BASIC HAM RADIO: The 2-meter band is your best bet for getting on the air

From the SPRING March | April issue of National Communications Magazine

If you’re a new ham or someone with a Technician class license who has never gone on the air, where do you start? What band should you consider for your entry into amateur radio?

I would answer the same way I would have responded when I was first licensed 40 years ago. I would start with the 2-meter band, which consists of VHF frequencies from 144-148 MHz. Almost every area of the United States is within range of a 2-meter repeater that you could jump on and find other hams.

The Baofeng UV-5R is a handheld radio that operates on 2 meters and 70 centimeters for as low as $20 to $25. Check it out here: https://amzn.to/3EwPOt1. | Photo courtesy of Baofeng