Quick Answer
A General Class license allows operation on 80 through 10 meters, with 50 watts of power and 1,000 watts of power for voice and digital modes, respectively. An Extra Class license expands on this, adding the ability to operate on the 160-meter band, and all modes up to 1,500 watts.
Licensing Levels
In the amateur radio world, the Extra Class license is the highest level of licensure. To achieve this, applicants must pass a 50-question written exam, covering a broad range of topics, including theory, practice, and the FCC’s rules and regulations. The Extra Class license provides the most comprehensive understanding of the technical and practical aspects of amateur radio.
Band Access and Power Levels
The Extra Class license offers access to additional frequency bands, including the 160-meter band, which operates between 1.8 and 2 MHz. This band is particularly useful for long-distance communication and can be used for both voice and digital modes. With the Extra Class license, amateur operators can also use higher power levels, up to 1,500 watts, for voice and digital modes on certain frequency bands. This increased power enables longer-range communication and better signal strength.
Find more answers
Browse the full Q&A library by topic, or jump back to the topic this question belongs to.