Amateur Radio (Ham Radio)
History: This class of radio service was created to encourage experimentation with radios. The number of aspects of this hobby have grown to include, “purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communication.”
Availability: Not as common as FRS radios and can be much more expensive. Radios are available at local/online radio shops, ham club events, and at Amazon/EBay.
License Needed: Yes. Free for 10 year license. $15 for test administrative fee.
Use: Personal Only. Cannot be used for any pecuniary interest (this is one of the test questions!)
Range: VHF/UHF handhelds 2-4 miles, mobiles 4-10 miles, repeaters 50-70 miles; HF radios signals can travel around the world
Equipment needed: Can build or buy any radio that transmits on amateur frequencies in your ITU region. This falls in FCC Part 97 Regulations.
Antenna: Detached. Can be a small Handheld Radio antenna to a wire antenna bigger than a football field.
Output: Up to 1500 Watts. But practice dictates that you use the lowest power you need to reach your contact.
Modulation: Any. You are encouraged to experiment and even create new forms of modulation.
Frequencies: Amateur frequencies allowed in your world region. The United States is in ITU Region 2 with multiple frequency bands. (Printable Version)
| Description | Frequencies |
|---|---|
| 160 Meters | 1.8 to 2 MHz |
| 80 Meters | 3.5 to 4 MHz |
| 60 Meters | USB Voice - 5.332, 5.348, 5.368, 5.373, 5.405 MHz |
| 40 Meters | 7 - 7.3 MHz |
| 30 Meters | 10.1 to 10.15 MHz |
| 20 Meters | 14 to 14.35 MHz |
| 17 Meters | 18.068 to 18.168 MHz |
| 15 Meters | 21 to 21.45 MHz |
| 12 Meters | 24.89 to 24.99 MHz |
| 10 Meters | 28 to 29.7 MHz |
| 6 Meters | 50 to 54 MHz |
| 2 Meters | 144 to 148 MHz |
| 1.25 Meters | 219 to 220 AND 222 to 225 MHz |
| 70 Centimeters | 420 to 450 MHz |
| 33 Centimeters | 902 to 928 MHz |
| 23 Centimeters | 1.24 to 1.3 GHz |
| 13 Centimeters | 2.3 to 2.31 GHz AND 2.39 to 2.45 GHz |
| 9 Centimeters | 3.3 to 3.5 GHz |
| 5 Centimeters | 5.65 to 5.925 GHz |
| 3 Centimeters | 10 to 10.5 GHz |
| 1.2 Centimeters | 24 to 24.25 GHz |
| 6 Millimeters | 47 to 47.2 GHz |
| 4 Millimeters | 75.5 to 81 GHz |
| 2.5 Millimeters | 119.98 to 120.02 GHz |
| 2 Millimeters | 142 to 149 GHz |
| 1 Millimeter | 241 to 250 GHz |