This page provides information about getting an FCC General (second of three levels) or Extra class (third and highest level) license, and about becoming a BCARES member.
For information about getting a Technician (entry level) license, see Getting a License. For basic information, see Licensing, Education & Training on the ARRL website.
Getting a General Class License
The General license is the second of three levels of ham radio licenses in the U.S. To qualify, you must already have a Technician license, and pass a 35-question written exam. This license brings with it extended privileges, namely, access to the entire range of operating modes as well as to the majority of the amateur spectrum below 30 MHz.
For more information, see Upgrading to a General License on the ARRL website. For more information about testing, see Getting a License.
Getting an Extra Class License
An Extra license provides access to ALL amateur band privileges. To qualify, you must pass a 50-question written exam.
For more information, see Upgrading to an Extra License on the ARRL website.
Becoming a BCARES Member
Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (BCARES) offers training to ham radio operators who want to be BCARES members, but anyone can take the training. Rather than having to do with radio operation, the emphasis is on how to operate during an emergency, and how the federal, state, and local emergency operations tie together. You also can take their webEOC training and get access to real-time information from the Boulder Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Emergency Operation Center (EOC) during an emergency.
AirLink currently has several group members who are BCARES members. This enables the AirLink group to have passage into other communities when our help could be needed, and so that we have enough people to take turns monitoring the BCARES net during emergencies.
To qualify for membership, you must complete the BCARES training and pay dues.
For more information, see the following BCARES web pages: Training, Certification and Credentialing and Application Process.