Question
Which of the following amateur bands is restricted to communication only on specific channels, rather than frequency ranges?
Answer Options
- A) 11 meters
- B) 12 meters
- C) 30 meters
- D) 60 meters
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
The 60\text{-meter} band (near 5 \text{MHz}) is unique in the amateur HF spectrum because it is not a contiguous frequency range but rather a set of five specific, discrete channels or ‘channels of communication’ (CoC). Amateur operations are only permitted on these five specific USB channels, centered at 5.332 \text{MHz}, 5.348 \text{MHz}, 5.3585 \text{MHz}, 5.373 \text{MHz}, and 5.405 \text{MHz}.
FCC Rule \S 97.303(\text{h}) details these specific channel requirements, emphasizing that an amateur station must use a center frequency of an authorized channel. This channel-specific operation is required because the 60\text{-meter} band is shared with government users, and the amateur service has a secondary allocation. Operating on specific channels, rather than a frequency range, is a strict operational limitation designed to prevent interference to the primary users.
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