So you’ve passed your Technician and General Class License tests! Congratulations! Maybe now it’s time you go for the big enchilada—the Amateur Extra Class License. Here’s why it’s worth the effort.
An Amateur Extra Class License gives you total amateur band privileges, so you can operate on all allowable Ham frequencies. It gives you “extra” room to operate when the HF bands are clogged since Extra Class License holders can operate on additional frequencies in the lower segments of 80/40/20/15 meter bands—often considered choice territory for contacting DXpeditions and contesting. The following frequencies are only available to Amateur Extra operators:
80 Meters
3.500-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
3.600-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
40 Meters
7.000-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data
7.125-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone, Image
20 Meters
14.000 – 14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data
14.150 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
15 Meters
21.000-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
21.200-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
To earn your Amateur Extra License, you’ll need to pass a 50-question multiple choice test (37 correct answers gets you the license), covering more advanced operating topics than you’ll find on the Technician and General license exams, which are only 35 questions. You’ll find Amateur Extra Class study guides at DX Engineering, including the latest editions from the ARRL and W5YI.
