Unofficial compilation note: this library is unofficial material compiled and rewritten by BG7BAG Radio from public sources, for study reference only, and is not affiliated with the equipment manufacturers. For takedown requests, contact contact@bg7bag.com.
Amateur Radio TX Regulations (CN/US/JP/DE/EU)
Licence, band and power essentials before you operate.
Why compliance first
Most radios covered here can transmit, but transmit privileges and bands are strictly set by each country law. Operating without a licence, outside authorised bands, or in restricted zones can cause interference and legal penalties. This is a general overview — always check the latest rules from the local authority.
Quick reference by region
| Region | Authority | Licence classes | Prefix | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | MIIT (CRAC exams) | Class A / B / C | B (e.g. BG7BAG) | Type approval + station licence + assigned callsign |
| USA | FCC (Part 97) | Technician / General / Extra | K / N / W / AA–AL | VE exams, no Morse requirement |
| Japan | MIC (JARL) | Amateur 4th/3rd/2nd/1st class | JA / JF / JH… | Giteki mandatory; 50 MHz key band; 4 classes |
| Germany | BNetzA (DARC) | Klasse A / Klasse E | DL | A=HF; E=VHF/UHF; new N class (2024) |
| Europe/CEPT | Each state (ANFR/Ofcom…) | National + CEPT recognition | National prefixes | ECC(05)06 short-term recognition |
China
- Authority: MIIT Radio Regulation Bureau; CRAC coordinates exams and activities.
- Certificates: Class A (entry, mostly above 30 MHz, ≤25 W), Class B (some HF, ≤100 W), Class C (all bands, ≤1000 W).
- Station: TX equipment needs a type-approval certificate (CMIIT ID); personal stations need a radio-station licence and an assigned callsign (e.g. B prefix).
- Prohibited: unlicensed TX, unapproved equipment, expanding TX range/power, unauthorised repeaters.
United States
- Authority: FCC under 47 CFR Part 97.
- Classes: Technician (entry, mainly VHF/UHF, some HF CW), General (more HF), Extra (full). No Morse test; exams run by Volunteer Examiners (VE).
- Callsign: K / N / W and AA–AL prefixes.
- Power: generally up to 1500 W PEP (band-dependent).
- Prohibited: unlicensed TX, excess power, harmful interference.
Japan
- Authority: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC); JARL is the amateur league.
- Licence: Amateur Radio Operator 4th / 3rd / 2nd / 1st class (higher class = more bands/power), plus a station licence.
- Callsign: JA / JF / JH / JK / JL / JM prefixes.
- Equipment: must carry the giteki (technical conformity) mark; imported gear must be verified.
- Prohibited: unlicensed operation, using non-conforming equipment without a licence.
- Giteki (technical conformity): radios used in Japan must bear the giteki mark; overseas models (e.g. Baofeng/Quansheng) often lack it and cannot be used licence-free. Visitors must bring their own licence and arrange loan/borrow paperwork.
- Classes & privileges: 4th class is VHF/UHF-focused, ≤10 W, phone only; 3rd class 21 MHz and above or 8 MHz and below, ≤25 W (CW); 2nd class adds HF, ≤200 W; 1st class full bands, ≤500 W. The 4th-class exam needs no Morse.
- 50 MHz (6 m) is a widely used primary amateur band in Japan (an ITU Region 3 trait); also 144 / 430 / 1200 / 2400 MHz.
- Call signs: JA0–JA9 (10 areas) plus Okinawa special cases (JR6 etc.); JR/JS/7J/8N for special/club/regional. Japan is ITU Region 3.
- Scale: Japan is among the world's largest ham communities — JARL membership over 100,000 and hundreds of thousands of station licences (verify with JARL/MIC latest).
Germany
- Authority: BNetzA (Bundesnetzagentur); DARC e.V. is the league.
- Licence: Klasse A (all bands incl. HF, up to 750 W PEP) and Klasse E (VHF/UHF and part of 70 cm only, ≤100 W PEP, no Morse).
- Callsign: DL prefix.
- Equipment: must meet EU/German rules (CE mark).
- Licence classes (new Class N in 2024): Klasse N (newcomer, added 2024) — only 2 m / 70 cm, ≤10 W PEP. Klasse E also adds some HF (10 m, 80 m, 6 m at 25 W, etc.), ≤100 W PEP. Klasse A — all amateur bands, ≤750 W PEP. Exams by BNetzA; no Morse.
- Bands (per AFuV / DARC band plan): 2 m 144–146 and 70 cm 430–440 for all classes (N 10 W / E 100 W / A 750 W); 10 m 28,000–29,700 (E/A); most HF (40/30/20/17/15/12 m) is Class A only — E has just a little (10 m, 80 m, 6 m). 6 m 50,080–51,000 (A full / E 25 W / N none).
- 70 cm (430–440 MHz) care: near radiolocation and satellite services — obey the DARC band plan (432–438 MHz is largely satellite/repeater). The 4 m (70 MHz) band lost its Class E temporary permit at end-2025; only Class A now has permanent access (since June 2024).
- Call signs: DL plus DA–DR. CEPT / ECC(05)06 allows short-term operation in other member states. Germany is ITU Region 1.
- Scale: 61,105 personal amateur licences at end-2025; DARC membership ~31,623 in 2024 (down ~36% over 20 years). Unlicensed TX, excess power, or harmful interference risk fines, licence loss, even prosecution.
Europe and CEPT
- The EU has no single amateur-radio law; each member state regulates (Germany BNetzA, France ANFR, UK Ofcom).
- CEPT / ECC: ECC Recommendation (05)06 lets a HAREC-class licence holder operate short-term in other member states (often with a slash prefix).
- The UK runs its own Foundation / Intermediate / Full scheme after Brexit.
Universal red lines
⚠
- Licence to transmit: nearly everywhere requires a licence first.
- Authorised bands: transmit only in allocated amateur bands; do not copy foreign parameters.
- No modding/unlocking: flashing custom firmware to unlock TX ranges or adding amplifiers is illegal in most places.
- No interference: avoid aeronautical, maritime and emergency services; stop at once if interference occurs.
Can I use these radios without a licence?
You can listen, but transmitting requires a licence almost everywhere. Some countries allow licence-free bands (US FRS/GMRS, EU PMR446), but those are not the amateur service.
Can I just buy and transmit?
No. Confirm local legality, hold a licence, keep the radio within approved ranges, and obey power/band limits.
Can I operate abroad?
Within CEPT states, a national licence works short-term (ECC 05/06); outside, check local rules first.