G1E11: On what bands may automatically controlled stations transmitting RTTY…

G1E11§ 97.221, 97.305G1E →

On what bands may automatically controlled stations transmitting RTTY or data emissions communicate with other automatically controlled digital stations?

AOn any band segment where digital operation is permitted
BAnywhere in the non-phone segments of the 10-meter or shorter wavelength bands
COnly in the non-phone Extra Class segments of the bands
DAnywhere in the 6-meter or shorter wavelength bands, and in limited segments of some of the HF bands

Why Section 97.221(b) lets a fully automatically controlled digital station work another automatically controlled digital station only in specified places: anywhere on the VHF/UHF bands of 6 meters and shorter, plus narrow sub-bands carved out on HF (segments such as 3.585-3.600, 7.100-7.105, 10.140-10.150, 14.095-14.0995 and 14.1005-14.112 MHz, and similar slices on 18, 21, 24 and 28 MHz). Above 50 MHz there is plenty of room and little interference risk, so the FCC does not restrict the segments; on crowded HF it confines unattended digital robots to designated windows. A separate provision, 97.221(c), covers an automatically controlled station answering a station that has a live control operator, which is a different situation.

Watch out "Any band segment where digital operation is permitted" is too broad: emission rules in 97.305 say where data may be sent, but 97.221 adds a tighter restriction when both ends are unattended.

Auto-to-auto digital: wide open at 6 meters and up, only narrow windows down on HF.

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

47 CFR 97.221 Automatically controlled digital station.

(a) This rule section does not apply to an auxiliary station, a beacon station, a repeater station, an earth station, a space station, or a space telecommand station.

(b) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on the 6 m or shorter wavelength bands, and on the 28.120-28.189 MHz, 24.925-24.930 MHz, 21.090-21.100 MHz, 18.105-18.110 MHz, 14.0950-14.0995 MHz, 14.1005-14.112 MHz, 10.140-10.150 MHz, 7.100-7.105 MHz, or 3.585-3.600 MHz segments.

(c) Except for channels specified in § 97.303(h), a station may be automatically controlled while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on any other frequency authorized for such emission types provided that:

(1) The station is responding to interrogation by a station under local or remote control; and

(2) No transmission from the automatically controlled station occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.

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

47 CFR 97.305 Authorized emission types.

(a) Except as specified elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit a CW emission on any frequency authorized to the control operator.

(b) A station may transmit a test emission on any frequency authorized to the control operator for brief periods for experimental purposes, except that no pulse modulation emission may be transmitted on any frequency where pulse is not specifically authorized and no SS modulation emission may be transmitted on any frequency where SS is not specifically authorized.

(c) A station may transmit the following emission types on the frequencies indicated, as authorized to the control operator, subject to the standards specified in § 97.307(f):

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

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