Section 9.2: Power and Antenna Limits #

A frequency may be available to your license class while the power you intend to use is not. Most of the familiar MF and HF bands share one general transmitter-power limit, but some have lower limits. On 60 meters, the antenna’s gain matters too.

The minimum-power rule from Chapter 7 still applies: use no more power than necessary to carry out the communication. A maximum is a limit, not a recommended setting.

What the Power Limit Measures #

An amplifier’s electrical input, its RF output, and the power radiated in a particular direction are different quantities. For the general transmitter limit, the FCC uses the RF output measurement:

Key Information: FCC rules regulating maximum transmitter power specify PEP output from the transmitter.

Peak envelope power is the average power during one RF cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope. On SSB, this corresponds to the voice peaks discussed in Section 7.3, not the average reading over a sentence. A low average meter reading does not establish that the peaks are below the limit.

For a General control operator, the usual maximum is 1,500 watts PEP output unless a more restrictive rule applies. Three examples are:

Key Information:

• The maximum transmitter power on the 12-meter band is 1,500 watts PEP output.
• The maximum transmitter power on the 28 MHz band for a General class control operator is 1,500 watts PEP output.
• The maximum transmitter power on the 1.8 MHz band is 1,500 watts PEP output.

The same general limit covers all three bands. Equipment ratings, RF exposure requirements, and any special operating restriction can require a lower setting.

The Lower Limit on 30 Meters #

The 30-meter band has a lower transmitter-output limit throughout its 10.100–10.150 MHz range:

Key Information: The maximum transmitter power an amateur station may use on 10.140 MHz is 200 watts PEP output.

That frequency is one point inside the band. The same 200-watt limit applies elsewhere on 30 meters, regardless of whether the station’s amplifier can produce more. Using CW instead of data does not remove the limit.

Power and Bandwidth on 60 Meters #

The four 60-meter channels and the continuous segment introduced in Section 9.1 share a bandwidth limit:

Key Information: The maximum bandwidth permitted for USB transmissions in the 60-meter band is 2.8 kHz.

The current rule also applies that 2.8 kHz maximum to the other permitted 60-meter emissions. Set the transmitter for the allowed bandwidth rather than assuming that a normal SSB or data preset fits.

Power on this band is specified as effective radiated power (ERP), referenced to a half-wave dipole, rather than only the transmitter’s output. The antenna’s gain therefore affects how much transmitter power you may use.

Under the rules effective February 13, 2026:

ERP compares the antenna with a half-wave dipole; EIRP compares it with an isotropic antenna. The two figures in the second row express the same limit using different references. Neither means that every antenna system may use that amount of transmitter output.

For the FCC’s 60-meter calculation, multiply transmitter PEP by antenna gain relative to a dipole. A dipole is assigned a gain factor of 1, or 0 dBd. If another antenna has 3 dBd of gain, its gain factor is about 2: 50 watts PEP produces about 100 watts ERP. In the continuous segment, using a gain factor of 2, a 4.5-watt setting would produce about 9 watts ERP, below the 9.15-watt limit. Allow for uncertainty in the gain and power measurements rather than choosing a setting that may exceed the limit.

That calculation needs a documented gain value:

Key Information: When operating on 60 meters with an antenna other than a dipole, you must keep a record of the antenna’s gain.

The record may use the manufacturer’s gain data or an appropriate calculation. Check whether a published value is in dBd or dBi before using it. The different reference antennas are not interchangeable.

Antenna Height and Aviation Requirements #

An antenna can be electrically suitable and still require approval because of its height or location. Federal aviation requirements apply independently of the radio’s power setting:

Key Information: Away from a public-use airport, an antenna structure may generally be up to 200 feet tall before its height triggers FAA notification and FCC registration.

The height-based requirement generally applies to structures more than 200 feet above ground level. Shorter structures near airports may also require notification and registration. Measure the complete structure, including an antenna mounted on top, rather than only the length of the tower sections.

This is not a blanket right to build a 200-foot tower, nor a guarantee that anything shorter requires no approval. Check the FAA and FCC criteria for the site before construction, along with applicable building and zoning requirements. Marking and lighting requirements, when imposed, depend on that review.

State and Local Antenna Rules #

Local rules may address an installation’s safety, location, height, and appearance. Federal policy limits how far those restrictions may go:

Key Information: State and local antenna regulations must reasonably accommodate amateur service communications and must be the minimum practicable regulation needed to accomplish a legitimate state or local purpose.

This principle comes from the FCC’s PRB-1 decision and is reflected in Section 97.15(b). It does not guarantee approval of every proposed antenna. It requires reasonable accommodation rather than rules that preclude amateur communication.

Private deed restrictions, leases, and homeowners’ association covenants are a separate issue; PRB-1 does not generally override them. Check both the public requirements and any private restrictions that apply to the property.

A useful installation proposal identifies the antenna, its location and height, and how the structure will be supported. Keep the safety and RF exposure work from Chapter 6 with those plans. Meeting a transmitter-power limit does not by itself establish a safe installation—or remove the obligation to avoid harmful interference to other services.