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G1C11

COMMISSION'S RULES · - Transmitter power regulations; data emission standards; 60-meter operation requirements

G1C11§ 97.313G1C →

What measurement is specified by FCC rules that regulate maximum power?

  1. ARMS output from the transmitter
  2. BRMS input to the antenna
  3. CPEP input to the antenna
  4. DPEP output from the transmitter
Why Section 97.313 states amateur power limits in terms of peak envelope power (PEP) output from the transmitter, not input power to the tubes or antenna. PEP is the average power during one RF cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope, which is the meaningful measure for SSB and other varying-envelope modes. The general limit is 1500 W PEP output, with lower limits in certain bands and for certain license classes. (The 60-meter channels are a special case, specified as effective radiated power relative to a dipole.)
Watch out The choices mentioning input power describe the old pre-1990 rule based on DC input to the final amplifier, which the FCC abandoned; RMS output is not how Part 97 states the limit either.
Power rules: PEP OUT of the transmitter, 1500 W max. Not input, not RMS.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.313 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 G1C

  1. G1C01 What is the maximum transmitter power an amateur station may use on 10.140 MHz?
  2. G1C02 What is the maximum transmitter power an amateur station may use on the 12-meter band?
  3. G1C03 What is the maximum bandwidth permitted by FCC rules for amateur radio stations transmitting on USB frequenci…
  4. G1C04 Which of the following is required by the FCC rules when operating in the 60-meter band?
  5. G1C05 What is the limit for transmitter power on the 28 MHz band for a General Class control operator?
  6. G1C06 What is the limit for transmitter power on the 1.8 MHz band?
  7. G1C07 What must be done before using a new digital protocol on the air?
  8. G1C11 What measurement is specified by FCC rules that regulate maximum power?
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