Ever since the beggining people began forming clubs, being lured by amatuer radio technology. One reason people choose amateur radio is that you can operate up to 1000 watts as compared to 4 watts with CB radio. The available wavebends are more diverse and less crowded and you can even acquire access to very specialized teletype and tv frequencies. Satellite technology has made it easy to extend your reach across the world. There is a price to be paid for access to all this wonderful technology of course, you must take and pass a series of licensing exams.
Amatuer radio offers multiple licenses for different levels of users.
The Novice license allows operations access to several High Frequency bands via Morse code in addition to single sideband broadcasting by voice between 28.3 and 28.5 MHz and between 28.1 and 28.3 for radio teletype. To access these channels all you need is a 10 Meter Radio Although these radios are commonly referred to as a 10 Meter CB Radio they are actually quite different as a CB radio does not require you to have a license and a 10 Meter Radio does. SSB and FM transmissions are allowed between 222.01 and 223.91 Mhz and also 1270 – 1295 Mhz.They make it rather easy to acquire a Novice license, just complete a simple theory test and be a little profecient in Morse code.
The Technician license restricts voice communication to the same frequency range as the Novice in addition to the VHF and UHF amateur radio bandsAcquiring a Technicians license opens up the VHF and UHF bands.|The Technicians license means that you can now transmit on the UHF and VHF frequencies. To get the Technicians license all you need to do is answer questions about FCC regualtions and complete a radio theory test.
The next step up, the General radio amateurs license, allows High Frequency, Very High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency. To get this level of license you must be able to transmit Morse code at atleast 13 words per minute and pass exams on general radio theory and FCC regulations.
Once you have passed the more advanced theory test the Advanced License allows access to even more frequencies.
The highest license you can get for ham radio is the Extra Class license. Extra class license holders are allowed access to the entire spectrum of HF VHF and UHF frequencies allowed to ham radio. To get this license you must have completed the previos licencing tests and pass a new, more complex theory and morse code test..
The American Radio Relay League is a non profit group that helps amatuer radio operators pass their exams by providing all the information you may need.
Like many people you may not really care to undergo all that testing, try CB radio. CB radio has always been the choice for those that dont care to bother with exams.. The language used is informal and there’s no need to learn Morse Code. Just go buy a radio and an antenna and you can get started. Come and join us?

