2.1 Qualification Tiers & Permitted Frequency Bands
Key Takeaways
Schedule 2 uses Table A for Foundation, Table B for Standard and Table C for Advanced.
Foundation has six bands. Standard adds bands including 20 metres, 6 metres and 5.650–5.850 GHz. The 1.800–1.875 MHz range appears only in Table C.
Advanced access above 3.700 MHz on 80 metres is limited to the separate 3.776–3.800 MHz row, subject to its conditions.
Section 5(3) generally excludes the lower edge of a listed band and includes the upper edge. Check where the wanted emission falls relative to those edges.
Section 18 adds geographic and spectrum-licence restrictions even where Schedule 2 lists the frequency.
Find the correct table first
The Radiocommunications (Amateur Stations) Class Licence 2023 sets frequency, emission and power conditions for personal amateur stations. Start with section 17 and Schedule 2. Use Table A for a Foundation qualification, Table B for Standard or Table C for Advanced. Apply the relevant qualification limits when operating under supervision as well. The qualification and operating authority determine the applicable row. The transceiver's tuning range and the operator's call sign suffix do not establish frequency privileges.
Compare the band ranges
This comparison lists the frequencies in the three Schedule 2 tables, with adjacent ranges grouped in two rows for convenience. Look up the exact item in the instrument before choosing a power or mode. The two segments of 40 metres and of 6 metres have different conditions.
| Frequency range | Foundation | Standard | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 135.7–137.8 kHz and 472–479 kHz | — | — | Yes |
| 1.800–1.875 MHz | — | — | Yes |
| 3.500–3.700 MHz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3.776–3.800 MHz | — | — | Yes |
| 7.000–7.300 MHz (split at 7.100 MHz) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10.100–10.150 MHz | — | — | Yes |
| 14.000–14.350 MHz | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18.068–18.168 MHz | — | — | Yes |
| 21.000–21.450 MHz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24.890–24.990 MHz | — | — | Yes |
| 28.000–29.700 MHz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 50.000–54.000 MHz (split at 52.000 MHz) | — | Yes | Yes |
| 144.000–148.000 MHz and 430.000–450.000 MHz | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1.240–1.300 GHz | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2.300–2.302 GHz | — | — | Yes |
| 2.400–2.450 GHz | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3.300–3.400 GHz and 3.400–3.600 GHz | — | — | Yes, subject to section 18 |
| 5.650–5.850 GHz | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10.000–10.500 GHz, 24.000–24.250 GHz, 47.000–47.200 GHz | — | — | Yes |
| 76.000–81.000 GHz, 122.250–123.000 GHz, 134.000–141.000 GHz, 241.000–250.000 GHz | — | — | Yes |
For example, a Standard operator can find 14.200 MHz in Table B item 1. The same operator will not find 1.850 MHz in Table B. An Advanced operator finds 1.850 MHz in Table C item 3. A proposal to transmit at 3.750 MHz falls in the gap between the two listed 80-metre ranges, including for an Advanced operator. The two ranges have to be checked individually.
Check the conditions that travel with the frequency
- Check each column. Column 1 gives the frequency band, column 2 gives power limits and column 3 gives additional limitations. A dash in the comparison above means the range is absent for that qualification.
- Check the location. Section 18 restricts operation at frequencies and within areas authorised by spectrum licences. It also identifies an excluded area for 3.4–3.6 GHz through Schedule 3 and prohibits amateur station operation in the defined Australian Radio Quiet Zone.
- Check the relevant instrument for the station. The Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan describes allocations and footnotes. A station operating under an assigned apparatus licence checks its own licence and applicable determinations. A personal class-licensed station uses its Schedule 2 privileges.
- Check equipment obligations. Select and set up equipment that meets applicable requirements, including interference, spurious-emission and exposure limits. Schedule 1 of the class licence concerns electromagnetic energy exposure. It does not impose a commercial-manufacture requirement on Foundation operators.
Worked band-edge examples
Section 5(3) generally excludes the stated lower frequency of a band and includes the upper frequency. Allow for the wanted emission's frequency extent. For a simplified example, assume a suppressed-carrier single-sideband transmitter reproduces audio from 300 to 2,700 Hz. With lower sideband (LSB), subtract each audio frequency from the dial reference. With upper sideband (USB), add it.
- At 7.0030 MHz LSB, the wanted sideband in this model runs from 7.0003 to 7.0027 MHz. The bottom is 300 Hz above 7.000 MHz. At 7.0027 MHz LSB, the bottom would be exactly 7.0000 MHz, the excluded lower edge.
- At 14.3480 MHz USB, the range is 14.3483 to 14.3507 MHz. The top exceeds 14.350 MHz by 700 Hz. Moving to 14.3470 MHz USB brings the modeled top to 14.3497 MHz.
These examples assume the stated audio limits and ignore equipment tolerance for the calculation. In operation, allow margin for filter response, frequency error and signal shape. Check the power and bandwidth requirements for the actual row and the separate harmful-interference and spurious-emission limits.
Which band is listed for Standard and Advanced but absent from Foundation Table A?
20 metres, 14.000–14.350 MHz.
40 metres, 7.000–7.300 MHz.
15 metres, 21.000–21.450 MHz.
10 metres, 28.000–29.700 MHz.
An idealised LSB voice emission extends from 2.7 kHz below the dial reference to 0.3 kHz below it. Which is the lowest listed dial frequency that keeps the wanted emission above the excluded 7.0000 MHz lower edge?
7.0027 MHz.
7.0028 MHz.
7.0018 MHz.
7.0000 MHz.
A Standard operator proposes a contact at 1.850 MHz. What does Schedule 2 say about the proposed frequency?
Table B permits the frequency if transmitter power is below 10 W.
Table A permits the frequency under Foundation conditions.
The range containing 1.850 MHz appears only in the Advanced table.
Both Standard and Advanced can use it, with different power limits.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.