Ham radio authorized emission types by band and segment

Two rules that apply almost everywhere

Before the table, section 97.305 sets two general permissions. Paragraph (a): except as specified elsewhere in part 97, an amateur station may transmit a CW emission on any frequency authorized to the control operator. Paragraph (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 may be transmitted where pulse is not specifically authorized and no spread spectrum (SS) modulation where SS is not specifically authorized. So CW is the one mode with a standing "anywhere you are allowed to transmit" rule; everything else depends on the table in paragraph (c).

The table: where each type is allowed

Paragraph (c) says a station may transmit the listed emission types on the frequencies indicated, as authorized to the control operator, subject to the standards of section 97.307(f). Two things govern what you may actually do: this table (the mode) and section 97.301 (the frequencies your license class may use). Both must allow it.

On the LF and MF bands (2200 m, 630 m and 160 m), the table authorizes RTTY and data, and phone and image, over the entire band. On HF the lower end of each band is for narrower digital and telegraph modes, and the upper end for voice and images. In 80 m the entire band carries RTTY and data, while the 75 m entry carries phone and image. In 40 m, 7.000-7.100 MHz and 7.100-7.125 MHz are RTTY and data, 7.075-7.100 MHz is listed for phone and image, and 7.125-7.300 MHz is phone and image. In 20 m the break is at 14.15 MHz, in 17 m at 18.110 MHz, in 15 m at 21.20 MHz, in 12 m at 24.93 MHz, and in 10 m RTTY and data stop at 28.3 MHz with phone and image above it. The 30 m band is RTTY and data only.

60 meters is different

The 60 m band is a set of channels rather than a continuous band: 5.332, 5.348, 5.3515-5.3665, 5.373 and 5.405 MHz. On these, phone, RTTY and data are authorized together, subject to the standard in section 97.307(f)(14). The power limit there is an ERP limit, covered on the power limits page.

VHF, UHF and above

Above 50 MHz the table opens up. On 6 m, 50.1-51.0 MHz allows MCW, phone, image, RTTY and data; 51.0-54.0 MHz adds test. On 2 m, 144.1-148.0 MHz allows the same set plus test. On 1.25 m the 219-220 MHz segment is data only, while 222-225 MHz allows RTTY, data, test, MCW, phone, SS and image. Spread spectrum appears from 1.25 m up. The UHF and microwave bands, 70 cm through 1 mm and above 275 GHz, authorize MCW, phone, image, RTTY, data, SS and test. Pulse is added on 33 cm, 13 cm, 5 cm, 1.2 cm and all of the EHF bands (6 mm through above 275 GHz), but not on 70 cm, 23 cm or 3 cm.

Reading the abbreviations

The table uses short names: CW is telegraphy; MCW is modulated CW; phone is voice; image covers pictures; RTTY and data are digital modes; SS is spread spectrum; test is a test emission; pulse is pulse modulation. The section does not define them, so use the definitions in part 97 when exact meanings matter. The standards column points to paragraphs of section 97.307(f), which set technical standards for each group of modes; a signal allowed by this table must also meet them.

How to check a planned transmission

1. Find the frequency in the widget above and note the mode families allowed.
2. Check that the control operator's class has that frequency in section 97.301.
3. Check the power cap in section 97.313.
4. Check the technical standard named in the standards column of section 97.305.

A worked example: you want to run a voice (phone) contact on 40 m at 7.050 MHz. The table lists 7.000-7.100 MHz as RTTY and data, with phone and image listed at 7.075-7.100 MHz and above 7.125 MHz, so 7.050 MHz is not a phone frequency in this table. At 7.200 MHz, phone is authorized, and a General Class operator is authorized on that part of 40 m under section 97.301.

Limits of this page

The page tabulates paragraph (c) of section 97.305 as it appeared in the eCFR on October 29, 2026. The 40 m rows carry standards notes in section 97.307(f)(9) and (11) that this page did not read. If you plan operations near a segment edge, read section 97.307 as well.

Sources

• 47 CFR 97.305, Authorized emission types (eCFR). Read November 2, 2026.
• 47 CFR 97.301, Authorized frequency bands (eCFR). Read November 2, 2026.

Text read: the eCFR (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations) text of Title 47 as it stood on October 29, 2026, retrieved through the eCFR versioner API on November 2, 2026. The eCFR is an editorial compilation and is not the official legal edition; the Federal Register and the annual CFR are. Rules change, so confirm the current wording on the eCFR before relying on it. This page paraphrases the rule and does not replace it.