ok so i just upgraded from tech to general last month and im trying to figure out where i can actually transmit on 40 meters. i looked up the FCC allocations and also the ARRL band plan and theyre kind of different? like the FCC says one thing about where phone is allowed but then the band plan has all these other recommendations and i dont know which one i actually have to follow vs which ones are just suggestions.

also somebody on a net told me to stay away from the band edges because of frequency drift or something but my radio has a pretty stable VFO so i dont really get why that matters anymore. is there a simple way to think about all this because right now i have two different charts printed out and theyre just confusing me more

yeah this trips up a lot of new generals. so the short version is the FCC part 97 allocations are the actual law — those are the hard limits you absolutely cannot cross. the ARRL band plan is basically a gentlemens agreement, nobody is going to fine you for being on a frequency the band plan says is for something else, but you might get an earful from other operators.

for 40m as a general you can do phone from 7.175 up to 7.300, below that is CW and digital only for you until you get your extra. the band plan stuff like keeping certain frequencies open for certain nets or modes, thats just courtesy really. the band edge thing is worth paying attention to though even with a stable radio — the issue isnt just your drift, its that if youre on say 7.300 and your signal has any sidebands or your dial isnt perfectly calibrated you could be putting energy outside the allocation. most people just stay a few khz inside the edge to be safe, like dont hang out on 7.299 calling CQ all day

the two chart thing got me too when i was starting out lol. i just kind of bookmarked the ARRL frequency chart online and ignored my printed ones because they were outdated anyway. honestly just listen around before you transmit anywhere and youll get a feel for where the phone guys hang out vs the digital stuff pretty quick