A Comprehensive Guide to Frequencies for Technician Class HAM Radio Operators

As a freshly minted technician class amateur (ham) radio operator, you now have access to some exciting frequencies across multiple bands But with so many new privileges, it can be tricky to keep track of exactly where you can and can’t operate.

In this guide, we’ll break down the frequency allowances for technician license holders in the HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave bands. Whether you’re brand new to ham radio or just need a refresher, read on to learn where your technician ticket grants you access on the radio spectrum.

HF Frequencies – Limited but Fun

While technician licenses grant extensive access to VHF and higher frequencies, privileges on the high frequency (HF) bands are more restricted. But there are still some interesting areas of the HF spectrum available.

80 Meters – 3.525-3.600 MHz

The bottom 25kHz of the 80 meter band is allocated for technician CW operation. Though narrow, this slice of spectrum right near the bottom of the HF range is great for local and regional contacts.

40 Meters – 7.025-7.125 MHz

Again, only a 100kHz sliver of 40 meters is available to technician operators for CW communication. But it can be a surprisingly fun band for DX when conditions are right.

15 Meters – 21.025-21.200 MHz

The lowest 175kHz portion of 15 meters is allocated to technician CW operation. When the band is open, you can make contacts over thousands of miles on this band with low power and simple antennas.

10 Meters – 28.000-28.500 MHz

Techs get the broadest HF access on 10 meters – 500kHz wide and covering both CW and phone (voice) modes. When propagation conditions allow, you can work world-wide DX on this band.

Remember that technician class operators are limited to 200 watts PEP output power on all HF bands, regardless of mode. But with the right skills and setup, you can still make exciting contacts near and far.

VHF and UHF – Where Techs Shine

Things get more interesting for technician licensees when we move up to the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) ranges. Here you get full privileges and higher power limits.

6 Meters – 50-54 MHz

Spanning the entire 6 meter band, technicians have access to four full megahertz of spectrum for CW, voice, digital modes and more. Six meters can provide exciting local and DX contacts when the band opens up.

2 Meters – 144-148 MHz

The workhorse VHF band for most ham radio operators, 2 meters provides technicians with broadband mode access and higher power output. This band is ideal for local ragchews, repeater networks, satellite work and more.

1.25 Meters – 222-225 MHz

Sometimes called the “220 band”, technicians have access to three megahertz between 222 and 225. This band combines great local propagation with the excitement of sporadic E cloud DX openings.

70 Centimeters – 420-450 MHz

The lowest UHF allocation at 70 cm provides a generous 30 megahertz chunk of spectrum for techs to utilize. The combination of line-of-sight and repeater operations makes this a versatile band.

33 Centimeters – 902-928 MHz

Right in the middle of the 33cm UHF range, techs have access to a wide 26 megahertz on this band. 900 MHz is great for experimenting with high speed data modes.

23 Centimeters – 1240-1300 MHz

At the top of the UHF spectrum, the 23cm band provides 60 MHz for technician class operators to utilize. Weak signal operation and amateur TV experiments can be conducted on this higher frequency band.

The power limit on VHF/UHF bands is 1500 watts PEP output for technician class operators. This allows ample room to get your signal out on the airwaves.

Microwave Madness

Last but not least, technicians also have access to some extremely high frequency microwave bands. These take experimentation and specialized gear, but allow for exciting propagation challenges.

Some of the microwave bands available include:

• 13cm (2300-2310 MHz)
• 5cm (5650-5925 MHz)
• 3cm (10-10.5 GHz)
• 1.2cm (24-24.25 GHz)

Additionally, technician licensees can explore and experiment on frequencies above 275 GHz. This allows you to really push the boundaries of radio technology.

So while technician class operators don’t have full HF access, the VHF, UHF, and microwave bands available provide plenty of frequencies to stay busy on the airwaves. Studying this frequency breakdown will help you know exactly where you can and can’t operate as you explore your exciting new ham radio privileges.