From: rbono@necis.UUCP (Rich)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: License-Classes in the U.S. ?
Date: 12 Nov 92 15:57:49 GMT
Organization: still seeking it

In article <1992Nov10.182207.7374@chamber.in-berlin.de>, root@chamber.in-berlin.de (Patrick Wendt) wrote:
> Hi !
> 
> I'd like to know more about the different license-classes
> in the U.S. - We in Germany only have 3 classes, called
> C, A and B, where C requires only general knowledge
> and A and B also CW-operation-knowledge (A=6wpm, B=13wpm).
> 
> I know there are more different classes in the U.S., please
> could someone explain what you may do and what you mustn't
> do with the different license-classes ?!
> 
> Tnx es 73 de Pat, DD6PF.

  Let's see.... I will give it a try:

  In the USA, there are currently 5 license classes.  Each one basically
provides one with more operating priveleges (and potentially a shorter call
sign).  One can only hold ONE license.

  The five license classes are:

   Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, Amateur Extra

 Note: Each license class 'builds' upon the previous class.  That means that
if you are an unlicensed person and want to obtain your Advanced class license
then you must take all the following exams:

    Elements: 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A.

 But if you already hold a General class license, then you would only have
to pass examination element 4 to upgrade to the Advanced class license. You
bascially are given credit for those examinations which you had to pass to
obtain your General class license.

***** Novice: Requires exam elements 1A and 2

 To obtain this license, you must pass a 5 WPM (Words Per Minute) Morse
code exam (1A).    Current standards say that the exam must consist of the
letters of the alphabet, plus numbers, punctuation marks, (,.?/) and some
procedural signs (DE, SK, K, ...).  Also to pass the exam, one must either
copy one minute of solid copy without error, or correctly answer 7 questions
of a 10 question exam about the content of what was sent.  The Morse exam
is supposed to be at least 5 minutes long.  The 5 WPM code exam is called
element 1A.

 Also, a written exam of 30 multiple choice questions is given.  To qualify
you must correctly answer 22 questions of this exam.  This exam is called
exam element 2.  This exam includes elementary electronics and radio
theory, plus questions on rules and regulations.

 If you pass both elements 1A and 2 you qualify for a Novice license.

 Novice priveleges include:

   80 meters: CW only 3.675-3.725 MHz.  Max power 200 watts PEP output.
   40 meters: CW only 7.1-7.15 MHz.  Max power 200 watts PEP output.
   15 meters: CW only 21.1-21.2 MHz. Max power 200 watts PEP output.
   10 meters:  CW/data (rtty, packet, amtor, etc) 28.1-28.3 MHz, Max 200 W pep  
               SSB/CW 28.3-28.5 MHz, Max power 200 watts PEP output.

  1.25 meters: All modes 222.1 223.91 MHz, Max power 25 watts PEP output.

  0.23 meters: All modes (even ATV!) 1270-1295 MHz, Max power 5 watts PEP output

 Call signs: 2x3's (i.e.: WA1ABC, KA1ABC, etc)
 
**** Technician license: Requires elements 2 and 3A
       (note element 1A is optional, if inluded user gains HF Novice priveleges)

   Note: This is also referred to by the slang term 'no-code' license because
the Morse code requirement is OPTIONAL for this license class.

  You must pass exam elements 2 and 3A to obtain this license.  Element 2 is
the SAME exam as given to Novice candidates.  Element 3A is a 25 question exam.
This exam includes, rules, regulations, basic electronics and radio theory. 
If a candidate is upgrading from the Novice license, then the candidate does not
have to re-take the 5 WPM Morse exam to maintain the Novice HF priveleges.
If the candidate is currently unlicensed, then to gain the Novice HF
priveleges, one must pass element 1A (5 WPM Morse).

  Technician priveleges include:

  Full use of all Amateur bands above 30 MHz.  Maximum power of 1500 watts PEP.

  These bands include:

     6 meters: 50-54 MHz
     2 meters: 144-148 MHz
     1.25 meters: 222-224 MHz
     .70 meters: 430-450 MHz
     .33 meters: 9xx-9xx MHz (?)
     .23 meters: 1250-12xx MHz (?)
     .125 meters: 24xx-25xx MHz (?)   Note: I am typing this from memory and
                                      forget a lot of these details.
     plus a lot more bands (i.e.: 10 GHz, 24 GHz...)

   If the candidate has passed the 5 WPM Morse exam (element 1A) then they
   gain all the HF priveleges of the Novice class.

  Call signs: 1x3's (i.e.: W1ABC, N1ABC)

**** General license:  Requires exam elements 1B, 2, 3A, 3B

  The candidate must pass a 13 WPM Morse code exam (see Novice for a description
of the Morse code exam format).  The 13 WPM Morse code exam is referred to as 
exam element 1B.
 Exam element 3B includes more electronic and radio theory. Included are more
questions on rules and regulations.  This is a 25 question exam.

  General priveleges include:

   Maximum output power on any band 1500 watts PEP.  Except when operating
   in the Novice CW segments of 80, 40 and 15 meters.

   Note: I may have some of these frequency limits wrong... my memory
         is a little vague here.

  160 meters:  1.8-1.9 MHz
   80 meters:  CW/data 3.525-3.75 MHz, phone 3.875-4.0 MHz
   40 meters:  CW/data 7.025-7.15 MHz, phone 7.2-7.3 Mhz
   30 meters:  CW/data 10.1-10.15 MHz
   20 meters:  CW/data 14.025-14.150 MHz, phone 14.200-14.350
   17 meters:  18.180-18.190
   15 meters:  CW/data 21.025-21.2 MHz, phone 21.275-21.3 MHz
   10 meters:  CW/data 28.025-28.3 MHz, phone 28.3-29.78 MHz

   plus all VHF bands listed in the Technician class.

   call signs: 1x3's  (i.e.: W1ABC, N1ABC, etc)

**** Advanced class: Requires exam elements 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A

   Element 4A is a 50 question exam that covers involved theory on electronics
and radio.  Plus yet more rules and regulations.  The bulk of the questions are
on theory though.  Some people find this to be the hardest theory exam.

  Advanced class operators have all the priveleges of the General class, plus
more phone operating room on several HF bands such as:

    80 meters:  CW/data 3.525-3.75 MHz, phone 3.775-4.0 MHz
    40 meters:  CW/data 7.025-7.150 MHz, phone 7.175-7.3 MHz
    20 meters:  CW/data 14.025-14.150 MHz, phone 14.175-14.350
    15 meters:  CW/data 21.025-21.2 MHz, phone 21.225-21.3 MHz

  Call signs: 2x2's (i.e.: KA1AB, etc)

**** Amateur Extra class: Requires exam elements 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B

  Element 1C is a 20 WPM Morse code exam.

  Element 4B is a 30 question exam that covers some advanced radio and
electronic theory.  The bulk of the exam seems to cover more rules and
regulations.  Most of these seem to be concerned with examination procedures
(under the Volenteer Examiner program).

  Amateur Extra class operators gain more operating room for CW and some
for phone on many HF bands.  If you noticed, all the other classes could
not use the bottom 25 KHz of each HF band.  These areas are gained by
obtaining the Extra class license.  These areas include:

    80 meters: 3.5-4.0 CW
    40 meters: 7.0-7.3 CW
    15 meters: 21.0-21.3 CW
    10 meters: 28.0-29.7 CW 

 Also, some phone space is reserved on several HF bands such as:

         80 meters 3.75-4.0 phone
         40 meters 7.15-7.3 phone
         20 meters 14.150-14.350 phone
         15 meters 21.2-21.3 phone

  Call signs: 2x1 or 1x2's  (i.e.: W1AA, NM1D, etc)


 The system has gotten a little bit more complicated over the years. As you
can see (notice that the Technician license can have a 'CW' endorsement to
allow the use of the same HF preiveleges that a Novice can use. 

  I KNOW that I have many of the privelege sub-band information wrong.  I
have a terrible memory for numbers.  When I operate I ALWAYS refer to a
frequency chart to be sure that I am operating in the proper part of any
band.  I am sure that someone can/will correct me on my mistakes.

  There are also other subtle differences between license classes, but I 
have already provided more information than I has originally started to
(as usual). 

 Now for my opinions:  I don't know why we need such a complicated license
structure.  I wish that it was much simpler.  Maybe only two or three
license classes.  Much of this is maintained because of political and
emotional reasons (IMHO).  You have probably seen the many debates over
the usual "I had to do such-and-such to get my license, so from now on,
so should everyone else"......  OOPS... I don't want to get into one
of these!!!! ;-)

 I hope that you find this information helpful.  Sorry about any mistakes
that my memory caused me to make.  I couldn't find a band chart to refer to
here at work.

  Rich
 
-- 
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 * Rich Bono                     IMRICH         UUCP:rbono@necis.ma.nec.com * 
 * (508) 635-6300                 NM1D          AMPR: nm1d@nm1d.nh.usa.noam * 
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