What is involved in obtaining a ham license ?
Nowadays, there are three license classes and one subclass. These are Technician, General, and Extra Class, with a Technician Plus subclass if Morse code proficiency is demonstrated. The older classes of Novice and Advanced are no longer available. There used to be a Morse code requirement that was graduated in speed the higher up the class ladder you went. Now this is no longer the case. This requirement is only 5 words per minute and is fixed with the requirement beginning with the Tech Plus license. The entry class license is no longer the Novice class – it is now the Technician class. This class has no requirement to learn Morse code, but limits operating privileges to the VHF and above frequencies (> 30 MHz). A written exam must be taken and passed – then you receive a callsign from the Federal Communications Commission ! Addendum – As of February 23, 2007, the FCC will no longer require Element 1 Morse Code testing for licensure. At that time, there will be three classes of licen
