The key word here is ALL. The easiest way to get this one right is to eliminate distracters. General License holders do not have full privileges on the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands.

As a mnemonic: 80 halved is 40, which halved is 20. And 8 + 4 + 2 is... almost 15.

Ref: FCC Bulletin [97.301(d), 97.303(s)]

Refer to the ARRL band tables (pdf, text).

Hint: Two answers offer 6 bands. Think "6 with 60", as the correct answer is 6 bands including 60 meters. Also, only one answer has both 160M and 60M.

6 Bands NO 15m (it's that easy)

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Tags: license class frequency privileges rules and regulations general class frequency bands

The 30 meter band is special in a number of ways. It only allows data modes (so no phone), there's a power limit (200 Watts PEP), and contesting is not allowed.

Propagation is usually good during the day and excellent during the night, so it can be a great band for CW or digital DX contacts.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.305]

An easy way to remember this is that no one under the age of about 30 makes actual phone calls.

or

A similar silly mnemonic is, "never invite party- pooper 30 meters to a phone party!"

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Tags: rules and regulations frequency privileges 30 meters frequency bands

The FCC has restricted the 30 meter band to only data transmission modes (such as CW, RTTY and packet), so image transmission is prohibited. Image transmissions are found within phone transmission band segments rather than data. Image transmission is prohibited on the 60 meter band as well, where we are restricted to 5 specific frequency channels for SSB phone communication only.

HINT: “No IMG In the thirty”

Refer to the FCC Section: [97.305]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands Chart

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

Hint: NTSC Fast Scan video runs at 30 frames per second, which you'll want to remember if you take the Extra test. Video is not allowed on 30M (or 60M, same memory trick).

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Tags: rules and regulations frequency privileges 30 meters frequency bands

Remember: Using the "60m band" is like looking at your watch with 60 seconds. Amateurs are the "second" user with privledges, also you need to take a extra "second" to listen for ongoing traffic and not cause any interference.

The 60 meter band is a shared frequency range where the government has primary rights and amateur radio is restricted to communicating as a secondary service only on specific channels. This is to keep the possibility of signal interference at a minimum.

Silly Hint: Everybody wants more time (measured in 60-second minutes), so everybody wants 60 meters.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.303(s)]

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Tags: frequency privileges rules and regulations 60 meters frequency bands

In the 40 meter band the following ranges are available to holders of a General Class license:

• 7.025-7.125 MHz (CW, RTTY, data)
• 7.175-7.300 MHz (CW, phone, image)

If you use the wavelength to calculate the approximate frequencies for the 40 meter band (300m/40m), you will get 7.5 MHz, but 7.5 MHz falls just outside of the band.

You can also get the right answer by eliminating the distractors. The 40 meter band comprises 7 MHz frequencies, so C and D are wrong. The upper limit of the 40 meter band is 7.300 MHz for all classes, so B is wrong, leaving A (7.250 MHz) as the only correct answer.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

See the ARRL website for a full overview of frequency allocations (pdf, text).

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Tags: frequencies general class 40 meters frequency bands

(D). General class privileges allow use of the range from 24.890-24.930 MHz for CW/data and 24.930-24.990 MHz for voice transmissions on the 12 meter band. Answer (D) 24.940 MHz falls within the range of this band.

Note: Using the formula for calculating frequency from wavelength (f = 300 / λ) gives the result: f = 300 / 12 = 25 MHz. Since the answer choices are far apart and (D) is close at 24.940 MHz, this is a good method for finding the correct answer.

Refer to FCC Section [97.301(d)]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

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Tags: frequencies 12 meters frequency bands

The general class portion of the 75 meter phone band is from 3.800 to 4.000 MHz (3800 to 4000 kHz), so the anwer 3900 kHz falls within this range.

silly HINT: 75 meter (7+5= 12) 3900 kHz (3+9= 12)

If we calculate frequency from wavelength using \(f = \frac{300}{\lambda}\), we get \[f = \frac{300}{75\text{ meters}} = 4\text{ MHz} = 4000\text{ kHz}\]

We need to remember that this is at the end of the \(75\text{ meter}\) range, so answer \(4005\text{ kHz}\) is out of bounds. You can double-check yourself by reversing the calculation: Given \(4005\text{ kHz}\), the wavelength = \(\frac{300}{f} = \frac{300}{4.005} = 74.9\text{ m}\), so we can see this is out of the 75-80 range.

If we do the same for \(3750\text{ kHz}\), wavelength = \(\frac{300}{3.750} = 80\text{ m}\), so that is not going to be in the phone range of this band.

Answer \(3900\text{ kHz}\) gives us a wavelength of \(\frac{300}{3.900} = 76.9\text{ m}\), so that is nicely in our \(75\text{ m}\) band range.

By reading the chart (linked below), you'll see that \(3900\text{ kHz}\) is listed under \(80\text{ meters}\) band. General-class license holders have access from \(3.8\) to \(4.0\text{ MHz}\) at \(200\text{ W}\).

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

See also:

ARRL color chart

ARRL text based band table (more accessible)

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Tags: frequencies license class phone general class 75/80 meters frequency bands

The General class has privileges on the 20 meter band for CW/Data from 14.025-14.150 MHz and for phone (which this question involves) from 14.225-14.350 MHz. Even though all of these frequencies are close, only 14305 kHz falls within the phone portion of the band.

Note: Here the frequencies are close enough that the calculation f = 300/wavelength is not going to be useful as f = 300/20 = 15. So you will want to remember that the phone privileges have a higher frequency (shorter wavelength) within each band than the CW/data section, and that 14.350 is the upper limit for this band, so you want the value that lies just below this limit.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

Silly tip: 14305 or 1+4+(3*5)=20

Memory aid: Since the frequency numbers are so similar (tricky), add up the numbers in each multiple choice answer; the correct answer is 13. As in 1+4+3+0+5=13. Think 20 meter phone is 13.

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Tags: frequencies phone license class general class 20 meters frequency bands

General class operators may operate within two sub-bands within the 80m band:

The General class portion of the 80 meter band is from 3.525-3.600 MHz, and 3.8-4.0 MHz.

Only answer 3560 kHz falls within this range.

The lower frequency range (3.525-3.600 MHz) may be used for CW, RTTY, and data transmissions. The higher range (3.8-4.0 MHz) may be used for phone and image.

3560 kHz falls within the range allocated for CW/RTTY/data. 3650 kHz looks close, but it’s actually in the gap between the two sub-bands allowed for General class operators.

Memorize 3.6 MHz as the upper end of the data sub-band and pick the answer that is slightly lower, not higher, than that.

Hint-wink 3+5=8-0 drop the 6 (3560)

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

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Tags: frequencies license class general class 75/80 meters frequency bands

General class privileges let us use the ranges of 21.025-21.200 MHz (CW/data) and 21.275-21.450 MHz (phone), so the answer 21300 kHz falls within the phone range of the 15 meter band.

Note: Remember that the 15 meter band actually is located below 15 meters (from λ=300/21.450 MHz =13.98 m to λ=300/21.025 MHz=14.27 m). If you remember this and check the wavelength of the 2 values that are close (18155) and (21300), you will find that (18155) gives a wavelength = 300/18.155 MHz = 16.52m, whereas (21300) gives you a value of wavelength = 300/21.300 = 14.08.

If you estimate 300/15 = 20, you'd have 50% correct. So just remember it's a bit above this number which is 21.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

Silly memory aid: 2 x 15 = 30.
21300 is the only answer with the numbers 2 and 30.

Even more silly: Only answer that adds up to 15 2+13

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Tags: 15 meters frequencies license class general class frequency bands

All of these frequencies are within the privileges for operators holding a general class license, so All of these choices are correct. The band privileges for 28 MHZ (10 meters) are from 28.000 MHz all the way up to 29.700 MHz!

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301(d)]

Link to ARRL color chart: US Amateur Radio Bands

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

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Tags: license class general class frequencies 10 meter

Central portions of any band are preferred over the end portions because most antennas sport a usable BW that tends to be less than the BW of the band they are designed for. Thus the antenna used will have a lower SWR towards the center of the band than towards the ends to allow for a reasonable SWR across the entire band. Amateur Extra class operators have privileges over all other operator classes, thus if a portion of the phone allocation in a band is reserved for the exclusive use of Amateur Extra operators, then it will be the portion of the band towards the center for the benefit of the lower SWR and not towards the upper end where antennas generally sport a higher SWR. Therefore it follows that if General class operators aren't able to use the portion of a phone allocation towards the center of a band they will be relegated to using the phone portion towards the top end.

The general rule is that if sections of a band are split between voice and data, that the upper frequency end of the band is used for voice and the lower frequency end is used for CW/data.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.301]

Link to ARRL text based band table (more accessible): US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations

Mnemonic: In general, hams are tops!

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Tags: general class voice frequencies frequency bands

(D). Amateur Radio does not share any privileges or frequency ranges with the Citizens Radio Service (CB) so answer (D) None is correct.

Refer to FCC section: [97.303]

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Tags: frequencies frequency bands

As amateurs, we must always follow the rules of COURTESY. In a case where the Amateur Service has been designated as a secondary user (such as on 30 and 60 m bands) this is even more important.

Amateur stations are allowed to use the band ONLY if they do NOT cause harmful interference to primary users.

Listen First! If you hear another transmission, do not use that frequency. If you hear a primary user come on to the same frequency that you are working or nearby frequency, immediately move your transmission farther away so that you will not interfere with their signal.

Hint: “DON’T interfere with the FCC!”

Refer to FCC Section: 97.303

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Tags: secondary use rules and regulations harmful interference frequency bands

(D). As Amateur Radio operators we must always follow the rules of COURTESY. In a situation where Amateur Radio has secondary privileges, such as the 30 or 60 meter bands, this is even more important. We are allowed to use the frequency only if we do not cause interference to primary users. Listen first! If a primary user is already using the frequency, or starts using the same or a nearby frequency, then immediately move to a clear frequency to avoid causing interference.

Refer to FCC Section: [97.303]

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Tags: frequency bands secondary use rules and regulations