Hobbies And Interests
Technician License
To obtain a technician license, you have to pass the 35-question Element 2 written examination. The associated operating privileges are frequencies above 30 MHz (VHF and UHF amateur bands). Additionally, the technician license allows for limited high frequency (HF) operations. The technician exam covers basic information, operations, and regulations of amateur radios, in addition to rudimentary electronics. The 2-meter band, FM voice, television and other forms of communication are all accessible and allowed by the technician license. According to the ARRL, technicians are allowed to operate on the 15-, 40- and 80-meter bands, as well.
General License
The general license requires successful completion of the 35-question Element 3 written exam. The broadcasting privileges associated with the general license are all VHF and UHF amateur bands, and use of most HF bands (10-160m). The general-class license offers a substantial increase in operating privileges compared with the technician class: you have to pass an additional 35-question exam on in-depth operations, electronics and broadcasting subjects. The HF access granted to the general license class allows for cross-country and international communication.
Amateur Extra License
The amateur extra license requires passing the 50-question Element 4 exam (in addition to the Element 2 and Element 3 exams). The Element 4 exam stresses specific applications of FCC policy, electronics and radio theory, and more obscure equipment policy and usage. Upon successful completion, an operator is granted all amateur broadcasting privileges. Because the bands used by the extra-class licenses are less crowded, communication can usually go farther and be more powerful. "Crowding," an abundance of hams operating in UHF and VHF, can interfere and limit radio signal distance.