short course why upgrade radio

What does it mean to upgrade to a general license?

If you are part of an emergency communication group, upgrading to your General license gives you new skills and capabilities enhancing your utility and making you a more valuable member of the group. Granted that most emcomm groups use VHF or UHF communications, but many also rely on HF to communicate on a larger, regional level. Plus being involved in emergency communications is all about training, and why wouldn’t you want to advance your own personal knowledge in radio communications.

Does a technician license give you access to HF bands?

This is probably the most obvious response. With the elimination of all morse code requirements, today’s Technician license does give you the old Novice privileges on the HF bands. You get voice on 10 meters, and code on 15, 40, and 80 meters. I don’t know how active Technicians are on the code segments, but 10 meter voice could be draw if it weren’t for the fact that we are in the bottom of the solar cycle. Upgrading to General gives you voice and data access on all the amateur HF bands, opening up a bigger world of communication.

Upgrading to Extra gives you more HF frequencies

There are significant chunks of additional frequency privilege on the 15, 20, 40, and 80 meter bands that are just for Extras.

Upgrading gives you the opportunity to help as a Volunteer Examiner

Yes you can be a VE with your general class license, but you will only be able to administer Technician exams. Being an Extra lets you administer all three levels. Being a VE isn’t difficult and it is extremely rewarding to give back to the amateur radio community.

Upgrading to Extra makes it easier to operate amateur radio overseas

With an extra class license you have full reciprocal operating privileges in most European countries. No additional licensing or permits are required. With other foreign countries you will have to apply for a license, but being granted the highest license class in the US makes receiving equivalent privileges in a foreign country easier.