In these regulations bandwidth is measured 26 dB below the average power level.
When you operate a hand-held radio, or a radio on the dashboard or desk in front of you, this is local control. A remote head connected to a radio elsewhere in a vehicle or room is local control too.
If you are operating through a repeater, then the retransmission by the repeater, and things like it timing out if you waffle too long are under Automatic control. Other examples are APRS station reporting position or weather. Other packet, PACTOR, and similar stations can also be under automatic control.
An interesting variation on APRS would be mains power status reporting, although reporting just my home address and the repeater site as both being off to the supply company was "interesting" enough experience.
If you are using a home station from nearby using a HT, this is remote control, and the home station becomes an auxiliary station. There are various restriction on the bands on which this can be done, although the paper does not go into these. Another example is the Remote Ham Radio system, which allows a range of stations in excellent locations to be used via the Internet. Thus the PC, smartphone or tablet becomes the control point.
Another example is that an Elecraft K3 can control another K3, including via the Internet.
An interesting experiment would be to "hack" the link between something like an FT-897D and its control head over an internet link. The serial data protocol has been partly decoded. That said, it may not be necessary to fully understand it to convey it over an IP link.
Various arrangements are in place which allow amateurs visiting between a range of countries to operate without applying for a licence. This applies to both the Amateur Service, and the Amateur Satellite Service.
The International Amateur Radio Permit is gained by applying, with a fee, to the ARRL, and permits operating in certain CITEL (Inter-American Telecommunication Commission) member countries.
CITEL members recognising the IARP are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
This is NOT needed for US Amateurs operating in Canada; just identify as AG9JK/VE1, etc, as there is a bilateral agreement.
This is the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, based in Denmark, and in this context, it relates to Amateur Radio related determinations of the Electronics Communications Committee (a successor to the European Radio Committee).
US Amateur Extra and Advanced licence holders (who are US citizens) can operate in many countries from Greenland (part of the Kingdom of Denmark) to Ukraine; Svalbard (part of the Kingdom of Norway) to New Caledonia (a special collectivity of France); Iceland to Turkey and Cyprus; and Estonia to the Azores (Portugal) under T/R 61-01. Some non-CEPT member countries which are signatories may recognise licences from other non-member signatories, others may not.
St Pierre and Miquelon in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Newfoundland is an overseas collectivity of France, where the prefix FP is used by visitors. Several Caribbean locations, and Guyane (Lagwiyann, or French Guiana) are also part of member nations; while Overseas countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and overseas territories of the Netherlands are non-member signatories.
Download: T/R 61-01
US General licence holders (who are US citizens) can operate in European countries that have adopted ECC Recommendation (05)06.
Download: Recommendation (05)06
Note that CEPT membership extends to European countries beyond the European Union, and that the UK's membership has continued, despite the idiocy which is "Brexit". Crown Dependencies are included, while British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are not.
US Amateurs must carry FCC Public Notice DA 11-221, as their licence, which also must be carried, does not contain the multi-lingual text the CEPT requires.
CEPT member country Amateurs can also operate in the US (and Canada).
Australian Advanced operators can operate in CEPT countries under T/R 61-01. The VK Standard evidently is too easy for ECC Recommendation (05)06.
While there isn't directly a question on this topic, the benefit is that visitors don't have to deal with the telecommunications authorities in the countries they visit, nor the CEPT or ECC.
Operators simply follow the table of prefixes, such as FK8/AG6LE, or W4/LA7JS.
The Russian Federation and Belarus have been suspended from CEPT. If another dictator wannabe keeps up his dictatorial carry-on, and public support of his Russian controller, perhaps his constituents will lose their reciprocal access too.
Off the exam, there are direct "bilateral" agreements between countries such as Australia and the US. In some cases they allow operation without applying for a licence, in others an application for a licence or permit is needed, but no exam. Likewise, some allow a person moving between countries to obtain a permanent licence to be obtained without exam. Some countries have quite open permissions, plus there are international organisations, like the ITU in Geneva, which have club stations which any Amateur can use, with prior application. UN employees in NYC can use the (non-US) club station there.
The International Telecommunications Union, National Telecommunications and Information, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration all have little direct impact on the day-to-day operation of Amateur stations. ITU set rules and recommendations which guide the FCC and NTIA, and other agencies globally. The NTIA allocates channels and licences for Federal agencies. Its infamy is its last minute opposition to a regular band allocation at 60 metres (5 MHz).
In most cases Amateurs deal with the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. That said, in many cases, notification to the FCC is NOT required, except permanent or long-term change of address (which carries no fee).
Nor, for that matter, will Hams have to deal with Space Farce, oops, Space Force, I expect.
One body Amateurs who wish to use 2200 or 630 metres need to notify is the Utilities Technology Council, UTC, previously a Commission. The page to use is: UTC - PLC Database Amateur Notification Process. They send control signals along their lines to control equipment.
If you hear nothing after 30 day you can operate. I would treat any failure to notify as permanent permission to operate, as it is reasonable to invest in equipment on Day 31, and they, through negligence in not replying promptly, should not destroy the value of that equipment or installation work. Their own website admits that "However, PLC users are not protected from interference from licensed radio transmitters" at PLC Database. It is important to note that power utilities can move anywhere in the 10-490 kHz range.
I'm not sure how wise it is to rely on the powerline to pass messages that a line had broken, and that power needs to be disconnected before it lands on some poor pedestrian, motorcyclist, kids on playground equipment, etc.
Unlicensed "LowFER" operation is permitted in the United States and Canada on frequencies between 160 kHz and 190 kHz, also referred to as the 1750-metre band. There are no powerline communications related restrictions applying to it.
Due to bandwidth limitations, for "angle modulation", meaning FM or PM (phase modulation), the highest modulation index permitted is 1.0.
Amateurs are permitted to operate via satellites operating in the Amateur Satellite Service.
Due to the global nature operations of low-earth orbiting satellites, operation is limited to bands (or sub-bands) which are in Amateur use globally. The only requirement to operate via satellites is being permitted to transmit on the uplink frequency. Any such station becomes an "Earth Station", be it at home, portable, in a vehicle, on a boat, or fitted to an aircraft.
To be a control operator of a "bird" requires only the permission of the licensee, and an amateur licence which permits transmission on the control frequency. This is a station which can change the operating parameters of the satellite. This can include setting the uplink and downlink bands, and perhaps linear or more FM-specific behaviour of the transponders.
Permitted HF bands are 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 metres, which excludes the long wavelength 80 metres, the 60 metre channels, and the heavily restricted 30 metre band. Bolding indicates the examples used by the examiner. On VHF only 2 metres is available, as it is the only universally available VHF band. On UHF the exam lists 70 cm and 13 cm. 23 cm is also permitted, as are various SHF & EHF bands.
Satellites often include a transmitter sending telemetry, including the status of onboard systems. This can be Morse, or data modes. These are specifically listed as permitted one-way transmissions, along with beacons and telecommand stations.
CubeSats are 1, 2, or 3 units, each 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm, or 1 decimetre cubed (1 dm²), also termed 1 litre. Aussies might visualise a 2 litre milk bottle.
Modes used vary, but can include SSB, CW, FM, and various digital modes. Often the transponder of the repeater is capable of having several users on different frequencies within its passband. There were or are store-and-forward satellites which uploaded messages on one location, then downloaded them when over the target location. I'm sure you can research these systems further if they are of interest.
Of significant interest are the Chinese led multinational projects progressing towards building a base on the moon, including associated relay satellites. Any station or repeater on the moon, or in orbit around it will have long periods of visibility over broad areas. If Artemis dodges DOGE perhaps it will also have signals of interest.
Launching a satellite is a major undertaking, even for a university, although "CubeSats", "TubeSats", and the like are lowering the barriers. While there are various legal processes, these are often handled in co-operation with AMSAT, the Amateur Satellite group, but as far as I know workign with AMSAT is not compulsory. They do not regulate who can be the controller of a satellite, unless it is theirs.
Their websites include: AMSAT-DL in Germany (English), AMSAT-EA in Spain, AMSAT UK, AMSAT-IT, AMSAT-HB in Switzerland, and AMSAT North America.
These are the actual questions from the Extra licence exam pool, as published by the NCVEC. Square brackets contain the relevant regulations number; these do NOT appear on the actual exams.
E1C01 [97.303]
What is the maximum bandwidth for a data emission on 60 meters?
A. 60 Hz
B. 170 Hz
C. 1.5 kHz
D. 2.8 kHz
Each channel is 2.8 kHz wide for voice operations, and again, this limit applies to data on each channel, answer D.
E1C02 [97.117]
Which of the following apply to communications transmitted to amateur stations in foreign countries?
A. Third party traffic must be limited to that intended for the exclusive use of government and non-Government Organization (NGOs) involved in emergency relief activities
B. All transmissions must be in English
C. Communications must be limited to those incidental to the purpose of the amateur service and remarks of a personal nature
D. All these choices are correct
This must be restricted to discussions of Amateur radio operation and equipment, and general comments on the weather, etc. answer C.
It can include things like arranging contracts on behalf of other Hams, or using 10 metres to assist with arranging 6 metre contacts. While there may be a requirement to identify in English, discussion can be in any language.
E1C03 [97.303(g)]
How long must an operator wait after filing a notification with the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) before operating on the 2200-meter or 630-meter band?
A. Operators must not operate until approval is received
B. Operators may operate after 30 days, providing they have not been told that their station is within 1 kilometer of PLC systems using those frequencies
C. Operators may not operate until a test signal has been transmitted in coordination with the local power company
D. Operations may commence immediately, and may continue unless interference is reported by the UTC
This is 30 days, answer B.
E1C04
What is an IARP?
A. A permit that allows US amateurs to operate in certain countries of the Americas
B. The internal amateur radio practices policy of the FCC
C. An indication of increased antenna reflected power
D. A forecast of intermittent aurora radio propagation
This is a system, called the "international amateur radio permit" which allows operation in various countries in the Americas, answer A.
E1C05 [97.221(c)(1),[97.115(c)]
Under what situation may a station transmit third party communications while being automatically controlled?
A. Never
B. Only when transmitting RTTY or data emissions
C. Only when transmitting SSB or CW
D. On any mode approved by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration
Stations using RTTY, and various packet radio, Winlink, and similar data modes or services may transmit or retransmit third party communications, answer B.
E1C06
Which of the following is required in order to operate in accordance with CEPT rules in foreign countries where permitted?
A. You must identify in the official language of the country in which you are operating
B. The US embassy must approve of your operation
C. You must bring a copy of FCC Public Notice DA 16-1048
D. You must append "/CEPT" to your call sign
As the US licence does not have the text which the CEPT requires, you must carry the notice referred to in answer C
VK Advanced licences, for example, contain the required text, as do licences issued by CEPT countries. The text is in English, French, and German.
E1C07 [97.303(g)]
What notifications must be given before transmitting on the 630- or 2200-meter bands?
A. A special endorsement must be requested from the FCC
B. An environmental impact statement must be filed with the Department of the Interior
C. Operators must inform the FAA of their intent to operate, giving their call sign and distance to the nearest runway
D. Operators must inform the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) of their call sign and coordinates of the station
Due to risk of interference with signalling on power lines, operators must inform the Utilities Telecom Council, answer C.
E1C08 [97.213]
What is the maximum permissible duration of a remotely controlled station's transmissions if its control link malfunctions?
A. 30 seconds
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 10 minutes
If the link fails, the remotely controlled station must cease operations within 3 minutes, answer B.
E1C09 [97.307]
What is the highest modulation index permitted at the highest modulation frequency for angle modulation below 29.0 MHz?
A. 0.5
B. 1.0
C. 2.0
D. 3.0
This is 1.0, answer B, to keep within the permitted bandwidth.
E1C10 [97.307]
What is the maximum mean power level for a spurious emission below 30 MHz with respect to the fundamental emission?
A. - 43 dB
B. - 53 dB
C. - 63 dB
D. - 73 dB
It is at -43 dB, answer A.
A lower (more negative) level is desireable. The spaces between the - signs and numerals are errors in the production of the question. A VE or VEC is permitted to remove them.
This is 1/20000 the power of the main signal. For a 1500 watt signal this is 0.075 watts, or 75 mW. It is enough to annoy other spectrum users within several kilometres. For a good quality 100 Watts transmitter the spurious will be below 5 mW, hopefully by a good margin.
E1C11 [97.5]
Which of the following operating arrangements allows an FCC-licensed US citizen to operate in many European countries, and amateurs from many European countries to operate in the US?
A. CEPT
B. IARP
C. ITU reciprocal license
D. All these choices are correct
US citizens with an appropriate US licence can use the CEPT agreement to operate in Europe (plus, in many cases, overseas parts of member countries, such as New Caledonia); and many European Amateurs can operate in the US, answer A.
E1C12 [97.305(c)]
On what portion of the 630-meter band are phone emissions permitted?
A. None
B. Only the top 3 kHz
C. Only the bottom 3 kHz
D. The entire band
All of this band, answer D.
While voice is permitted in all of this small band, you should still respect informal band-plans.
E1D01 [97.3]
What is the definition of the term telemetry?
A. One-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument
B. Two-way radiotelephone transmissions in excess of 1000 feet
C. Two-way single channel transmissions of data
D. One-way transmission that initiates, modifies, or terminates the functions of a device at a distance
The word literally means remote (or at a distance) measuring, so it is a one way transmission from measurement equipment, answer A.
This can include things like power supply status, battery voltage, etc, of a repeater; or things like river height.
E1D02 [97.211(b)]
Which of the following may transmit encrypted messages?
A. Telecommand signals to terrestrial repeaters
B. Telecommand signals from a space telecommand station
C. Auxiliary relay links carrying repeater audio
D. Mesh network backbone nodes
Command signals to a satellite or "space station" are encrypted, as it is necessary that trouble-makers cannot command the satellite to do something damaging to its onboard systems, hence answer A.
E1D03 [97.3(a)(45)]
What is a space telecommand station?
A. An amateur station located on the surface of the Earth for communication with other Earth stations by means of Earth satellites
B. An amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a space station
C. An amateur station located in a satellite or a balloon more than 50 kilometers above the surface of the earth
D. An amateur station that receives telemetry from a satellite or balloon more than 50 kilometers above the surface of the earth
Telecommand is commanding a station from a distance, in other words, it is a station which transmits to a space station (satellite) to control its operations, answer B.
E1D04 [97.119(a)]
Which of the following is required in the identification transmissions from a balloon-borne telemetry station?
A. Call sign
B. The output power of the balloon transmitter
C. The station's six-character Maidenhead grid locator
D. All these choices are correct
As with very nearly every Amateur transmission, this is the callsign, answer A.
E1D05 [97.213(d)]
What must be posted at the station location of a station being operated by telecommand on or within 50 km of the earth's surface?
A. A photocopy of the station license
B. A label with the name, address, and telephone number of the station licensee
C. A label with the name, address, and telephone number of the control operator
D. All these choices are correct
This might be a repeater, a remotely controlled station, or similar. In these cases the documents listed in all answers must be placed in the station, answer D.
The 50 km limit means this applies to a station in a building, shelter, communications site, vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc, but not a satellite.
E1D06 [97.215(c)]
What is the maximum permitted transmitter output power when operating a model craft by telecommand?
A. 1 watt
B. 2 watts
C. 5 watts
D. 100 watts
To communicate from a typically hand-held controller, to a craft which is most usually in visual range, requires little power, hence the 1 watt limit in answer A.
E1D07 [97.207]
Which of the following HF amateur bands include allocations for space stations?
A. 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters
B. 30 meters, 17 meters, and 10 meters
C. Only 10 meters
D. Satellite operation is permitted on all HF bands
The only answer with a correct sample of bands is answer A.
How to remember this? With multiple segments from 7 MHz and up, remember the exception is the itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny 30 metre band (10 MHz), with various restrictions, such as no voice or image transmissions in most countries.
E1D08 [97.207]
Which VHF amateur bands have frequencies authorized for space stations?
A. 6 meters and 2 meters
B. 6 meters, 2 meters, and 1.25 meters
C. 2 meters and 1.25 meters
D. 2 meters
It is only 2 metres, answer D.
The other bands are not available to Hams globally, with 1.25 metres is only for Amateur use in the Americas only, and 6 metres has been used, until recently, for TV broadcasting in Europe, freed up thanks to DVB-T working poorly at low-mid VHF (4 metres was/is used in the UK instead).
E1D09 [97.207]
Which UHF amateur bands have frequencies authorized for space stations?
A. 70 centimeters only
B. 70 centimeters and 13 centimeters
C. 70 centimeters and 33 centimeters
D. 33 centimeters and 13 centimeters
Dump 33 cm (902 MHz) as it is an Americas only band, so a satellite operating on this band over areas where this is use for other services is a bad idea. It is 70 cm and 13 cm, answer B.
This is not an exhaustive list, but the answer which includes a correct selection of such bands. 23 cm is also available.
E1D10 [97.211]
Which amateur stations are eligible to be telecommand stations of space stations, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator of the station?
A. Any amateur station approved by AMSAT
B. Any amateur station so designated by the space station licensee
C. Any amateur station so designated by the ITU
D. All these choices are correct
It is any station designated by the satellite owner / licensee, answer B.
Universities, military academies, and other groups not associated with AMSAT may launch satellites.
E1D11 [97.209]
Which amateur stations are eligible to operate as Earth stations?
A. Any amateur licensee who has successfully completed the AMSAT space communications course
B. Only those of General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operators
C. Only those of Amateur Extra Class operators
D. Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator
As long as the control operator can transmit on the uplink frequency in the appropriate mode, they can operate the station as an earth station, answer D.
Note that this refers to any transmitting user of the satellite, including using a handheld radio and a small Yagi. Any person can receive such signals.
E1D12 [97.207(e), 97.203(g)]
Which of the following amateur stations may transmit one-way communications?
A. A space station, beacon station, or telecommand station
B. A local repeater or linked repeater station
C. A message forwarding station or automatically controlled digital station
D. All these choices are correct
These are space stations (satellites), beacons, or telecommand (remote control) stations, answer A.
On to: Extra Regulations 3 - Volunteer Examiners and Misc Regs.
You can find links to lots more on the Learning Material page.
Written by Julian Sortland, VK2YJS & AG6LE, August 2025.
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