Technician T1B: Technician frequencies and power
These are the 12 official questions in group T1B of the 2026–2030 Technician question pool, with the correct answer marked and a plain-English explanation of why it's right. The real exam asks one question from this group.
- T1B01Question 1FCC 97.301(e)
Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?
- A28.050 MHz to 28.150 MHz
- B28.100 MHz to 28.300 MHz
- C28.300 MHz to 28.500 MHz Correct
- D28.500 MHz to 28.600 MHz
Why: Technician HF phone privileges are on 10 meters from 28.300 to 28.500 MHz.
- T1B02Question 2FCC 97.301, 97.207(c)
Which of the following U.S. amateur radio operators are allowed to contact the International Space Station (ISS) on VHF bands?
- AOnly amateurs with a General class or higher license
- BAny amateur with a Technician class or higher license Correct
- COnly amateurs with a General class or higher license, and NASA approval
- DAny amateurs with a Technician class or higher license, and NASA approval
Why: Contacting the ISS on VHF needs privileges on those frequencies, and Technicians have them, so any Technician or higher can.
- T1B03Question 3FCC 97.301(a)
Which frequency is in the 6-meter amateur band?
- A49.00 MHz
- B52.525 MHz Correct
- C28.50 MHz
- D222.15 MHz
Why: The 6-meter band runs from 50 to 54 MHz, so 52.525 MHz is inside it.
- T1B04Question 4FCC 97.301(a)
Which amateur band includes 146.52 MHz?
- A6 meters
- B20 meters
- C70 centimeters
- D2 meters Correct
Why: The 2-meter band is 144 to 148 MHz, and 146.52 MHz falls inside it.
- T1B05Question 5FCC 97.301, 97.305
Which of the following bands include frequencies where Technicians are authorized to use digital modes such as FT8?
- A10 meters
- B6 meters
- C2 meters
- DAll these choices are correct Correct
Why: Technicians can use digital modes like FT8 on their HF slices and on the VHF and UHF bands, so all the choices are correct.
- T1B06Question 6FCC 97.301(e), 97.305
On which HF bands does a Technician class operator have phone privileges?
- ANone
- B10-meter band only Correct
- C80-meter, 40-meter, 15-meter, and 10-meter bands
- D30-meter band only
Why: The only HF band where Technicians have phone privileges is 10 meters.
- T1B07Question 7FCC 97.305(a), (c)
Which of the following VHF/UHF band segments are limited to CW only?
- A50.0 MHz to 50.1 MHz and 144.0 MHz to 144.1 MHz Correct
- B219 MHz to 220 MHz and 420.0 MHz to 420.1 MHz
- C902.0 MHz to 902.1 MHz
- DAll these choices are correct
Why: The bottom 100 kHz of 6 meters (50.0–50.1 MHz) and 2 meters (144.0–144.1 MHz) are CW only.
- T1B08Question 8FCC 97.303
How are US amateurs restricted in segments of bands where the Amateur Radio Service is secondary?
- AU.S. amateurs may find non-amateur stations in those segments, and must avoid interfering with them Correct
- BU.S. amateurs must give foreign amateur stations priority in those segments
- CInternational communications are not permitted in those segments
- DDigital transmissions are not permitted in those segments
Why: Where amateurs are a secondary user, other services have priority. You may hear them, and you must not interfere.
- T1B09Question 9FCC 97.101(a), 97.301(a-e)
Why should you not set your transmit frequency to be exactly at the edge of an amateur band or sub-band?
- ATo allow for calibration error in the transmitter frequency display
- BSo that modulation sidebands do not extend beyond the band edge
- CTo allow for transmitter frequency drift
- DAll these choices are correct Correct
Why: Your signal has width, sidebands and dial error, so sitting right on the edge can put part of it out of band. All the choices are reasons.
- T1B10Question 10FCC 97.305(c)
Where may SSB phone be used in amateur bands above 50 MHz?
- AOnly in sub-bands allocated to General class or higher licensees
- BOnly on repeaters
- CIn at least some segment of all these bands Correct
- DOn any band if the power is limited to 25 watts
Why: SSB voice is allowed in at least some part of every band above 50 MHz.
- T1B11Question 11FCC 97.313
What is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators in their HF band segments?
- A200 watts Correct
- B100 watts
- C50 watts
- D10 watts
Why: Technicians are limited to 200 watts PEP on their HF segments.
- T1B12Question 12FCC 97.313(b)
Except for some specific restrictions, what is the maximum peak envelope power output for Technician class operators using frequencies above 30 MHz?
- A50 watts
- B100 watts
- C500 watts
- D1500 watts Correct
Why: Above 30 MHz, Technicians can run the full 1,500 watts PEP that other classes can.