G1B09: On what HF frequencies are automatically controlled beacons permitted?

G1B09§ 97.203(d)G1B →

On what HF frequencies are automatically controlled beacons permitted?

AOn any frequency if power is less than 1 watt
BOn any frequency if transmissions are in Morse code
C21.08 MHz to 21.09 MHz
D28.20 MHz to 28.30 MHz

Why Section 97.203(d) allows beacons to be automatically controlled only in specific segments: 28.20-28.30 MHz on HF, plus slices of 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 222 MHz and 432 MHz. The only HF beacon window is that 100 kHz chunk of 10 meters, which is why the worldwide propagation beacon network lives near 28.2 MHz. Power for a beacon is separately limited to 100 watts, and the mode does not matter to the frequency rule.

Watch out The 21.08 to 21.09 MHz choice is not in the rule at all; likewise, running low power or using Morse code does not buy you the right to put an automatically controlled beacon anywhere you like.

Automatic HF beacons only on 10 meters: 28.2 to 28.3 MHz, 100 W max.

HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.

47 CFR 97.203(d) Beacon station.

(a) Any amateur station licensed to a holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be a beacon. A holder of a Technician, General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operator license may be the control operator of a beacon, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held.

(b) A beacon must not concurrently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur service frequency band, from the same station location.

(d) A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on the 28.20-28.30 MHz, 50.06-50.08 MHz, 144.275-144.300 MHz, 222.05-222.06 MHz or 432.300-432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.

(e) Before establishing an automatically controlled beacon in the National Radio Quiet Zone or before changing the transmitting frequency, transmitter power, antenna height or directivity, the station licensee must give written notification thereof to the Interference Office, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, P.O. Box 2, Green Bank, WV 24944.

(1) The notification must include the geographical coordinates of the antenna, antenna ground elevation above mean sea level (AMSL), antenna center of radiation above ground level (AGL), antenna directivity, proposed frequency, type of emission, and transmitter power.

(2) If an objection to the proposed operation is received by the FCC from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, Pocahontas County, WV, for itself or on behalf of the Naval Research Laboratory at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County, WV, within 20 days from the date of notification, the FCC will consider all aspects of the problem and take whatever action is deemed appropriate.

(f) A beacon must cease transmissions upon notification by a Regional Director that the station is operating improperly or causing undue interference to other operations. The beacon may not resume transmitting without prior approval of the Regional Director.

(g) A beacon may transmit one-way communications.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov

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