What Specific Frequency Ranges are Available to Techs?

[eriepascannist]

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I just got my ham license today, don't even know my callsign yet. I'm just looking for a resource highlighting EXACTLY what freqs are available to a technician right now. I did some searching and everything was screamimg "new" but was from the mid 2000's with 4 classes and all. I took a "ham in a day" course and so while I know things like 70 cm, 2 meters, etc are at my disposal, I'm not sure about the others. I can ask my fellow local hams but was just wondering if a good site shows these.

 

[ab5r]

Try Here: Graphical Frequency Allocations

Congrats! Don't stop there..........

73,
Jerry

 

[eriepascannist]

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Thanks! I don't mean to hurt any feelings or anything but I'm visually impaired so I can't use the chart graphic. I did click on the text-only version and it has all the same references to the old classes that don't exist anymore.

No harm done, thanks hor the recommendation. I'm certainly not stopping here- I'll start prepping for my general soon and I also hope to teach myself CW. I'm so happy to be a ham!

 

[AK9R]

The "old" classes still exist and they still have their specific frequency allocations, so those charts and frequency listings you are finding are not necessarily out of date.

While no new Novice or Advanced licenses are being issued by the FCC, there are still over 15,000 Novice licenses and over 58,000 Advanced licenses in the FCC license database. Anyone holding a Novice or Advanced license can renew their license without upgrading.

To answer your question, Technicians are allowed:

3.525-3.600 MHz: CW Only
7.025-7.125 MHz : CW only
21.025-21.200 MHz: CW Only
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data--Maximum power 200 watts PEP
28.300-28.500 MHz: CW, Phone--Maximum power 200 watts PEP

plus all modes on all bands above 30 MHz.

 

[N2ICV]

Wasnt frequency allocations part of the test ?

 

[eriepascannist]

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They didn't ask us about anything below 30 mhz, just about 6, 2, 1.25 and 70 cm. I assumed everything beloj 10 meters was off limits just because they never asked about it- but now I see CW is possible, so once I learn that (hopefully) that information will come in handy.

Thanks for the help.

 

[AK9R]

Wasnt frequency allocations part of the test ?

Yes...and no.

Since this question comes up from time to time, let's look at the question pool.

NCVEC - Technician Class Valid 7/01/10-6/30/14

The U.S. Amateur Radio Technician license exam consists of 35 questions drawn from a pool of 396 questions. Per the question pool syllabus, six exam questions are to be drawn from Subelement T1 which covers FCC Rules, descriptions and definitions for the amateur radio service, and operator and station license responsibilities. There are 58 questions in Subelement T1.

Group T1B in Subelement T1 covers authorized frequencies, frequency allocations, ITU regions, emission type, restricted sub-bands, spectrum sharing, and transmissions near band edges. There are eleven questions in Group T1B. None of the questions in Group T1B ask about Technician class frequency privileges on any of the HF bands.

Given a random draw of six questions from the 58 questions in Subelement T1, it's entirely possible that a test could be constructed which asks no questions about frequency privileges.

My guess is that the Question Pool Committee assumes that the vast majority of the prospective hams taking the Technician test plan to operate on VHF or UHF, so there's no need to have questions in the pool about HF privileges. My guess is that the QPC assumes that those privileges will be taught in license classes or learned by the licensee through their own study.

The OP is doing his own study on the subject and the responses to his question have, I think, helped him with his understanding. To that end, our work here is done.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Congrats eriepascannist! You got any radios and antennas yet?

 

[eriepascannist]

RT... not yet. One of the guys at the test showed me his Yaesu FT-60 and said it's a great portable, so I think that might be on my list. As for a base rig I don't know yet- we're going to have to do some research into radios that are best suited for operation by blind people, like easy freq navigation and button layout, etc.

 

[AK9R]

Also, some radios have a voice synthesizer which will read out the frequency, front panel settings, and menu settings. Most of the time, the voice synth is not a standard feature and requires purchase of an optional board. A friend of mine in nearly 100% blind and uses a Kenwood TS-2000 and a Kenwood TM-V71 both of which he has had equipped with the optional voice synth.

 

[eriepascannist]

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Thanks. I have heard of those, so I suspect that's the way we'll go. Do you know anything about the FT-60 from Yaesu? It looked like there weren't too many buttons on it, like it would be easy to use. I want a dualband handheld as well and so far that's what I'm leaning towards.

I can't wait to get started!

 

[kb2vxa]

"Given a random draw of six questions from the 58 questions in Subelement T1, it's entirely possible that a test could be constructed which asks no questions about frequency privileges."

Pardon my chuckles, I didn't get off that easy. First of all, study manuals cover the entire question pool so if you do your homework there's no excuse for not knowing frequency allocations. Having an extensive background in radio-electronics the only part I had difficulty with was the allocations. I had my doubts when I sat for the test but the way it's structured the allocations are pure logic. Simply put, a Tech can operate in the old HF Novice bands as it always was. Oh, when I passed with 100% in 15 minutes one of the VEs went looking for my crib sheet and scratched his head when he didn't find one. (;->)

 

[eriepascannist]

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"Given a random draw of six questions from the 58 questions in Subelement T1, it's entirely possible that a test could be constructed which asks no questions about frequency privileges."

Pardon my chuckles, I didn't get off that easy. First of all, study manuals cover the entire question pool so if you do your homework there's no excuse for not knowing frequency allocations. Having an extensive background in radio-electronics the only part I had difficulty with was the allocations. I had my doubts when I sat for the test but the way it's structured the allocations are pure logic. Simply put, a Tech can operate in the old HF Novice bands as it always was. Oh, when I passed with 100% in 15 minutes one of the VEs went looking for my crib sheet and scratched his head when he didn't find one. (;->)

Excuse me, I DID do my homework? I read and studied my ARRL study book cover to cover, including the ENTIRE question pool, and additionally I took a 7-hour all-day "ham in a day" course in which I AGAIN read EVERY question in the pool 2 to 4 times. I am 100 percent positive there were NO questions relating to HF priveleges. And if you don't mind my saying I also passed with a 100 percent.
Thanks though.

 

[eriepascannist]

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I appologize for being short but it is frustrating to have someone tell you that you didn't work hard enough because you didn't understand one aspect of the whole ham radio thing. I've had my license for about 18 hours and I personally think I'm doing well considering.

Once again thank you for all the help.

 

[eriepascannist]

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I'm so excited! A construction worker that is a friend of ours has a used tower thing, it's 30 foot high and he's giving it to me for free! Once I talk to some local hams I'll see what kind of antenna I can concoct (I like homebrew stuff) and then I (hopefully) will be on the air!

Thanks again guys!

 

[AK9R]

First of all, study manuals cover the entire question pool so if you do your homework there's no excuse for not knowing frequency allocations.

There are NO questions in the Technician question pool about HF privileges. A prospective Technician licensee can study the question pool till the cows come home, but he (she) still won't be exposed to the limits of their HF privileges unless it's covered in class or they study it themselves.

 

[AK9R]

Do you know anything about the FT-60 from Yaesu?

I used to own one. Sold it because I had too many radios. It's a very good dual-band handheld. Whether it would be easy for a vision-impaired person to use, I don't know.

My blind friend has a Kenwood TH-F6 which he seems comfortable with. I think it also has a voice synthesizer.

 

[eriepascannist]

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Thanks! If the Yaesu isn't driven by menus and the like I could use it fine. I'll check out the Kenwood. You know though, you can never have too many radios... lol

 

[N2ICV]

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I appologize for being short but it is frustrating to have someone tell you that you didn't work hard enough because you didn't understand one aspect of the whole ham radio thing. I've had my license for about 18 hours and I personally think I'm doing well considering.

Once again thank you for all the help.

You didnt work that hard! When I took the test you HAD to pass 5 WPM CW. (-:
Anyway welcome to Amateur Radio .

 

[eriepascannist]

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Believe me, I am a firm believer in actually understanding the radio stuff, not just getting your license and that's it--that's why there's hams out there that have no clue what anything about the hobby really means. I WILL be learning CW and I WILL be upgrading my license, so inspite of a slightly easier road to a license now than it was some years ago, you can rest assured I will not be a "lazy ham." I will try my best to know, understand and figure out everything I can about the hobby and will end up putting forth just as much effort as anyone else by the end.