Question
What is the maximum power permitted on the 2200-meter band?
Answer Options
- A) 50 watts PEP (peak envelope power)
- B) 100 watts PEP (peak envelope power)
- C) 1 watt EIRP (equivalent isotropic radiated power)
- D) 5 watts EIRP (equivalent isotropic radiated power)
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
The 2200-meter band (135.7-137.8 kHz) is one of the very low frequency (VLF) bands allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. Due to its VLF nature and potential for interference, the power limit is specified not as a transmitter output power but as the Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP). EIRP accounts for the transmitter’s power output plus the gain and minus the losses of the entire system up to the antenna.
The maximum power limit set by the FCC for the 2200-meter band is 1 Watt EIRP. This is a very restrictive limit, reflecting the challenges of efficient VLF antenna design where high losses and low radiation efficiency are common. This rule, therefore, focuses on the actual power radiated from the station, rather than just the power coming out of the transmitter.
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