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G1B10

COMMISSION'S RULES · - Antenna structure limitations; good engineering and good amateur practice; beacon operation; prohibited transmissions; retransmitting radio signals

G1B10§ 97.203(c)G1B →

What is the power limit for beacon stations?

  1. A10 watts PEP output
  2. B20 watts PEP output
  3. C100 watts PEP output
  4. D200 watts PEP output
Why FCC 97.203(c) caps beacon stations at 100 watts PEP output. Beacons run unattended and continuously to let others gauge propagation, so the rule keeps their power modest while still being useful over long paths. The limit is on PEP output, not input or ERP.
Watch out The 200 watt figure is a common trap because it matches other Part 97 limits, such as the Novice/Technician power ceiling on certain HF segments, but it is not the beacon number.
Beacon = 100 watts, a nice round century for an unattended propagation lighthouse.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.203(c) 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.

(c) The transmitter power of a beacon must not exceed 100 W.

(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
← G1B09 All of G1B G1B11 →

The rest of G1B

  1. G1B01 What is the maximum height above ground for an antenna structure not near a public use airport without requir…
  2. G1B02 With which of the following conditions must beacon stations comply?
  3. G1B03 Which of the following is a purpose of a beacon station as identified in the FCC rules?
  4. G1B04 Which of the following transmissions is permitted for all amateur stations?
  5. G1B05 Which of the following one-way transmissions are permitted?
  6. G1B06 Under what conditions are state and local governments permitted to regulate amateur radio antenna structures?
  7. G1B07 What are the restrictions on the use of abbreviations or procedural signals in the amateur service?
  8. G1B08 When is it permissible to communicate with amateur stations in countries outside the areas administered by th…
  9. G1B09 On what HF frequencies are automatically controlled beacons permitted?
  10. G1B10 What is the power limit for beacon stations?
  11. G1B11 Who or what determines "good engineering and good amateur practice," as applied to the operation of an amateu…
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