Getting started with ham radio

Pick your path

People arrive here from different places. Choose the one that sounds like you, or just read down the page.

What ham radio actually is

Ham radio, also called amateur radio, is a licensed hobby and public service that lets you use radio to talk with people near and far, with no phone company and no Internet required.

“Amateur” here means unpaid, not unskilled. The FCC rules forbid communicating for hire or for material compensation, so ham radio stays a hobby and a volunteer service. That is also why so many hams are generous with their time: nobody is trying to sell you anything.

What people actually do with it

• Talk locally. Pocket radios reach a repeater on a hill or tower, and that repeater carries your voice across a city or county.
• Join on-air meetings. Scheduled gatherings called nets run every week in most areas, from friendly check-ins to emergency training.
• Reach far away. On the HF bands, signals can travel around the world with modest equipment and a good antenna.
• Serve the community. Hams help with event communications and emergency support when other systems are overloaded or down.
• Build and experiment. Antennas, digital modes, satellites and tiny low-power stations are all fair game.

You do not have to do all of that. Most people find one corner they love, whether it is a Tuesday night net, a portable radio on a hike, or chasing contacts in other countries, and grow from there.

The three license classes

There are three license classes you can earn today. Each one adds privileges, and each builds on the one before it.

Start with Technician unless you already know you want HF. It is the door to local repeaters, and you can study for General any time after. You can also take more than one element if you want to try for a higher class right away, because passing an element gives you credit toward later ones: examiners must credit a passed element for 365 days (47 CFR 97.505).

Good to know

• No Morse test. The exam elements are all written. Morse code is optional and fun, but it is not required for any class.
• Power limit. No amateur may exceed 1.5 kW PEP, and everyone must use the minimum power needed. Technicians are held to 200 W PEP on their HF slices (47 CFR 97.313).
• Old classes. Novice and Advanced licenses still exist for people who hold them, but the FCC no longer issues new ones (47 CFR 97.17).
• Licenses last 10 years. After expiry there is a 2 year grace period to renew, but no operating privileges until you do (47 CFR 97.25, 97.21).
• Who can apply. Part 97 sets no minimum age. Apart from representatives of a foreign government, any person who qualifies by exam may hold a license (47 CFR 97.5).

Which exam should you start with? If you are not sure, the Technician practice questions are the usual first step, and the General and Amateur Extra pages are there when you are ready.

How to get licensed, step by step

Five steps from curious to licensed. Most of the work is the studying; the paperwork is short.

1. Study for the exam

   The exam draws every question from a published pool, so you can see exactly what you will be asked. Chapter 5 covers how to study. Aim for a practice score you can repeat, not one lucky run.

2. Get your FCC Registration Number (FRN)

   Do this before exam day. You create an FCC account in the FCC’s registration system (CORES), which gives you an FRN. A working email address is required, because the FCC sends your payment link and correspondence there. ARRL notes that new applicants need the FRN in hand when they sit the exam.

   FCC CORES registration and ARRL’s exam day requirements.

3. Find an exam session

   Exams are given by teams of at least three accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs) at sessions run by a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). ARRL’s finder lets you search by ZIP code and distance, and it also lists sessions run by other VECs and teams that give exams over video. Some sessions want you to register ahead, so read the listing.

   Find an exam session

4. Take the exam

   Bring a photo ID, your FRN, the session fee, two pencils and a pen, and a calculator if you want one. Phones must be silenced or off, and notes are not allowed. Examiners grade your answers right away at an in-person session, and for remote sessions at the earliest practical opportunity. Pass and you get a certificate (a CSCE) that is good for 365 days of credit.

   If you miss the mark, the examiners tell you your score. Whether you can try again the same day depends on the team and on a different version of the exam being available, so ask before you pay.

5. Pay the FCC fee and get your call sign

   The examiners send your application to the FCC through the VEC. The FCC then emails you a payment link, and ARRL reports you have 10 calendar days to pay the $35 application fee online. If the window passes, the FCC dismisses the application, and the VEC can refile it without you retesting. The FCC then grants the license and assigns a call sign from the next ones in line. Wait until you appear in the FCC’s license database before you transmit.

   How long does the FCC part take? We measure it from the FCC’s own data: how long until my call sign.

Which question pool is current?

The exam is built from one of three public pools. Each runs for about four years and has a start and end date. If you are studying near a change, make sure your materials match the pool your exam will use.

The question committee (NCVEC) sometimes issues errata or withdraws a question mid-cycle, so check ncvec.org if you want the very latest. If you plan to take General in 2027, notice that the current General pool ends on June 30, 2027.

How to study without wasting time

The good news about this exam is that it is open about what it asks. The skill is turning that into understanding, not memorizing letters.

• Study by topic. Each pool is grouped into subelements, like safety, rules, operating practice and basic electronics. Work through a topic, then quiz yourself on that topic.
• Read the explanation, not just the answer. When you get one wrong, find out why the right choice is right. The rule or the math behind it will show up again in a slightly different question.
• Mix in practice exams. Timed practice trains you to read carefully. Keep going until your score holds steady over several tries.
• Learn the few things that appear everywhere. Station identification, the band names, simple power and frequency math and the safety rules come back often.
• Pick a date. A booked session, even a few weeks out, turns “someday” into a plan.

Your first radio, and what it costs

You do not need much to start. A modest handheld, a better antenna and some patience will take you farther than a showroom of gear.

What to look for in a first radio

• Covers 2 meters and 70 centimeters if your local repeaters are on those bands (most are, but check where yours are).
• Has real documentation and software support. You will program repeaters into it, and a radio with a clear manual and a computer programming option saves hours.
• Has easy-to-find accessories. Batteries, antennas and cables should be simple to replace.
• Matches what your club uses. Local hams can help you if they know your radio. Ask before you buy.
• Does not outrun your needs. Digital voice modes and wide coverage are nice, but they only help if people near you use them.

What it costs

Dollar figures are shown only where an official source gives one. For equipment, prices vary by model, seller and season, so we show relative levels instead of numbers that would go stale.

A word on buying order. Many hams recommend waiting until you have passed, or at least have a test date, before buying a radio, so that what you buy matches the repeaters and nets near you. That is advice, not a rule: if you already know what you want, you may buy any time.

Repeaters, simplex, nets and EchoLink

Most new hams talk through a repeater. Here is how it works, and the three other ways to be heard.

Repeaters

A repeater is a station on a tall building, tower or hill. It listens on one frequency and retransmits what it hears on another, at higher power and from a better spot, so your pocket radio can reach people miles away. FM voice on VHF and UHF travels mostly in straight lines, so height is everything. The rules let Technician and higher licensees operate repeaters, and many are run by clubs (47 CFR 97.205).

To use one, your radio needs three settings, all of which you can look up:

• The repeater’s frequency. The one it transmits on, and so the one you listen to.
• The offset. How far, and in which direction (plus or minus), your radio must shift when you transmit. Common offsets are 600 kHz on 2 meters and 5 MHz on 70 centimeters, but these are local agreements, not FCC rules, so use the repeater’s listing.
• The tone. Many repeaters only listen to signals carrying a low sub-audible tone (CTCSS, often called PL). Your radio sends it for you once set.

RepeaterBook is a searchable directory you can use to find repeaters near you. Some repeaters are open to all licensed hams and some are limited to members, which the rules permit.

Simplex

Simplex is radio to radio on one frequency with no repeater. It works best over short, open distances. ARRL’s band plan lists 146.52 MHz as the national simplex calling frequency on 2 meters. Band plans are voluntary agreements, and local plans win over national ones, so listen first and see what your area uses.

Nets

A net is a scheduled on-air meeting with a net control station that keeps order. Some nets are for friendly check-ins, some train for emergencies, and some exist for newcomers. They are one of the best ways to get your first on-air time because the format is predictable: you listen, wait to be asked, say your call sign and name, and you are done. Clubs usually publish the nets they run.

EchoLink

EchoLink is free software that connects licensed amateur stations over the Internet. If a repeater near you is linked to EchoLink, someone with the app on a phone or computer can talk with you through that repeater, and you can reach far-away repeaters in turn. It is a gentle way to talk to people in other cities before you have an HF antenna.

HF, in one paragraph

The HF bands behave differently. Signals can bounce off the ionosphere and travel around the world, and what works changes with the time of day and the season. A Technician can try Morse and some digital modes on small HF slices, and on part of 10 meters, voice. General and Extra open up much more. You do not need to learn HF in your first month, but it is good to know the door is there.

Your first contact

The first time you key the microphone is the hardest. A plan helps.

Before you transmit

• Make sure the license shows in the FCC database, and that you know your call sign by heart.
• Check the frequency, offset and tone against the repeater’s listing.
• Listen to the repeater for at least a few conversations. You will hear how people take turns and how long they talk.
• Try a test: if your radio has a display of signal strength, key up briefly and see whether the repeater responds.

A first call, step by step

Wait for a pause so you do not interrupt. Say your call sign, say you are listening, and wait. If someone answers, give your first name and where you are, and chat. A call might sound like this:

(Those call signs are made up for the example. Use only your own.) A phonetic alphabet, like Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, is encouraged by the rules and makes call signs clear on a noisy radio.

The one rule everyone must follow

You must identify your station with your call sign at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during one (47 CFR 97.119). Voice IDs must be in English. Make it a habit: say it when you start, say it every few minutes in a long chat, and say it when you finish.

Good manners

• Listen first. A minute of listening tells you who is on, what is going on, and whether the repeater is busy.
• Keep it short. Repeaters are shared. Leave a pause between transmissions so others can join.
• Be friendly to new voices. Everyone started somewhere.
• Keep it clean. The rules prohibit obscene or indecent language, music and false or deceptive signals, and you may not use codes meant to hide meaning (47 CFR 97.113).
• Step aside for emergencies. Stations handling emergency communications get priority on any frequency (47 CFR 97.101).
• No business. Do not conduct work or sales on the air (47 CFR 97.113).
• Do not interfere on purpose. Willful or malicious interference is prohibited (47 CFR 97.101).

Prefer not to speak yet? Check into a net with just your call sign and name. It takes five seconds, and the net control operator will make it easy.

Find a club and an Elmer

The fastest way to learn ham radio is from another ham. The hobby has a name for a friendly guide: an Elmer.

An Elmer is simply an experienced ham who helps you with your first antenna, your first programming session or your first net. Nobody signs up for the job. You find one by showing up where hams gather.

Where to find a club

• ARRL club finder. It searches affiliated clubs by ZIP code, city and state, and many listings carry tags such as Mentor, Entry-Level License Classes and License Test Sessions. Search for a club.
• Exam sessions. The volunteer examiners who give your test are almost always local hams. Introduce yourself.
• Nets and repeaters. Check in, say you are new, and ask whether anyone has time to help you get set up.
• Hamfests and club meetings. Swap meets and meetings are full of people who love to explain things.

How to ask for help

• Be specific. “Can you help me set up my radio for the 7 o’clock net?” gets better answers than “Can someone teach me?”
• Offer something small: coffee, help carrying gear, or just your time on club projects.
• Say what you already tried. People are happy to help when they can see you made an effort.
• Ask more than one person. Two hams can disagree about almost everything, and hearing both is useful.

Staying safe

Ham radio is a safe hobby when you respect two things: radio energy near your body, and wires and towers near power lines.

Radio energy (RF exposure)

The FCC sets limits on how much radio energy people may be exposed to, and the rules require amateurs to make sure their stations comply (47 CFR 97.13(c)). ARRL notes that station evaluations became required from May 3, 2021, with a transition that ended May 3, 2023. For a typical handheld you will not need a formal study, but the habits are worth learning:

• Hold the antenna away from your face and body when transmitting. Use a speaker-microphone for long conversations.
• Use only the power you need. The rules require it anyway (47 CFR 97.313).
• Keep antennas that carry higher power outdoors and out of reach of people and pets, and do not stand near an antenna that is transmitting.
• If you build a home station, use ARRL’s RF exposure resources and the FCC’s OET Bulletin 65 to check it.

This list is general guidance. The exact limits and the evaluation method are in the FCC rules and bulletin, not in this guide.

Antennas and power lines

This is the one that causes real injuries. ARRL’s antenna and tower safety guidance is blunt:

• Place an antenna so it cannot possibly tangle with power lines, in normal use or if the structure falls.
• Assume any line is energized, including cable TV and telephone lines.
• Avoid metal ladders if there are any utility lines nearby.
• Do not erect a ladder-type support alone, and do not shoot a slingshot or arrow line without making sure no one is in range.
• Expect to need a building permit for a tower or large antenna, so check with your local officials first.

Other sensible habits (general guidance)

• Do not use a radio while driving in a way that distracts you. Rules on handheld devices vary by state, so check yours.
• Charge and store lithium batteries the way the maker says.
• Disconnect outdoor antennas during thunderstorms, and ask a club about proper grounding for a home station.

Myths, cleared up

Curious how big the hobby is? We publish original US ham radio statistics from the FCC’s public license files, updated monthly.

Your first 30 days

A realistic shape for your first month. Every step is small. Adjust it to your schedule, and remember that the FCC’s processing time is outside your control.

After that, keep going: try a new band or mode, visit a club event, help with a public service activity, or start studying for General. The hobby is wide, and there is no wrong direction.

Glossary

Ham radio has a lot of shorthand. Here are the terms you will hear in your first month.

73

A friendly sign-off that means best regards.

Amateur Extra

The highest US license class, with every amateur privilege. Needs Elements 2, 3 and 4.

Band

A range of frequencies set aside for a purpose. Ham bands are often named by wavelength, such as 2 meters or 70 centimeters.

Band plan

A voluntary agreement on how to share a band so that different kinds of operating do not collide. It is a courtesy, not a law, and local plans win over national ones.

Call sign

Your station's unique identifier, assigned by the FCC. You say it on the air so people know who is talking.

Control operator

The licensed person responsible for a station while it transmits.

CORES

The FCC's registration system, where you create the account that gives you an FRN and where you pay FCC fees.

CSCE

Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination. Proof that you passed an element, good for credit toward later exams for 365 days.

CTCSS (PL tone)

A low tone sent under your voice that tells some repeaters to listen to you. Your radio can be set to send it.

CW

Continuous wave, which in practice means Morse code.

EchoLink

Free software that links licensed amateur stations over the Internet, so a handheld on a local repeater can reach distant repeaters.

Element

The FCC's name for one written exam. Technician is Element 2, General is amateur Element 3 and Amateur Extra is Element 4.

Elmer

Ham slang for a friendly, experienced mentor who helps a newcomer.

FCC

The Federal Communications Commission, which licenses US amateur radio and writes the rules in 47 CFR Part 97.

FRN

FCC Registration Number. A number you get from the FCC's registration system, needed before you take an exam.

General

The middle US license class. It adds HF privileges well beyond the Technician slices. Needs Elements 2 and 3.

Handheld

A pocket radio, often called an HT or handie-talkie. Usually covers the 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands.

HF

High frequency, roughly 3 to 30 MHz. These bands can carry signals across the world.

Net

A scheduled on-air gathering run by a net control station. Some are casual, some train for emergencies.

Offset

The gap between a repeater's transmit and receive frequencies. Your radio needs the right size and direction (plus or minus).

PEP

Peak envelope power, the way the rules measure transmitter power.

Question pool

The published list of every question an exam can draw from. You can read all of it before test day.

QSL

A confirmation that two stations made contact, traditionally a card, today often electronic.

QSO

A two-way radio contact. Pronounced cue-ess-oh.

Repeater

A station, usually on a tall site, that receives a signal and retransmits it on another frequency at much greater reach.

RF

Radio frequency energy. What your antenna sends out and receives.

Simplex

Talking radio to radio on a single frequency, with no repeater.

SSB

Single sideband, a voice mode widely used on HF and in the weak-signal parts of VHF and UHF.

Technician

The entry US license class. One exam, Element 2.

UHF

Ultra high frequency, 300 MHz to 3 GHz. The 70 centimeter band lives here.

ULS

The FCC's Universal Licensing System, the public database where your license appears.

Vanity call sign

A call sign you choose for a fee, instead of the next one in line.

VE and VEC

A Volunteer Examiner gives the exam. A Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) accredits examiners and runs the sessions.

VHF

Very high frequency, 30 to 300 MHz. The 6 meter and 2 meter bands are here.

Questions people ask

Sources and what changes

This guide covers United States amateur radio. It was checked against the sources below. Fees and rules change, so confirm anything important on the official page.

• 47 CFR Part 97 (Amateur Radio Service), eCFRLicense classes, exam elements and passing scores, frequencies and emissions, power, station ID, prohibited transmissions, RF exposure, license term.
• 47 CFR 1.1102, FCC fee scheduleThe $35 personal license application fee (new, renewal, vanity).
• ARRL: FCC Application FeeWho pays the $35, which filings are fee-free, the 10 day payment window.
• ARRL: What to bring to an exam sessionFRN, photo ID, exam session fee, calculator and phone rules.
• ARRL: Find an exam sessionSearch in-person and online sessions, including other VECs.
• ARRL: Getting licensedClass overview, question counts, 10 year term.
• ARRL: Find a clubClub search with Mentor and Entry-Level License Class tags.
• ARRL: Technician pool announcement2026-2030 Technician pool, required from July 1, 2026, 409 questions.
• ARRL: Extra pool announcement2024-2028 Extra pool, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028, 603 questions.
• NCVEC: Question poolsThe official pool releases, errata and withdrawn questions.
• ARRL: Amateur band planVoluntary band plans and the 146.52 MHz national simplex calling frequency.
• ARRL: RF exposureStation evaluation rules in effect since May 3, 2021, transition ended May 3, 2023.
• ARRL: Antenna and Tower SafetyKeep antennas clear of power lines, avoid metal ladders near lines, do not erect alone.
• EchoLinkFree software linking licensed amateur stations over the Internet.
• RepeaterBookSearchable repeater directory.
• FCC: Amateur Radio ServiceThe FCC's own amateur radio page. Check it for the current fee and filing steps.
• FCC CORES (registration)Where you create an FCC account, get your FRN and pay FCC fees.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Airwaves IQ does not administer exams or issue licenses, and is not affiliated with the FCC, ARRL or NCVEC. See also our Sources and Regulations page and disclaimer.