The questions in this section were essentially unchanged.
The FCC also has some rules and regulations regarding antennas and operating practices. For example, 200 feet is the maximum height above ground to which an antenna structure may be erected without requiring notification to the FAA and registration with the FCC, provided it is not at or near a public use airport. (G1B01)
Normally, amateur radio transmissions are only allowed when a two-way communication is taking place. The FCC does allow amateurs to set up beacon stations, though. Beacon stations continually transmit a low-power signal, often containing station location information. Observation of propagation and reception is a purpose of a beacon station as identified in the FCC Rules.(G1B03) One of the conditions with which beacon stations must comply is that there must be no more than one beacon signal transmitting in the same band from the same station location.(G1B02) The power limit for beacon stations is 100 watts PEP output.(G1B10)
Because the rules state that amateur radio stations may not be used for any commercial purposes, you must be careful to whom you pass messages, and you should know what they plan to do with that information before you do. Before amateur stations may provide communications to broadcasters for dissemination to the public, the communications must directly relate to the immediate safety of human life or protection of property and there must be no other means of communication reasonably available before or at the time of the event.(G1B04)
Similarly, only when other amateurs are being notified of the sale of apparatus normally used in an amateur station and such activity is not done on a regular basis may an amateur station transmit communications in which the licensee or control operator has a pecuniary (monetary) interest.(G1B09) Basically what this means is that you can tell other hams that you have some personal gear to sell on your club’s 2m net, but you can’t set up a business selling used gear and use that net to advertise what you have available.
Music is not allowed on amateur radio, except for one specific circumstance. You can’t even sing happy birthday to a friend over amateur radio! Only when it is an incidental part of a manned space craft retransmission may music be transmitted by an amateur station.(G1B05)
Likewise, secret codes are not allowed to be transmitted by an amateur radio station, except in one particular circumstance. An amateur station is permitted to transmit secret codes to control a space station.(G1B06) Similarly, a restriction on the use of abbreviations or procedural signals in the Amateur Serviceis that they may be used if they do not obscure the meaning of a message.(G1B07)
As long as the frequency is within the frequency sub-bands allotted to General Class operators, a General Class operator may choose to transmit on that frequency. However, when choosing a transmitting frequency, all of these choices are correct if you want to comply with good amateur practice(G1B08):
- Review FCC Part 97 Rules regarding permitted frequencies and emissions.
- Follow generally accepted band plans agreed to by the Amateur Radio community.
- Before transmitting, listen to avoid interfering with ongoing communication
By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid interfering with other stations using that frequency band.
The FCC rules do spell out certain technical requirements for your amateur radio station. They don’t, however, cover every situation. In these cases, the FCC requires an amateur station to be operated in conformance with good engineering and good amateur practice in all respects not specifically covered by the Part 97 rules.(G1B11) The FCC determines “good engineering and good amateur practice” as applied to the operation of an amateur station in all respects not covered by the Part 97 rules.(G1B12)
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