Ham and Shortwave Radio for the Electronics Hobbyist

CHAPTER 4

Ham Radio Licenses and Frequencies

Amateur Radio operators enjoy operating privileges in numerous slices of the radio spectrum. Let’s take a look at the ham radio bands, learn how they work on the air, and outline the mode and power restrictions imposed by the FCC. The information given here is current as of February 2014 as I write this chapter. But things keep changing for radio hams! I recommend that you periodically visit the ARRL website for updates, including possible new bands or adjustments to existing bands.

Quick Look

Table 4-1 offers an at-a-glance overview of the ham bands available to operators in the United States. That’s a lot of bands, but as you’ll see a little later in this chapter, it’s not a very big chunk of ...