Study › Amateur Extra › E1C › E1C09

E1C09

COMMISSION RULES · Automatic and remote control; band-specific regulations; operating in and communicating with foreign countries; spurious emission standards; HF modulation index limit; band-specific rules

E1C09§ 97.307E1C →

What is the highest modulation index permitted at the highest modulation frequency for angle modulation below 29.0 MHz?

  1. A0.5
  2. B1.0
  3. C2.0
  4. D3.0
Why FCC 97.307(f)(3) limits angle modulation (FM or PM) below 29.0 MHz to a modulation index of 1.0 at the highest modulating frequency. Modulation index is deviation divided by the modulating frequency, so with a 3 kHz highest audio tone the deviation can be no more than 3 kHz. The limit exists because deviation beyond that widens the signal well past what the crowded HF bands can accommodate, per Carson's rule.
Watch out Indices of 2.0 or 3.0 would be wideband FM, which is allowed only higher in the spectrum (10 meter FM above 29.0 MHz and VHF/UHF), not on HF.
Below 29.0 MHz, keep it narrow: modulation index 1.0 max. One band edge, one index.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.307 Emission standards.

(a) No amateur station transmission shall occupy more bandwidth than necessary for the information rate and emission type being transmitted, in accordance with good amateur practice.

(b) Emissions resulting from modulation must be confined to the band or segment available to the control operator. Emissions outside the necessary bandwidth must not cause splatter or keyclick interference to operations on adjacent frequencies.

(c) All spurious emissions from a station transmitter must be reduced to the greatest extent practicable. If any spurious emission, including chassis or power line radiation, causes harmful interference to the reception of another radio station, the licensee of the interfering amateur station is required to take steps to eliminate the interference, in accordance with good engineering practice.

(d) For transmitters installed after January 1, 2003, the mean power of any spurious emission from a station transmitter or external RF power amplifier transmitting on a frequency below 30 MHz must be at least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission. For transmitters installed on or before January 1, 2003, the mean power of any spurious emission from a station transmitter or external RF power amplifier transmitting on a frequency below 30 MHz must not exceed 50 mW and must be at least 40 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission. For a transmitter of mean power less than 5 W installed on or before January 1, 2003, the attenuation must be at least 30 dB. A transmitter built before April 15, 1977, or first marketed before January 1, 1978, is exempt from this requirement.

(e) The mean power of any spurious emission from a station transmitter or external RF power amplifier transmitting on a frequency between 30-225 MHz must be at least 60 dB below the mean power of the fundamental. For a transmitter having a mean power of 25 W or less, the mean power of any spurious emission supplied to the antenna transmission line must not exceed 25 µW and must be at least 40 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission, but need not be reduced below the power of 10 µW. A transmitter built before April 15, 1977, or first marketed before January 1, 1978, is exempt from this requirement.

(f) The following standards and limitations apply to transmissions on the frequencies specified in § 97.305(c).

(1) No angle-modulated emission may have a modulation index greater than 1 at the highest modulation frequency.

(2) No non-phone emission shall exceed the bandwidth of a communications quality phone emission of the same modulation type. The total bandwidth of an independent sideband emission (having B as the first symbol), or a multiplexed image and phone emission, shall not exceed that of a communications quality A3E emission.

(3) Only a RTTY or data emission using a specified digital code listed in § 97.309(a) may be transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 2.8 kHz except in the 2200 m band and 630 m band. In the 2200 m band and the 630 m band the symbol rate must not exceed 300 bauds, or for frequency-shift keying, the frequency shift between mark and space must not exceed 1 kHz.

(4) [Reserved]

(5) A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using a specified digital code listed in § 97.309(a) may be transmitted. The symbol rate must not exceed 19.6 kilobauds. A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using an unspecified digital code under the limitations listed in § 97.309(b) also may be transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz.

(6) A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using a specified digital code listed in § 97.309(a) may be transmitted. The symbol rate must not exceed 56 kilobauds. A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using an unspecified digital code under the limitations listed in § 97.309(b) also may be transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 100 kHz.

(7) A RTTY, data or multiplexed emission using a specified digital code listed in § 97.309(a) or an unspecified digital code under the limitations listed in § 97.309(b) may be transmitted.

(8) A RTTY or data emission having designators with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2, 7, 9 or X as the second symbol; and D or W as the third symbol is also authorized.

(9) A station having a control operator holding a Novice or Technician Class operator license may only transmit a CW emission using the international Morse code.

(10) A station having a control operator holding a Novice Class operator license or a Technician Class operator license may only transmit a CW emission using the international Morse code or phone emissions J3E and R3E.

(11) Phone and image emissions may be transmitted only by stations located in ITU Regions 1 and 3, and by stations located within ITU Region 2 that are west of 130° West longitude or south of 20° North latitude.

(12) Emission F8E may be transmitted.

(13) A data emission using an unspecified digital code under the limitations listed in § 97.309(b) also may be transmitted. The authorized bandwidth is 100 kHz.

(14) In the 60 m band:

(i) A station may transmit only phone, RTTY, data, and CW emissions. RTTY or data emissions must meet the digital code specifications listed in § 97.309. Emissions must not exceed a bandwidth of 2.8 kilohertz.

(ii) The control operator of a station transmitting data or RTTY emissions must exercise care to limit the length of transmissions so as not to cause harmful interference to United States Government stations.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
← E1C08 All of E1C E1C10 →

The rest of E1C

  1. E1C01 What is the maximum bandwidth for a data emission on 60 meters?
  2. E1C02 Which of the following apply to communications transmitted to amateur stations in foreign countries?
  3. E1C03 How long must an operator wait after filing a notification with the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) before…
  4. E1C04 What is an IARP?
  5. E1C05 Under what situation may a station transmit third party communications while being automatically controlled?
  6. E1C06 Which of the following is required in order to operate in accordance with CEPT rules in foreign countries whe…
  7. E1C07 What notifications must be given before transmitting on the 630- or 2200-meter bands?
  8. E1C08 What is the maximum permissible duration of a remotely controlled station's transmissions if its control link…
  9. E1C09 What is the highest modulation index permitted at the highest modulation frequency for angle modulation below…
  10. E1C10 What is the maximum mean power level for a spurious emission below 30 MHz with respect to the fundamental emi…
  11. E1C11 Which of the following operating arrangements allows an FCC-licensed US citizen to operate in many European c…
  12. E1C12 In what portion of the 630-meter band are phone emissions permitted?
RG-213 Coax Cable 75ft with PL259 ConnectorsSponsored · View on Amazon →Baofeng BF-F8HP Pro Dual Band HandheldSponsored · View on Amazon →