Question E1D11:
[97.209] Which amateur stations are eligible to operate as Earth stations?  

Choices:  
A: Any amateur licensee who has successfully completed the AMSAT space communications course  
B: Only those of General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class operators  
C: Only those of Amateur Extra class operators  
D: Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator    

Correct Answer is  D: Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator  

Correct answer: D — Any amateur station, subject to the privileges of the class of operator license held by the control operator.

1) Why D is correct
- Part 97 allows any amateur station to operate as an Earth station; there is no special certification. The key limit is the privileges of the control operator.
- Practical rule: the station may transmit only where the control operator is authorized.

Useful rule of thumb:
$$\text{Station operating privileges} = \text{Control operator’s license privileges}$$

Definition reminder:
- An amateur Earth station is an amateur station on or within $50\ \text{km}$ of Earth’s surface intended to communicate with space stations or via objects in space (97.3, 97.209).

2) Why the other choices are incorrect
- A: No AMSAT course or any special training is required by FCC rules.
- B: Not limited to General/Advanced/Extra. Technicians may also operate satellite uplinks/downlinks within their band/mode privileges (e.g., 2 m, 70 cm).
- C: Not limited to Amateur Extra. Any class may operate as an Earth station, again subject to the control operator’s privileges.

3) Extra tips
- Stay within allocated satellite segments and modes for your license class.
- Follow 97.207 (Space station) and 97.209 (Earth station) rules; the control operator’s privileges govern what the station can do.