Commission's Rules · 5 min read
Technician Frequency Privileges and Power Limits
Knowing exactly where you may transmit, which modes you may use, and how much power is allowed is a core responsibility of every licensee. This chapter (pool group T1B) covers the Technician frequency privileges, the main VHF and UHF band edges, special mode-restricted segments, operating near band edges, secondary allocations, contact with the International Space Station, and Technician power limits.
Technician Privileges on HF
Technicians have limited privileges on the HF bands. They may use CW in parts of the 80-meter, 40-meter, and 15-meter bands, and they have broader privileges on 10 meters. The only HF band on which a Technician has phone (voice) privileges is 10 meters, and only in the segment from 28.300 MHz to 28.500 MHz, where single sideband (SSB) voice is used. The lower part of the Technician 10-meter allocation, 28.000 MHz to 28.300 MHz, is for CW and for data and RTTY modes.
Technician HF Privileges
| Band | Technician Segment | Modes |
|---|---|---|
| 80 meters | 3.525 to 3.600 MHz | CW only |
| 40 meters | 7.025 to 7.125 MHz | CW only |
| 15 meters | 21.025 to 21.200 MHz | CW only |
| 10 meters | 28.000 to 28.300 MHz | CW, RTTY, data |
| 10 meters | 28.300 to 28.500 MHz | CW and SSB phone |
Exam Tip: The Technician phone segment on 10 meters is 28.300 MHz to 28.500 MHz, and 10 meters is the only HF band where a Technician may use phone.
Technician Privileges Above 50 MHz
Above 50 MHz, Technicians have all amateur privileges. This is where most new Technicians operate, using FM repeaters, simplex, SSB, CW, and digital modes. You should be able to recognize which band a frequency belongs to. For example, 52.525 MHz is in the 6-meter band, and 146.52 MHz is in the 2-meter band. A frequency such as 49.00 MHz is just below 6 meters, and 28.50 MHz is on 10 meters, not 6 meters.
Common VHF and UHF Amateur Bands
| Band | Frequency Range |
|---|---|
| 6 meters | 50 to 54 MHz |
| 2 meters | 144 to 148 MHz |
| 1.25 meters | 222 to 225 MHz |
| 70 centimeters | 420 to 450 MHz |
| 33 centimeters | 902 to 928 MHz |
| 23 centimeters | 1240 to 1300 MHz |
Digital modes such as FT8 are available to Technicians on several bands. Technicians may use FT8 and similar data modes in their 10-meter data segment as well as on 6 meters and 2 meters. SSB phone is also widely available: on every amateur band above 50 MHz, there is at least some segment where SSB phone is permitted. It is not limited to General class licensees, and it is not limited to repeaters.
CW-Only Segments on 6 and 2 Meters
Even though Technicians have full privileges above 50 MHz, a few small segments are limited to one mode. The bottom 100 kHz of both 6 meters and 2 meters is reserved for CW only: 50.0 MHz to 50.1 MHz and 144.0 MHz to 144.1 MHz. These segments are used for weak-signal Morse code work, and voice or data emissions are not permitted there.
Memory Aid: Bottom 100 kHz of 6 and 2 meters is CW only: 50.0 to 50.1 MHz and 144.0 to 144.1 MHz.
International Space Station Contacts
The amateur station aboard the International Space Station operates on VHF and UHF. Any U.S. amateur with a Technician class or higher license may contact the ISS on these bands. No special NASA approval and no General class license is required. You simply operate within your normal privileges.
Secondary Allocations
In some band segments, the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary user. That means another service, often a government or other non-amateur service, is the primary user. In these segments, U.S. amateurs may find non-amateur stations operating, and amateurs must avoid interfering with them. If a primary user is affected, the amateur must change frequency or stop. Being secondary does not ban international contacts or digital modes; it simply means amateurs yield to the primary service.
Staying Away From Band Edges
You should not set your transmitter exactly at the edge of a band or sub-band. There are three reasons, and all three apply. First, the frequency display may have a small calibration error. Second, your signal is not a single point; modulation sidebands spread above and below the displayed frequency and could extend past the edge. Third, transmitters can drift slightly in frequency as they warm up. Allowing a margin keeps your whole signal inside your privileges.
Technician Power Limits
Power output is measured as peak envelope power (PEP). In their HF band segments, Technicians are limited to 200 watts PEP output. Above 30 MHz, except for some specific restrictions in certain bands and segments, the limit is 1500 watts PEP output, which is the maximum allowed for any amateur. Regardless of the limit, the rules also require you to use the minimum power necessary to carry out the desired communication.
Technician Power Limits
| Where You Operate | Maximum Output |
|---|---|
| Technician HF segments | 200 watts PEP |
| Above 30 MHz (with some exceptions) | 1500 watts PEP |
| Any band, any time | Minimum power needed for the contact |
Common Mistake: Do not confuse the two limits: 200 watts PEP applies to Technician HF segments, while 1500 watts PEP applies above 30 MHz.
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