E1 Commission Rules

D. The upper 1 kHz of the signal is outside the 20-meter band

A USB signal extends upward from its carrier, so a 3 kHz wide USB signal with its carrier at 14.348 MHz occupies 14.348 to 14.351 MHz. The 20 m band ends at 14.350 MHz (47 CFR 97.301), and 97.307(b) requires emissions resulting from modulation to stay inside the band, so the top 1 kHz, from 14.350 to 14.351 MHz, is out of band.

• A. USB is the conventional sideband on 20 m phone; the problem is where the signal sits, not which sideband is used.
• B. The lower edge of a USB signal is at the carrier, 14.348 MHz, which is inside the band; it is the upper edge that crosses 14.350 MHz.
• C. 14.348 MHz is inside the 20 m band, which runs from 14.000 to 14.350 MHz; only the modulation above the carrier extends past the edge.

Pool citation: 97.305, 97.307(b)

D. 3 kHz above the lower band edge

An LSB signal extends downward from the displayed carrier frequency, typically to about 3 kHz below it, so the carrier must be at least 3 kHz above the lower edge of the band or segment for the whole signal to stay inside, as 47 CFR 97.307(b) requires. For example, for stations in the continental US the 40 m phone segment begins at 7.125 MHz, so the lowest LSB carrier setting there is 7.128 MHz.

• A. With the carrier at the exact lower edge, the entire LSB signal would lie below the edge and therefore outside the band.
• B. 300 Hz above the edge protects only the lowest audio frequencies; voice components out to about 3 kHz below the carrier would fall outside the band.
• C. 1 kHz above the edge still leaves the voice components between 1 and 3 kHz below the carrier outside the band.

Pool citation: 97.301, 97.305

C. 14.1472 MHz

On 20 m, RTTY and data are authorized only from 14.000 to 14.150 MHz (47 CFR 97.305(c)), and 97.307(b) requires the whole emission to stay inside that segment. A USB data signal extends upward from its carrier, so a 2.8 kHz wide signal needs its carrier at least 2.8 kHz below the top of the segment: 14.150 MHz minus 0.0028 MHz equals 14.1472 MHz.

• A. 14.0708 MHz is a legal carrier setting (the signal tops out at 14.0736 MHz), but it is not the highest one.
• B. 14.1002 MHz is also legal (the signal reaches 14.1030 MHz), but a carrier as high as 14.1472 MHz still keeps the signal inside the data segment.
• D. 14.3490 MHz is in the 20 m phone and image segment, where data emissions are not authorized, and a 2.8 kHz USB signal there would also extend past the 14.350 MHz band edge.

Pool citation: 97.305, 97.307(b)

C. No, the sideband components will extend beyond the edge of the phone band segment

An LSB voice signal occupies roughly the 3 kHz below its carrier, so a carrier at 3.601 MHz puts sideband energy down to about 3.598 MHz. Phone is authorized only from 3.600 MHz upward (47 CFR 97.305(c)), so part of the signal would fall below 3.600 MHz, where phone is not permitted; the lowest legal LSB carrier is about 3.603 MHz.

• A. Extra class phone privileges begin at 3.600 MHz, and an LSB signal with its carrier at 3.601 MHz extends below that edge, so the entire signal is not inside the phone allocation.
• B. The displayed frequency shows only the suppressed carrier; what matters is where the sidebands fall, and here they extend below 3.600 MHz.
• D. Extra class operators may use phone down to 3.600 MHz; no rule sets a 3.610 MHz limit.

Pool citation: 97.301, 97.305

C. Any person holding an FCC issued amateur license or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation

Under 47 CFR 97.5(a)(2), before an amateur station aboard a vessel or craft documented or registered in the US may transmit, its apparatus must be under the physical control of a person named in an amateur station license grant in the FCC's ULS database or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation under 97.107.

• A. A marine radio license covers stations in the maritime service; it gives no authority to operate an amateur station.
• B. FCC amateur licensees do qualify, but the rule also allows a non-US citizen authorized for alien reciprocal operation, so limiting it to licensees is too narrow.
• D. A Radiotelephone Operator Permit is a commercial operator authorization and does not qualify anyone to control an amateur station.

Pool citation: 97.5

B. At the center frequency of the channel

Under 47 CFR 97.303(h)(3), a CW signal (emission 150HA1A) on a 60 m channel must have its carrier on the channel's center frequency, while phone, data and RTTY operators may set the carrier 1.5 kHz below center so a USB signal is centered in the channel. Since 2026-02-13 the channelized part of 60 m is four channels centered on 5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405 kHz, alongside a non-channelized segment from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz.

• A. The low side of the channel is where the suppressed carrier of a USB phone or data signal goes (1.5 kHz below center), not where a CW signal is placed.
• C. No 60 m rule places any carrier at the top of a channel; CW belongs at the center.
• D. The rule fixes the CW carrier on the center frequency rather than allowing any frequency within the channel.

Pool citation: 97.303(h)(1)

C. 1 watt EIRP (equivalent isotropic radiated power)

Under 47 CFR 97.313(k), a station on the 2200 m band (135.7 to 137.8 kHz) may not exceed 1 W EIRP of radiated power, and its transmitter output is separately capped at 1.5 kW PEP. EIRP is the power supplied to the antenna times the antenna's gain relative to an isotropic antenna (97.3(b)(2)), so the limit applies to what the antenna actually radiates.

• A. 50 W PEP is the limit in other cases, such as the 219 to 220 MHz segment (97.313(h)), not on 2200 m.
• B. 100 W is the ERP limit on the four 60 m channels (97.313(i)), not a 2200 m limit.
• D. 5 W EIRP is the limit on the 630 m band (97.313(l)), not on 2200 m.

Pool citation: 97.313(k)

B. The control operator of the originating station

Under 47 CFR 97.219(b), in a message forwarding system the control operator of the station that originated a message is primarily accountable for any rule violation it contains. Forwarding stations that pass along a violating message inadvertently are not accountable (97.219(c)), though they must stop forwarding it once they become aware of it.

• A. A packet bulletin board is a forwarding station, and under 97.219(c) its control operator is not accountable for inadvertently retransmitting a violating message.
• C. The rule does not spread accountability across every station in the system; the originating station's control operator is primarily accountable.
• D. Under 97.219(d), only the first forwarding station must authenticate its source or accept accountability itself, and even then the originating station remains primarily accountable.

Pool citation: 97.219

D. 5 watts EIRP (equivalent isotropic radiated power)

Under 47 CFR 97.313(l), a station on the 630 m band (472 to 479 kHz) may not exceed 5 W EIRP of radiated power or 500 W PEP of transmitter output. The exception is in Alaska, where stations within 800 km of Russia are limited to 1 W EIRP.

• A. 50 W PEP is the limit in other cases, such as the 219 to 220 MHz segment, not on 630 m.
• B. 100 W is the ERP limit on the 60 m channels, not on 630 m.
• C. 1 W EIRP is the limit on 2200 m and for Alaskan stations within 800 km of Russia on 630 m, not for 630 m elsewhere.

Pool citation: 97.313(l)

A. Its operation must be approved by the master of the ship or the pilot in command of the aircraft

Under 47 CFR 97.11(a), installing and operating an amateur station on a ship or aircraft must be approved by the master of the ship or the pilot in command of the aircraft. The station must also be separate from the craft's other radio apparatus, must not interfere with it, and must not create a safety hazard (97.11(b) and (c)).

• B. No rule ties amateur transmissions to use of the main radio; the requirement is that the amateur station not interfere with other apparatus aboard.
• C. 97.11 requires the station to be separate from other radio apparatus aboard, but it does not require a separate power supply.
• D. No special band segments apply aboard ships or aircraft; the control operator's normal privileges apply.

Pool citation: 97.11

B. Any FCC-issued amateur license

Under 47 CFR 97.5(a)(2), a station aboard any vessel or craft documented or registered in the US must be under the physical control of a person named in an FCC amateur license grant (or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation), so any FCC-issued amateur license is enough. The operator then uses the privileges of their own license class.

• A. Amateur licenses have no Marine or Aircraft endorsement; the license itself is sufficient.
• C. No minimum class is required; a Technician may operate aboard within Technician privileges.
• D. A Radiotelephone Operator Permit is a commercial authorization and does not authorize amateur operation.

Pool citation: 97.5

D. An emission outside the signal’s necessary bandwidth that can be reduced or eliminated without affecting the information transmitted

Under 47 CFR 97.3(a)(43), a spurious emission is an emission on frequencies outside the necessary bandwidth of a transmission whose level can be reduced without affecting the information being transmitted. Harmonics and parasitic oscillations are common examples.

• A. A transmission without proper identification violates 97.119(a), but that is an identification problem, not a spurious emission.
• B. A signal meant to avoid detection describes covert communication, not unwanted energy outside the necessary bandwidth.
• C. The definition does not depend on interference or on a 40 dB figure; the HF requirement in 97.307(d) is at least 43 dB of attenuation for transmitters installed after January 1, 2003.

Pool citation: 97.3

A. 3 kHz

On HF, phone and image signals are expected to fit within the bandwidth of a communications-quality SSB voice signal, about 3 kHz. 47 CFR 97.307(f)(2) sets this limit for non-phone emissions such as slow-scan TV, and 97.307(a) requires every emission to use no more bandwidth than necessary, so HF digital voice and SSTV modes are built to fit about 3 kHz.

• B. 10 kHz is more than three times the width of an SSB voice signal and would exceed the 97.307(f)(2) limit for an image emission.
• C. 15 kHz is about the width of a VHF FM voice signal, far wider than an HF SSB signal.
• D. 20 kHz is the authorized bandwidth for data on 6 m and 2 m (97.307(f)(5)), not an acceptable HF bandwidth.

Pool citation: 97.307(f)(2)

A. 1 mile

Under 47 CFR 97.13(b), an amateur station within 1600 m (1 mile) of an FCC monitoring facility must protect that facility from harmful interference, or the FCC may restrict its operation under 97.121. The facilities are listed in 47 CFR 0.121(c).

• B. 3 miles does not appear in 97.13(b); the protected distance is 1 mile.
• C. 10 miles (16 km) appears in Part 97 as the Arecibo Observatory notification distance for repeaters (97.205(h)), not in the monitoring facility rule.
• D. 30 miles does not appear in 97.13(b); the protected distance is 1 mile.

Pool citation: 97.13

C. Cease operation or make changes to the repeater that mitigate the interference

On 70 cm, amateurs must not cause harmful interference to, and must accept interference from, US Government radiolocation (radar) stations (47 CFR 97.303(b)). A repeater that interferes with such a system must stop transmitting or be changed (frequency, power, antenna or other parameters) so that the interference ends.

• A. Lowering the antenna might be one way to reduce interference, but no rule calls for that particular step; the requirement is to stop causing the interference by whatever change works.
• B. A Notice to Air Missions is an aviation safety notice; no rule asks amateurs to file one to resolve radiolocation interference.
• D. Filing a NOTAM is not required and lowering the antenna is not specifically required, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.303(b)

C. An area surrounding the National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The National Radio Quiet Zone, defined in 47 CFR 97.3(a)(33), is an area of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia around the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, WV. Under 97.203(e), a station must notify the observatory before establishing an automatically controlled beacon in the zone.

• A. FCC monitoring facilities are protected by a separate rule, 97.13(b), which applies within 1 mile of a facility; the quiet zone is not defined around one.
• B. White Sands Missile Range in Texas and New Mexico affects 33 cm operation (97.303(n), 97.313(g)), not the National Radio Quiet Zone.
• D. Florida has 70 cm power limits tied to military radar (97.313(f)), but the National Radio Quiet Zone is in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Pool citation: 97.3

A. You may have to notify the Federal Aviation Administration and register it with the FCC as required by Part 17 of the FCC rules

Under 47 CFR 97.15(a), owners of certain antenna structures more than 200 feet (60.96 m) above ground, or located near or at a public use airport, must notify the Federal Aviation Administration and register the structure with the FCC as required by Part 17 of the FCC rules. Whether a given structure needs this depends on its height and its distance from the airport.

• B. Part 97 does not set data entry formats; the rule that applies near an airport is the Part 17 FAA notification and FCC registration requirement.
• C. No EPA environmental impact statement is required for an amateur antenna; environmental review for amateur stations follows FCC rules (97.13(a)).
• D. Part 97 contains no airport construction permit requirement; the rule it applies near airports is Part 17 notification and registration.

Pool citation: 97.15

C. State and local zoning

PRB-1 is a 1985 FCC ruling, referenced in 47 CFR 97.15(b), that limits how state and local governments may regulate amateur antenna structures: their regulations must reasonably accommodate amateur communications and be the minimum practicable regulation for a legitimate purpose. It applies to state and local zoning and similar government regulation.

• A. The FCC has not extended PRB-1 to private agreements such as homeowners association covenants and deed restrictions; it covers government regulation.
• B. Antenna height near airports is handled through FAA notification and FCC registration under Part 17, not PRB-1.
• D. PRB-1 concerns antenna structures, not the use of wireless devices in vehicles.

Pool citation: 97.15

D. The amateur station must avoid transmitting during certain hours on frequencies that cause the interference

Under 47 CFR 97.121(a), if an amateur station causes general interference to domestic broadcast reception on receivers of good engineering design, it may be barred from using the frequencies that cause the interference from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. local time, and also from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. These quiet hours apply only on the offending frequencies.

• A. The rule restricts operating hours on the problem frequencies; it does not shut down the station.
• B. The restriction covers only the frequencies causing interference, not every frequency below 30 MHz.
• C. The restriction covers only the frequencies causing interference, not every frequency above 30 MHz.

Pool citation: 97.121

C. Any FCC-licensed amateur station certified by the responsible civil defense organization for the area served

Under 47 CFR 97.407(a), a station may transmit in RACES only if it is an FCC-licensed primary, club or military recreation station certified by a civil defense organization as registered with that organization. Its control operator must hold an FCC amateur license and be certified as enrolled in that organization.

• A. RACES is not limited to club stations or to Amateur Extra licensees.
• B. Technician class stations are not excluded; any licensed station may take part if registered with the civil defense organization.
• D. Part 97 has no separate technical standard for emergency operation; RACES eligibility depends on civil defense registration.

Pool citation: 97.407

A. All amateur service frequencies authorized to the control operator

Under 47 CFR 97.407(b), a station transmitting in RACES may use all the amateur frequency bands, segments and emissions authorized to its control operator, shared with normal amateur service operation. Only if the President's War Emergency Powers are invoked are RACES stations limited to the segments authorized under Part 214.

• B. Specific segments apply only if the President's War Emergency Powers are invoked; normally every frequency authorized to the control operator is available.
• C. RACES stations are amateur stations and transmit on amateur frequencies, not on local government channels.
• D. Specific segments and government channels are not the normal RACES frequencies, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.407

B. Reasonable accommodations of amateur radio must be made

PRB-1, referenced in 47 CFR 97.15(b), requires state and local regulation of amateur antenna structures to reasonably accommodate amateur communications and to be the minimum practicable regulation that accomplishes the government's legitimate purpose. Local governments may still regulate antennas, but they may not preclude amateur communications.

• A. PRB-1 allows reasonable regulation of antenna size and placement; it does not forbid all limitations.
• C. PRB-1 does not depend on showing an emergency communications use; reasonable accommodation applies to amateur communications in general.
• D. Certification by a professional engineer is not part of PRB-1 and does not override local regulation.

Pool citation: 97.15

D. 2.8 kHz

Under 47 CFR 97.303(h)(3) and 97.307(f)(14)(i), no emission anywhere on the 60 m band may occupy more than 2.8 kHz, and that applies to data as well as phone and RTTY. The figure matches the 2K80 bandwidth code in the 60 m phone and data emission designators 2K80J3E and 2K80J2D.

• A. 60 Hz is the bandwidth in the RTTY emission designator 60H0J2B listed for the 60 m channels, not the maximum for data.
• B. 170 Hz is a common RTTY frequency shift, not the 60 m bandwidth limit.
• C. 1.5 kHz is how far below a channel's center frequency a phone, data or RTTY carrier may be set, not a bandwidth limit.

Pool citation: 97.303

C. Communications must be limited to those incidental to the purpose of the amateur service and remarks of a personal nature

Under 47 CFR 97.117, transmissions to amateur stations in other countries must be limited to communications incidental to the purposes of the amateur service and to remarks of a personal character. Third party messages to foreign stations are a separate matter covered by 97.115.

• A. Third party traffic to foreign stations is allowed where the US has a third party arrangement with that country, and emergency or disaster relief messages may go to any country (97.115(a)(2)); it is not limited to government and NGO use.
• B. Part 97 requires English only for phone station identification (97.119(b)(2)); the contact itself may be in any language.
• D. The third party restriction and the English requirement are not rules, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.117

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

Under 47 CFR 97.303(g)(2), an operator must notify the Utilities Technology Council (called the Utilities Telecom Council in the rule) of their call sign, intended band or bands and antenna coordinates before using 2200 m or 630 m. Operation may begin after 30 days unless UTC reports that the station is within 1 km of a power line carrier (PLC) system on the same frequencies.

• A. No approval is issued; if UTC does not object within 30 days, operation may begin.
• C. No coordinated test transmission with a power company is required.
• D. Operation may not begin immediately; the rule requires waiting 30 days after notification.

Pool citation: 97.303(g)

A. A permit that allows US amateurs to operate in certain countries of the Americas

An IARP (International Amateur Radio Permit) is issued under the Inter-American Convention on an International Amateur Radio Permit and lets a licensed amateur from a participating country operate temporarily in other participating countries of the Americas without a separate license. Part 97 defines it in 97.3(a)(24) and allows foreign IARP holders to operate in the US (97.5(e), 97.301(a)).

• B. No FCC policy is called an IARP; the term refers to the Inter-American permit.
• C. Reflected power is measured with an SWR meter or directional wattmeter; IARP is not a measurement term.
• D. IARP has nothing to do with propagation forecasts; it is an operating permit.

B. Only when transmitting RTTY or data emissions

Under 47 CFR 97.115(c), a station may not transmit third party communications while automatically controlled unless it is transmitting a RTTY or data emission. This lets automatically controlled digital stations, such as those in message forwarding systems, carry third party messages.

• A. The rule makes an exception for RTTY and data, so third party traffic under automatic control is allowed in that case.
• C. SSB phone and CW are not covered by the exception; only RTTY and data emissions are.
• D. The NTIA manages federal government spectrum and does not approve amateur modes; the exception is set by 97.115(c).

Pool citation: 97.221(c)(1), 97.115(c)

C. You must have a copy of FCC Public Notice DA 16-1048

Under CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01, which the US implements, a US amateur visiting a participating European country must carry a copy of FCC Public Notice DA 16-1048, which documents that a US license is recognized under the CEPT arrangement, along with their license. The operator identifies with the host country's prefix, a slash, and their US call sign.

• A. CEPT operation does not require identifying in the host country's official language.
• B. The CEPT arrangement exists so that no individual permission is needed; the US embassy has no approval role.
• D. The CEPT identification format puts the host country's prefix before the call sign; it does not use a /CEPT suffix.

D. Operators must inform the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) of their call sign and coordinates of the station

Under 47 CFR 97.303(g)(2), before operating on 2200 m or 630 m an amateur must notify the Utilities Technology Council (UTC, called the Utilities Telecom Council in the rule) of their call sign, intended band or bands, and the coordinates of their fixed antenna location. UTC uses this to check whether the station is within 1 km of a power line carrier system on those frequencies.

• A. No FCC endorsement is needed; any General class or higher licensee may use these bands after notifying UTC.
• B. No environmental impact statement is required to operate on these bands.
• C. The FAA has no notification role here; the required notice goes to UTC.

Pool citation: 97.303(g)

B. 3 minutes

Under 47 CFR 97.213(b), a station under telecommand (remote control) must include provisions that limit its transmissions to no more than 3 minutes if the control link malfunctions. This keeps a station from transmitting indefinitely when the control operator can no longer turn it off.

• A. 30 seconds is within the limit, but it is not the maximum; the rule allows up to 3 minutes.
• C. 5 minutes exceeds the 3 minute limit in 97.213(b).
• D. 10 minutes exceeds the 3 minute limit; 10 minutes is the station identification interval in 97.119(a).

Pool citation: 97.213

B. 1.0

Under 47 CFR 97.307(f)(1), which 97.305(c) applies to HF phone segments below 29.0 MHz, no angle-modulated (FM or PM) emission may have a modulation index greater than 1 at the highest modulation frequency. Modulation index is peak deviation divided by modulating frequency, so with 3 kHz audio the deviation may be at most 3 kHz; the 29.0 to 29.7 MHz segment is exempt, which allows wider FM there.

• A. An index of 0.5 is permitted, but it is not the maximum; the limit is 1.0.
• C. An index of 2.0 is above the 1.0 limit for HF below 29.0 MHz.
• D. An index of 3.0 is three times the 1.0 limit for HF below 29.0 MHz.

Pool citation: 97.307

A. - 43 dB

Under 47 CFR 97.307(d), for transmitters installed after January 1, 2003, the mean power of any spurious emission on a frequency below 30 MHz must be at least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental. A 43 dB reduction is a power ratio of about 20,000 to 1, so -43 dB is the highest level allowed.

• B. A spurious emission 53 dB down meets the rule, but the maximum allowed level is 43 dB below the fundamental.
• C. A spurious emission 63 dB down meets the rule, but the maximum allowed level below 30 MHz is 43 dB below the fundamental; the 30 to 225 MHz requirement is 60 dB (97.307(e)).
• D. A spurious emission 73 dB down meets the rule, but the maximum allowed level is 43 dB below the fundamental.

Pool citation: 97.307

A. CEPT

CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01, from the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, lets amateurs licensed in participating countries, including the US, operate temporarily in other participating countries without a separate license. Part 97 gives CEPT license holders the matching privilege of operating in the US (97.5(d), 97.301).

• B. The IARP covers participating countries in the Americas under an Inter-American convention, not European countries.
• C. The ITU does not issue amateur licenses; reciprocal operation rests on agreements between governments (97.107).
• D. The IARP and an ITU license do not provide operation in Europe, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.5

D. The entire band

Under 47 CFR 97.305(c), phone and image emissions are authorized across the entire 630 m band (472 to 479 kHz), along with RTTY, data and CW. Phone there is still subject to the 5 W EIRP radiated power limit of 97.313(l).

• A. Phone is authorized on 630 m; the band is not limited to CW and data.
• B. The 630 m emission rules are not split into segments; phone is allowed anywhere in the band, not only the top 3 kHz.
• C. The 630 m emission rules are not split into segments; phone is allowed anywhere in the band, not only the bottom 3 kHz.

Pool citation: 97.305(c)

A. One-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument

Under 47 CFR 97.3(a)(46), telemetry is a one-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument, such as a balloon or satellite sending temperature, voltage or position readings. Telemetry is one of the one-way transmissions authorized by 97.111(b)(7).

• B. Telemetry is one-way, and its definition has no distance threshold such as 1000 feet.
• C. Telemetry is one-way; a two-way exchange of data is ordinary data communication.
• D. Initiating, modifying or terminating the functions of a device at a distance is telecommand (97.3(a)(44)), which works in the opposite direction from telemetry.

Pool citation: 97.3

B. Telecommand signals from a space telecommand station

Under 47 CFR 97.211(b), a space telecommand station may transmit special codes intended to obscure the meaning of telecommand messages to the station in space. This protects satellites from unauthorized commands; other amateur communications may not be encoded to obscure their meaning (97.113(a)(4)).

• A. Telecommand of terrestrial stations such as repeaters has no exemption from the 97.113(a)(4) ban on messages encoded to obscure their meaning.
• C. Auxiliary links carrying repeater audio are ordinary amateur transmissions and may not be encrypted.
• D. Mesh network nodes are amateur stations subject to 97.113(a)(4), so their traffic may not be encrypted.

Pool citation: 97.211(b)

B. An amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify, or terminate functions of a space station

Under 47 CFR 97.3(a)(45), a telecommand station is an amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a space station. It is the station that sends commands up to a satellite.

• A. A station on Earth that communicates with other Earth stations by means of satellites is an Earth station (97.3(a)(16)).
• C. A station located more than 50 km above the Earth's surface is a space station (97.3(a)(41)), not a telecommand station.
• D. Receiving telemetry does not make a station a telecommand station; telecommand stations transmit commands to a space station.

Pool citation: 97.3(a)(45)

A. Call sign

Under 47 CFR 97.119(a), every amateur station except a space station or telecommand station must transmit its assigned call sign at the end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. A balloon flying below 50 km is not a space station, so its telemetry transmitter must identify with its call sign.

• B. Transmitter output power is not part of station identification.
• C. A grid locator may be included in telemetry, but the rules do not require it for identification.
• D. Only the call sign is required, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.119(a)

D. All these choices are correct

Under 47 CFR 97.213(d), a station on or within 50 km of the Earth's surface operated by telecommand must have posted, in a conspicuous place at the station location, a photocopy of the station license and a label with the name, address and telephone number of the station licensee and of at least one designated control operator. All three items are required.

• A. A copy of the station license is required, but so are the labels for the licensee and a control operator.
• B. A label for the station licensee is required, but the license copy and the control operator label are required too.
• C. A label for a designated control operator is required, but so are the license copy and the licensee label.

Pool citation: 97.213(d)

A. 1 watt

Under 47 CFR 97.215(c), a station transmitting signals to control a model craft may not exceed 1 W of transmitter power. Those control transmissions need no station identification if a label with the call sign and the licensee's name and address is attached to the transmitter (97.215(a)).

• B. 2 watts exceeds the 1 W limit for model craft control.
• C. 5 watts exceeds the 1 W limit for model craft control.
• D. 100 watts is far above the 1 W limit for model craft control.

Pool citation: 97.215(c)

A. 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters

Under 47 CFR 97.207(c), space stations may transmit on the 17, 15, 12 and 10 m bands and on the 7.0 to 7.1 MHz (40 m) and 14.00 to 14.25 MHz (20 m) segments. The list of 40, 20, 15 and 10 m is the only choice made up entirely of HF bands that have space station frequencies.

• B. 30 m has no space station frequencies, even though 17 m and 10 m do.
• C. 10 m has space station frequencies, but so do 40, 20, 17, 15 and 12 m.
• D. Space stations may not use every HF band; 80 m, 75 m, 60 m and 30 m have no space station frequencies.

Pool citation: 97.207

D. 2 meters

Under 47 CFR 97.207(c)(2), the only VHF frequencies authorized to space stations are 144 to 146 MHz, part of the 2 m band. The 6 m and 1.25 m bands have no space station frequencies.

• A. 6 m has no space station frequencies; only 144 to 146 MHz in 2 m does.
• B. Neither 6 m nor 1.25 m has space station frequencies; only 144 to 146 MHz in 2 m does.
• C. 1.25 m has no space station frequencies; only 144 to 146 MHz in 2 m does.

Pool citation: 97.207

B. 70 centimeters and 13 centimeters

Under 47 CFR 97.207(c)(2), the UHF segments authorized to space stations are 435 to 438 MHz in the 70 cm band and 2400 to 2450 MHz in the 13 cm band. UHF covers 300 to 3000 MHz (97.3(b)(12)), so both count as UHF.

• A. 70 cm has space station frequencies, but so does 2400 to 2450 MHz in the 13 cm band.
• C. 33 cm (902 to 928 MHz) has no space station frequencies; the second UHF band is 13 cm.
• D. 13 cm has space station frequencies, but 33 cm does not, and 70 cm is missing from this pair.

Pool citation: 97.207

B. Any amateur station so designated by the space station licensee

Under 47 CFR 97.211(a), any amateur station designated by the licensee of a space station may transmit as a telecommand station for that space station, subject to the privileges of the control operator's license class.

• A. AMSAT is an amateur satellite organization, but the rule gives the power of designation to the space station licensee, not to AMSAT.
• C. The ITU does not designate individual telecommand stations; the space station licensee does.
• D. Only designation by the space station licensee counts, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.211

D. Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator

Under 47 CFR 97.209(a), any amateur station may be an Earth station, and a holder of any class of operator license may be its control operator, subject to that class's privileges.

• A. No course is required to operate an Earth station.
• B. Technician licensees may also operate Earth stations within their privileges, so the rule is not limited to General and higher.
• C. Earth station operation is not limited to Amateur Extra licensees.

Pool citation: 97.209

A. A space station, beacon station, or telecommand station

Part 97 specifically authorizes one-way communications by space stations (47 CFR 97.207(e)), beacon stations (97.203(g)) and telecommand stations (97.211(d)), in addition to the general one-way transmissions listed in 97.111(b). Auxiliary stations have the same authorization (97.201(e)).

• B. Repeaters retransmit other stations' signals, and Part 97 has no provision authorizing them to transmit one-way communications.
• C. Message forwarding and automatically controlled digital stations exchange messages, and no rule authorizes them to transmit one-way communications.
• D. Repeaters, message forwarding stations and automatically controlled digital stations have no one-way authorization, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.207(e), 97.203(g)

A. Preparing, processing, administering, and coordinating an examination for an amateur radio operator license

Under 47 CFR 97.527, VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by examinees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in preparing, processing, administering or coordinating an examination for an amateur operator license. This is the basis for the session fee examinees pay.

• B. Teaching a license preparation course is not one of the examination expenses covered by 97.527.
• C. 97.527 does authorize reimbursement of out-of-pocket examination expenses.
• D. Providing study materials is not one of the examination expenses covered by 97.527.

Pool citation: 97.527

C. The VECs

Under 47 CFR 97.523, all VECs must cooperate in maintaining one question pool for each written examination element, and each pool must contain at least 10 times the number of questions on a single exam. The VECs do this through the Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of VECs.

• A. VEs prepare question sets drawn from the pools (97.507), but the pools themselves are maintained by the VECs.
• B. The FCC does not write or maintain the question pools; Part 97 assigns that job to the VECs.
• D. The ARRL is one VEC among several; the rule assigns the job to all VECs together.

Pool citation: 97.523

C. An organization that has entered into an agreement with the FCC to coordinate, prepare, and administer amateur operator license examinations

Under 47 CFR 97.521, a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator is an organization that has entered into a written agreement with the FCC. Under 97.519, the VEC coordinates the efforts of VEs in preparing and administering examinations, then screens the results and forwards them to the FCC.

• A. A person who volunteers to give exams is a volunteer examiner (VE), accredited by a VEC.
• B. VECs are not paid by VE teams; VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by examinees for out-of-pocket expenses (97.527).
• D. A VEC is an organization, not a person, and a VE session manager is selected by the VE team (97.513), not by agreement with the FCC.

Pool citation: 97.521

D. A VEC must confirm that the VE applicant meets FCC requirements to serve as an examiner

Under 47 CFR 97.509(b)(1) and 97.525, a volunteer examiner must be accredited by a VEC, which confirms that the applicant meets the FCC's requirements (for example, at least 18 years old, a suitable license class, and no license ever revoked or suspended) and is competent and trustworthy to serve.

• A. Holding a General, Advanced or Extra license does not make anyone a VE automatically; a VEC must accredit them.
• B. There is no FCC Enforcement Bureau examination for VEs.
• C. VEs are accredited by a VEC, not directly by the FCC.

Pool citation: 97.509, 97.525

B. Return the application document to the examinee

Under 47 CFR 97.509(j), when an examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

• A. The application of an examinee who did not pass is not kept with VEC records; it goes back to the examinee.
• C. Application data goes to the VEC and on to the FCC only after a successful examination (97.509(m), 97.519).
• D. The rule requires returning the document, not destroying it.

Pool citation: 97.509(j)

C. Each administering VE

Under 47 CFR 97.509(c), each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination, and the administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The duty belongs to every VE on the team, not to one person.

• A. The VEC coordinates sessions (97.519) but does not supervise each examination in person.
• B. Part 97 has no designated monitoring VE; all the administering VEs share the duty.
• D. A VE session manager may organize the session and act as liaison with the VEC (97.513), but supervision is the duty of each administering VE.

Pool citation: 97.509

B. Immediately terminate the candidate’s examination

Under 47 CFR 97.509(c), the administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination of an examinee who fails to comply with their instructions. Examinees are required to follow VE instructions by 97.511.

• A. The rule calls for immediate termination, not a warning.
• C. The examination must be stopped immediately, not allowed to continue.
• D. Only the noncompliant examinee's examination is terminated; other examinees are not affected.

Pool citation: 97.509, 97.511

C. Relatives of the VE as listed in the FCC rules

Under 47 CFR 97.509(d), a VE may not administer an examination to their spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or in-laws. The rule lists relatives only.

• A. The rule does not bar a VE from examining their employees.
• B. The rule does not bar a VE from examining their friends.
• D. Employees and friends are not on the list in the rule, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.509

A. Revocation of the VE’s amateur station license grant and the suspension of the VE’s amateur operator license grant

Under 47 CFR 97.509(e), a VE who administers or certifies an examination by fraudulent means, or for consideration beyond permitted reimbursement, may have their amateur station license revoked and their amateur operator license suspended.

• B. A $1,000 fine is not the penalty named in 97.509(e), which names license revocation and suspension.
• C. 97.509(e) does not prescribe a prison sentence; it names license revocation and suspension.
• D. The fine and prison sentence are not the penalties stated in 97.509(e), so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.509

C. They must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC instructions

Under 47 CFR 97.509(m), after a successful examination the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the VEC's instructions. The VEC then screens the information and forwards the data electronically to the FCC (97.519(b)).

• A. VEs do not send documents to the FCC; the coordinating VEC forwards the data.
• B. The VEs grade the examination themselves (97.509(h)); the VEC does not grade it.
• D. Applicants do not file their own examination results with the FCC; the VE team sends the application to the VEC.

Pool citation: 97.509(m)

B. Three VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that they have complied with the administering VE requirements

Under 47 CFR 97.509(i), when an examinee is credited with all elements required for the license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs complied with the administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the examination.

• A. VEs do not send photocopies to the FCC; they submit the application document to the VEC (97.509(m)).
• C. VEs issue a CSCE (97.509(l)); only the FCC grants a license.
• D. Photocopying documents for the FCC and issuing a license are not VE duties, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.509(i)

B. Only on amateur frequencies above 222 MHz

Under 47 CFR 97.305(c), spread spectrum (SS) emissions are authorized on the 222 to 225 MHz part of the 1.25 m band and on 70 cm and all higher bands, but not on 6 m, 2 m or the 219 to 220 MHz segment. So SS is permitted only above 222 MHz, and at no more than 10 W PEP (97.313(j)).

• A. 6 m and 2 m are above 50 MHz, but SS is not authorized on either band.
• C. SS is also authorized on 222 to 225 MHz, below 420 MHz.
• D. SS is not authorized on 2 m (144 to 148 MHz); it begins at 222 MHz.

Pool citation: 97.305

C. The operating terms and conditions of the Canadian amateur service license, not to exceed US Amateur Extra class license privileges

Under 47 CFR 97.107(a), a holder of a Canadian amateur license may operate in the US under the US and Canada convention, the terms of their Canadian license and the applicable Part 97 rules, but not beyond the privileges of a US Amateur Extra license. Canadian operators add the US location indicator after their own call sign (97.119(g)).

• A. Canadian licensees need no US license; 97.107 grants them reciprocal operating authority.
• B. Their privileges follow their Canadian license, up to Extra class, not a fixed set of General privileges on five bands.
• D. Privileges are not limited to five HF bands; they follow the Canadian license terms wherever Part 97 allows, up to Extra class.

Pool citation: 97.107

D. The amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station

Under 47 CFR 97.315(a), an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz generally needs FCC certification, but 97.315(b)(1) exempts an amplifier constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station. Such an amplifier is outside the certification requirement, so a dealer may sell it without certification.

• A. No gain or drive level exempts an amplifier; certified amplifiers must have no more than 15 dB of gain (97.317(a)(2)).
• B. A dealer assembling a kit for sale is not an amateur building an amplifier for use at an amateur station, so the 97.315(b)(1) exemption does not apply.
• C. 97.315 contains no exemption for amplifiers certified under a foreign reciprocal agreement.

Pool citation: 97.315

A. A line roughly parallel to and south of the border between the US and Canada

Line A, defined in 47 CFR 97.3(a)(30), runs from Aberdeen, Washington, to Searsport, Maine, roughly parallel to and south of the US and Canada border. Amateur stations north of Line A may not transmit on 420 to 430 MHz (97.303(m)(1)).

• B. Line A follows the Canadian border, not the Atlantic coastline.
• C. Line A follows the Canadian border, not the Mexican border.
• D. Line A follows the Canadian border, not the Pacific coastline.

Pool citation: 97.3

D. 420 MHz - 430 MHz

Under 47 CFR 97.303(m)(1), no amateur station may transmit on the 420 to 430 MHz segment of the 70 cm band from north of Line A, which runs roughly parallel to and south of the US and Canada border (97.3(a)(30)). The rest of 70 cm, including 440 to 450 MHz, remains available there.

• A. 440 to 450 MHz is not barred north of Line A, though stations there must not interfere with other nations' fixed and mobile services (97.303(m)(3)).
• B. 53 to 54 MHz is in the 6 m band, which has no Line A restriction.
• C. 222 to 223 MHz is in the 1.25 m band, which has no Line A restriction.

Pool citation: 97.303

A. To provide for experimental amateur communications

A Special Temporary Authority (STA), issued under 47 CFR 1.931, is short-term permission from the FCC to operate in a way the rules do not otherwise allow. For an amateur station, the purpose that fits is experimental communications, such as testing an emission or technique the rules do not otherwise permit.

• B. Special event call signs are chosen from a common database kept by volunteer coordinators (97.3(a)(11)(iii), 97.119(d)); no STA is needed.
• C. Every examination must be administered by at least 3 VEs (97.509(a)); an STA is not used to reduce that number.
• D. A CSCE already lets a licensee use upgraded privileges for up to 365 days while the upgrade is pending (97.9(b)), with an indicator such as AG or AE (97.119(f)).

Pool citation: 1.931

D. When neither the amateur nor their employer has a pecuniary interest in the communications

Under 47 CFR 97.113(a)(3), an amateur station may not transmit communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary (financial) interest, including communications on behalf of an employer. A message to a business is therefore allowed when neither the amateur nor their employer has a pecuniary interest in it.

• A. Part 97 sets no dollar threshold; any pecuniary interest of the amateur or their employer makes the communication prohibited.
• B. There is no $50 threshold either; the test is whether any pecuniary interest exists.
• C. Messages to businesses are permitted when no pecuniary interest is involved.

Pool citation: 97.113

A. Communications transmitted for hire or material compensation, except as otherwise provided in the rules

Under 47 CFR 97.113(a)(2), an amateur station may not transmit communications for hire or for material compensation, direct or indirect, paid or promised, except as the rules otherwise provide. The exceptions, such as a teacher using a station as part of classroom instruction (97.113(a)(3)(iii)), are narrow.

• B. Part 97 does not prohibit political topics, and the Fairness Doctrine was a broadcasting policy with no role in the amateur rules.
• C. Part 97 does not prohibit religious content.
• D. Amateurs may communicate in any language; only phone station identification must be in English (97.119(b)(2)).

Pool citation: 97.113(c)

C. Messages encoded to obscure their meaning

Under 47 CFR 97.113(a)(4), no amateur station may transmit messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, and the nodes of an amateur mesh network are amateur stations. Encrypted traffic is therefore not allowed over an amateur mesh network, even though encryption is normal on unlicensed Wi-Fi.

• A. Third party traffic may be carried on a mesh network, subject to the third party rules in 97.115.
• B. Email may be sent over a mesh network as long as its content is permitted and it is not encrypted.
• D. Third party traffic and email are permitted, so not all the choices are correct.

Pool citation: 97.113(a)(4)

B. Only Technician, General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra class operators

Under 47 CFR 97.201(a), a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra license may be the control operator of an auxiliary station, subject to the privileges of their class. Novice licensees are not included.

• A. Novice licensees may not be control operators of auxiliary stations, so not every licensed operator qualifies.
• C. Technician licensees also qualify under 97.201(a).
• D. The privilege is not limited to Amateur Extra licensees.

Pool citation: 97.201

D. It must satisfy the FCC’s spurious emission standards when operated at the lesser of 1500 watts or its full output power

Under 47 CFR 97.317(a)(1), an external RF power amplifier must meet the spurious emission standards of 97.307(d) or (e) when operated at the lesser of 1.5 kW PEP or its full output power, and also when switched to standby or off while connected to the transmitter. The other standards limit gain to 15 dB and require no amplification between 26 and 28 MHz (97.317(a)(2) and (3)).

• A. No rule requires full output from 5 W of drive; with the 15 dB gain limit, 5 W in can produce at most about 158 W out.
• B. The Part 97 certification standards do not include Underwriters Laboratories or IEEE certification.
• C. The gain limit is 15 dB (97.317(a)(2)), not 23 dB.

Pool citation: 97.317