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Subelement E1
COMMISSION RULES
Section E1D
Amateur space and Earth stations; telemetry and telecommand rules; identification of balloon transmissions; one-way communications
What is the definition of telemetry?
  • Correct Answer
    One-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument
  • Two-way transmissions in excess of 1000 feet
  • Two-way transmissions of data
  • One-way transmission that initiates, modifies, or terminates the functions of a device at a distance

Coming from the prefix "tele" (distant) and the suffix "metry" meaning "the process, art, or science of measuring", telemetry is no more than simply "distance measurements".

Hint: a meter is a unit of measurement

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Which of the following may transmit special codes intended to obscure the meaning of messages?
  • Correct Answer
    Telecommand signals from a space telecommand station
  • Data containing personal information
  • Auxiliary relay links carrying repeater audio
  • Binary control characters

§97.113 Prohibited transmissions.

(a) No amateur station shall transmit: ... (4) Music using a phone emission except as specifically provided elsewhere in this section; communications intended to facilitate a criminal act; messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein; obscene or indecent words or language; or false or deceptive messages, signals or identification.

§97.211(b) A telecommand station may transmit special codes intended to obscure the meaning of telecommand messages to the station in space operation.

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What is a space telecommand station?
  • An amateur station located on the surface of the Earth for communication with other Earth stations by means of Earth satellites
  • Correct Answer
    An amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a space station
  • An amateur station located in a satellite or a balloon more than 50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth
  • An amateur station that receives telemetry from a satellite or balloon more than 50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth

FCC 97.3(a)(44) Telecommand station. An amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a space station.

Tip - The only answer that contains the words “space station”

Tip2 - A “telecommand” station must be making commands. The correct answer is the one that includes a list of potential commands, “initiate, modify or terminate”.

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Which of the following is required in the identification transmissions from a balloon-borne telemetry station?
  • Correct Answer
    Call sign
  • The output power of the balloon transmitter
  • The station's six-character Maidenhead grid locator
  • All these choices are correct

There are no specific requirements for a balloon beyond those for any aircraft. Therefore like any amateur station, the balloon-borne station must identify with its call sign.

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What must be posted at the station location of a station being operated by telecommand on or within 50 km of the earth's surface?
  • A photocopy of the station license
  • A label with the name, address, and telephone number of the station licensee
  • A label with the name, address, and telephone number of the control operator
  • Correct Answer
    All these choices are correct

§97.213 Telecommand of an amateur station.


(d) A photocopy of the station license and a label with the name, address, and telephone number of the station licensee and at least one designated control operator is posted in a conspicuous place at the station location.

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What is the maximum permitted transmitter output power when operating a model craft by telecommand?
  • Correct Answer
    1 watt
  • 2 watts
  • 5 watts
  • 100 watts

§97.215 Telecommand of model craft.


(c) The transmitter power must not exceed 1 W.

Hint: model craft are nearby and usually line-of-sight, so only low power is needed.

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Which HF amateur bands have frequencies authorized for space stations?
  • Correct Answer
    Only the 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter bands
  • Only the 40, 20, 17, 15, and 10 meter bands
  • Only the 40, 30, 20, 15, 12, and 10 meter bands
  • All HF bands

The correct answer is ALL HF bands 40 Meters and above EXCEPT for 30 meters.

From §97.207-

(c) The following frequency bands and segments are authorized to space stations:

(1) The 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 10 m bands, 6 mm, 4 mm, 2 mm and 1 mm bands; and

(2) The 7.0-7.1 MHz, 14.00-14.25 MHz, 144-146 MHz, 435-438 MHz, 2400-2450 MHz, 3.40-3.41 GHz, 5.83-5.85 GHz, 10.45-10.50 GHz, and 24.00-24.05 GHz segments.

Since this question specifically mentions HF amateur bands, this limits our options to those between 3 Mhz and 30 Mhz. In the list given by the FCC regulations, that translates to parts of 40 m Band, (7.0-7.1 MHz), parts of the 20 m band (14.00-14.25 MHz) and the 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 10 m bands. This is another way in which the 30 meter band is an odd HF band. In addition to prohibiting space stations, the 30 meter band has a lower than standard power limit of only 200 PEP and it generally only allows narrow-band digital modes and CW.

An easy way to remember this one is that every year has 12 months (12m band) but every month doesn't have 30 days. There is only one answer that has 12m without 30m - OR - There's always 4 even and 2 odd balls in space. 4 even numbered bands and two odd numbered bands. - KF4IRE

The only answer with 10, 12, 17 meters

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Which VHF amateur bands have frequencies authorized for space stations?
  • 6 meters and 2 meters
  • 6 meters, 2 meters, and 1.25 meters
  • 2 meters and 1.25 meters
  • Correct Answer
    2 meters

From Part 97.207 Space Station::

(c) The following frequency bands and segments are authorized to space stations:

...

(2) The 7.0-7.1 MHz, 14.00-14.25 MHz, 144-146 MHz, 435-438 MHz, 1260-1270 MHz, and 2400-2450 MHz, 3.40-3.41 GHz, 5.83-5.85 GHz, 10.45-10.50 GHz, and 24.00-24.05 GHz segments.

144-146 MHz covers a portion of the 2 meter band.


For your general education, note that the following spectrum is also authorized to space stations:

(1) The 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 10 m bands, 6 mm, 4 mm, 2 mm and 1 mm bands;

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Which UHF amateur bands have frequencies authorized for space stations?
  • 70 cm only
  • Correct Answer
    70 cm and 13 cm
  • 70 cm and 33 cm
  • 33 cm and 13 cm

Part 97 : Sec. 97.207 Space station

Part 97 Sec. 97.207 Space station (c) The following frequency bands and segments are authorized to space stations:

(1) The 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 10 m bands, 6 mm, 4 mm, 2 mm, and 1 mm bands; and

(2) The 7.0–7.1 MHz, 14.00–14.25 MHz, 144–146 MHz, 435–438 MHz (70 cm) , 2400–2450 MHz (13 cm), 3.40–3.41 GHz, 5.83–5.85 GHz, 10.45–10.50 GHz, and 24.00–24.05 GHz segments.

Silly memory tool: In 1970 (70cm) Apollo 13 (13cm) had a problem.

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Which amateur stations are eligible to be telecommand stations of space stations (subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator of the station)?
  • Any amateur station designated by NASA
  • Correct Answer
    Any amateur station so designated by the space station licensee
  • Any amateur station so designated by the ITU
  • All these choices are correct

§97.211 Space telecommand station.

(a) Any amateur station designated by the licensee of a space station is eligible to transmit as a telecommand station for that space station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator.

Memory aid: Both the question and the correct answer have "space station" in them. "Any amateur station so designated by the space station licensee"

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Which amateur stations are eligible to operate as Earth stations?
  • Any amateur station whose licensee has filed a pre-space notification with the FCC's International Bureau
  • Only those of General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class operators
  • Only those of Amateur Extra Class operators
  • Correct Answer
    Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator

FCC 97.209(a) Any amateur station may be an Earth station. A holder of any class operator license may be the control operator of an Earth station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator.

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Which of the following amateur stations may transmit one-way communications?
  • Correct Answer
    A space station, beacon station, or telecommand station
  • A local repeater or linked repeater station
  • A message forwarding station or automatically controlled digital station
  • All these choices are correct

Memory tip: There is only one answer with the word "beacon." Think of a lighthouse beacon: it can send a signal only one way ("Danger! Shallow water!").

97.211 Space telecommand station. ... (d) A telecommand station may transmit one-way communications.

97.201 Auxiliary station. ... (e) An auxiliary station may transmit one-way communications.

97.203 Beacon station. ... (g) A beacon may transmit one-way communications.

97.207 Space station. ... (e) A space station may transmit one-way communications.

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