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T1B12

COMMISSION'S RULES · Frequency allocations; Emission modes; Spectrum sharing; Transmissions near band edges; Contacting the International Space Station; Power output

T1B12§ 97.313(b)T1B →

Except for some specific restrictions, what is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators using frequencies above 30 MHz?

  1. A50 watts
  2. B100 watts
  3. C500 watts
  4. D1500 watts
Why Section 97.313(b) sets the general amateur limit of 1500 watts PEP output, and Technicians operating above 30 MHz get that same general limit rather than a reduced one. The well known 200 watt cap on Technicians applies only to their HF privileges below 30 MHz (plus the 10 meter band segment), and there are a few band-specific exceptions such as 219-220 MHz. Remember also that 97.313(a) always requires using the minimum power necessary to carry out the desired communications.
Watch out The choice of 100 watts sounds right because typical VHF/UHF radios put out far less than the legal maximum, but equipment capability is not the same as the rule's limit; the reduced Technician figure of 200 watts belongs to HF, below 30 MHz.
Technician: 200 W below 30 MHz, the full 1500 W above 30 MHz.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.313(b) Transmitter power standards.

(a) An amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.

(b) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 1.5 kW PEP.

(c) No station may transmit with a transmitter power output exceeding 200 W PEP:

(1) On the 10.10-10.15 MHz segment;

(2) On the 3.525-3.60 MHz, 7.025-7.125 MHz, 21.025-21.20 MHz, and 28.0-28.5 MHz segment when the control operator is a Novice Class operator or a Technician Class operator; or

(3) The 7.050-7.075 MHz segment when the station is within ITU Regions 1 or 3.

(d) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 25 W PEP on the VHF 1.25 m band when the control operator is a Novice operator.

(e) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 5 W PEP on the UHF 23 cm band when the control operator is a Novice operator.

(f) An Earth station or telecommand station may transmit on the 435-438 MHz segment with a maximum of 611 W effective radiated power (1 kW equivalent isotropically radiated power). The transmitting antenna elevation angle between the lower half-power (−3 dB relative to the peak or antenna bore sight) point and the horizon must always be greater than 10°. No other station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the UHF 70 cm band from an area specified in § 2.106(c)(270)(i) of this chapter, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the Regional Director of the applicable field facility and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base.

(g) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the 33 cm band from within 241 km of the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range. Its boundaries are those portions of Texas and New Mexico bounded on the south by latitude 31°41′ North, on the east by longitude 104°11′ West, on the north by latitude 34°30′ North, and on the west by longitude 107°30′ West.

(h) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the 219-220 MHz segment of the 1.25 m band.

(i) 60 m band power requirements: No station may transmit on the frequencies 5.332, 5.348, 5.373, and 5.405 MHz in the 60 m band with a radiated power exceeding 100 W ERP. No station may transmit in the 5.3515-5.3665 MHz band with a radiated power exceeding 9.15 W ERP. For the purpose of computing ERP, the transmitter PEP will be multiplied by the antenna gain relative to a half-wave dipole antenna. A half-wave dipole antenna will be presumed to have a gain of 1 (0 dBd). Licensees using other antennas must maintain in their station records either the antenna manufacturer's data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna gain.

(j) No station may transmit with a transmitter output exceeding 10 W PEP when the station is transmitting a SS emission type.

(k) No station may transmit in the 135.7-137.8 kHz (2200 m) band with a transmitter power exceeding 1.5 kW PEP or a radiated power exceeding 1 W EIRP.

(l) No station may transmit in the 472-479 kHz (630 m) band with a transmitter power exceeding 500 W PEP or a radiated power exceeding 5 W EIRP, except that in Alaska, stations located within 800 kilometers of the Russian Federation may not transmit with a radiated power exceeding 1 W EIRP.

(m) No station may transmit with a peak equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) exceeding 316 W in the 76-81 GHz (4 mm) band.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
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The rest of T1B

  1. T1B01 Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?
  2. T1B02 Which of the following U.S. amateur radio operators are allowed to contact the International Space Station (I…
  3. T1B03 Which frequency is in the 6-meter amateur band?
  4. T1B04 Which amateur band includes 146.52 MHz?
  5. T1B05 Which of the following bands include frequencies where Technicians are authorized to use digital modes such a…
  6. T1B06 On which HF bands does a Technician class operator have phone privileges?
  7. T1B07 Which of the following VHF/UHF band segments are limited to CW only?
  8. T1B08 How are US amateurs restricted in segments of bands where the Amateur Radio Service is secondary?
  9. T1B09 Why should you not set your transmit frequency to be exactly at the edge of an amateur band or sub-band?
  10. T1B10 Where may SSB phone be used in amateur bands above 50 MHz?
  11. T1B11 What is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators in their HF band segments?
  12. T1B12 Except for some specific restrictions, what is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class op…
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