Updated for 2025

Your Complete Guide to Getting Started in Ham Radio

From license to first contact — everything you need to know to join 750,000+ US operators

2 Weeks Average time to get licensed
Under $100 Total cost to get on the air
Worldwide Reach Contact operators globally
Start Your Ham Radio Journey See Best Beginner Radios
$35 FCC License Fee
35 Questions on Exam
10yr License Validity
Most Popular Starter
144.390
Quansheng UV-K5 ~$30

Get On The Air in 4 Simple Steps

1

Study for the Exam

Free online resources make it easy. Most pass with 10-20 hours of study over 1-2 weeks.

2

Pass the Technician Test

35 multiple-choice questions. Score 74% to pass. Take it online or in-person.

3

Get Your Call Sign

FCC issues your unique call sign within 1-2 weeks. Pay the $35 license fee.

4

Make Your First Contact

Program local repeaters, key up, and join the worldwide amateur radio community.

What is Ham Radio & Why Get Licensed

What is Amateur (Ham) Radio?

Amateur radio, commonly known as ham radio, is a licensed radio communication service used for non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communication. Unlike commercial radio services, ham radio operators are permitted to build and modify their own equipment, experiment with radio technology, and communicate across town or around the world.

With over 100 years of history, amateur radio has evolved from simple spark-gap transmitters to sophisticated digital modes and satellite communications. Today, there are more than 750,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the United States alone, forming one of the largest and most technically skilled radio communities in the world.

Why People Get Into Ham Radio

  • Emergency Communication: When cell towers fail during disasters, ham radio keeps working. Hurricane responders, search and rescue teams, and emergency management agencies rely on amateur operators.
  • Technical Experimentation: Build antennas, design circuits, explore digital modes like FT8, and push the boundaries of radio technology.
  • Community Connection: Join a worldwide network of operators. Participate in clubs, contests, and special events.
  • Outdoor Activities: Parks on the Air (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA) combine ham radio with hiking and outdoor adventure.
  • Space Communication: Talk to astronauts on the International Space Station or bounce signals off amateur satellites.

What Can You Do With a Ham License?

A ham radio license opens up a world of possibilities that no other radio service can match:

  • Talk locally via repeaters (within 50+ mile radius)
  • Make worldwide contacts via HF bands
  • Bounce signals off the moon (Earth-Moon-Earth communication)
  • Work amateur satellites orbiting Earth
  • Participate in contests and chase awards
  • Provide emergency communication through ARES and RACES
  • Experiment with antenna building and electronics

Understanding Ham Radio License Classes

Entry Level

Technician Class

35 Questions
26 To Pass
  • Full VHF/UHF privileges (most repeaters)
  • Limited HF voice privileges
  • Best for local communication
  • Perfect for handhelds and emergency prep
  • 25-50+ mile range via repeaters
Best for: Beginners, local communication, emergency preparedness
Intermediate

General Class

35 Questions
26 To Pass
  • Most HF bands for worldwide communication
  • All Technician privileges plus more
  • DXing (long-distance contacts)
  • Contesting and award chasing
  • Requires Technician license first
Best for: Worldwide communication, DXers, contesters
Advanced

Amateur Extra

50 Questions
37 To Pass
  • All amateur frequencies
  • Exclusive Extra-only band portions
  • Best DX opportunities
  • Full privileges on all modes
  • Requires General license first
Best for: Serious hobbyists, contesters, DX enthusiasts

Our Recommendation: Start with Technician

The Technician license is the perfect starting point. It's quick to obtain, gives you enough privileges to learn and experiment, and you can upgrade to General or Extra anytime by passing the next exam. There's no waiting period between exams - you can even take multiple exams in the same session!

What the License Actually Costs (2025)

FCC Application Fee $35 Valid for 10 years
Exam Session Fee $0-15 Varies by VEC
Study Materials $0-30 Free resources available
Total to Get Licensed $35-80 That's it!

How to Get Your Ham Radio License

Step 1

Get Your FRN (FCC Registration Number)

Before taking your exam, register for an FRN at the FCC CORES website. It's free and takes about 10 minutes. This unique identifier is required before you can take the exam.

Step 2

Study for the Exam

The Technician exam consists of 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from a public pool of approximately 400 questions. You need to score 74% (26 correct) to pass. Most people study for 10-20 hours over 1-3 weeks.

Free Study Resources

Step 3

Find and Take the Exam

In-Person Exams

  • Find sessions at ARRL.org exam finder
  • Run by Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs)
  • Typical fee: $0-$15
  • Bring: Government ID, FRN, exam fee, pencils

Online Exams

  • Available since 2020, fully remote with video proctoring
  • Same exam, same validity as in-person
  • Popular options: GLAARG, Anchorage VEC, W5YI
  • Great for those without local exam sessions
Step 4

Receive Your Call Sign

After you pass, the FCC issues your unique call sign within 1-2 weeks. Check your status at the FCC ULS website. Once your call sign appears in the database, you're legally authorized to transmit!

Want a specific call sign? You can apply for a vanity call sign for an additional $25 fee.

Exam Day Tips

✔

No Morse code required (eliminated in 2007)

✔

No time limit at most sessions - take your time

✔

Can retake same day if you fail (additional fee)

✔

Can take multiple exams in same session (Tech + General)

Best Ham Radios for Beginners (2025)

Types of Ham Radios

Handheld Transceivers (HTs)

Portable, battery-powered radios perfect for beginners. 5-8 watts typical power, $25-$300 price range. Range: 2-10 miles simplex, 25-50+ miles via repeater.

Mobile Radios

Vehicle or base installation with 25-75 watts. Better range than HTs. $150-$500 price range. Great for vehicle use or home base stations.

Base/HF Radios

Desk setup with external antenna, up to 100W. For worldwide communication (requires General license). $400-$3000+ price range.

Best Budget Radios Under $50

Budget King

Quansheng UV-K5

~$30
5W Power Dual-Band USB-C

The 2024-2025 budget champion. Wide-band receive, firmware hackable, better receiver than Baofeng, and USB-C charging. Best budget option right now.

Pros: Better receiver, firmware community, modern features
Cons: Budget build quality
Check Price on Amazon
Classic Choice

Baofeng UV-5R

~$25
4W Power Dual-Band Compact

The gateway radio for thousands of hams. Incredibly cheap with a huge community. Great first radio to learn on, but plan to upgrade eventually.

Pros: Very cheap, widely available, huge community
Cons: Mediocre receiver, confusing programming
Check Price on Amazon
More Power

Baofeng BF-F8HP

~$40
8W Power Dual-Band Full Kit

Higher power version of the UV-5R (8W vs 5W) with better antenna and documentation. Comes with full accessory kit included.

Pros: More power, better documentation, complete kit
Cons: Still Baofeng quality
Check Price on Amazon

Best Mid-Range Radios $50-$200

Recommended

Yaesu FT-65R

~$100
5W Power IP54 Rated MIL-STD-810

The sweet spot for quality and price. IP54 dust/water protection, MIL-STD-810 ruggedness, 9+ hour battery life, and Yaesu reliability. Our top pick for most beginners.

Pros: Quality build, rugged, reliable, great value
Cons: No wide-band receive
Check Price on Amazon
Legendary

Yaesu FT-60R

~$170
5W Power Wide-Band RX 1000 Memories

The "buy it for life" radio. Legendary reliability, wide-band receive (108-520MHz & 700-999MHz), excellent receiver. Built like a tank.

Pros: Tank-like build, excellent receiver, wide-band RX
Cons: Older design, no GPS
Check Price on Amazon

Best Entry HF Radios $400-$1500

HF radios enable worldwide communication but require a General class license for most HF bands.

Best Value HF

Xiegu G90

~$450
20W Power Built-in Tuner SDR

Compact 20W HF transceiver with built-in auto antenna tuner. SDR architecture with waterfall display. Portable design with removable display head.

Pros: Affordable HF, portable, built-in tuner
Cons: 20W limit, smaller community
Check Price on Amazon
Gold Standard

ICOM IC-7300

~$1100
100W Power Touchscreen RF Direct SDR

The gold standard entry HF radio. RF direct sampling SDR, 4.3" color touchscreen, real-time spectrum scope with waterfall. Best-in-class performance.

Pros: Excellent performance, touchscreen, waterfall display
Cons: Price, requires General license
Check Price on Amazon

Quick Comparison: All Recommended Radios

Radio Price Power Type Best For Buy
Quansheng UV-K5 ~$30 5W Budget HT Budget beginners Amazon
Baofeng UV-5R ~$25 4W Budget HT Absolute minimum spend Amazon
Baofeng BF-F8HP ~$40 8W Budget HT More power on a budget Amazon
Yaesu FT-65R ~$100 5W Mid-Range HT Most beginners (recommended) Amazon
Yaesu FT-60R ~$170 5W Mid-Range HT Buy it for life Amazon
Xiegu G90 ~$450 20W Entry HF Budget HF, portable ops Amazon
ICOM IC-7300 ~$1100 100W Premium HF Serious HF operators Amazon

Our Recommendations by Budget

$100 Budget - "Get Started"

  • Quansheng UV-K5 $30
  • Nagoya NA-771 antenna $15
  • Programming cable $10
  • FCC License Fee $35
Total: ~$90
Start Here

$200 Budget - "Solid Foundation"

  • Yaesu FT-65R $100
  • Yaesu SSM-17B Speaker Mic $38
  • FCC License Fee $35
Total: ~$173
Recommended

$600 Budget - "Ready for HF"

  • Yaesu FT-65R for VHF/UHF $100
  • Xiegu G90 for HF $450
  • FCC License Fee $35
Total: ~$585

Requires General license for HF

Go Worldwide

Essential Accessories & Equipment

The single biggest improvement you can make to any handheld radio is upgrading the antenna. Stock antennas are compromise designs meant to be compact, not performant. A $15 antenna upgrade can dramatically improve your range.

Antenna Upgrades (Biggest Impact)

Nagoya NA-771

~$15

The best $15 upgrade for any HT. 15.6" whip with up to 3 dBi gain. Huge improvement over stock antennas.

Buy on Amazon

Programming Essentials

USB Programming Cable

~$10

Required for Baofeng/Quansheng radios. Works with CHIRP software for easy repeater programming.

Buy on Amazon

Tip: Download CHIRP (free) and use RepeaterBook to find local repeaters. Manual programming is painfully slow.

Audio Accessories

Baofeng Speaker Mic

~$12

Essential for hands-free operation. Remote PTT with 3.5mm headphone jack.

Buy on Amazon

Yaesu SSM-17B Speaker Mic

~$38

Genuine Yaesu accessory for FT-65R and FT-4XR. Quality construction and compact design.

Buy on Amazon

Apartment-Friendly Solutions

Living in an apartment or HOA-restricted area? You can still enjoy ham radio:

  • Mag-mount antennas on cookie sheets: Creates a makeshift ground plane on your balcony
  • Window-mount J-poles: Hang from a curtain rod, no drilling required
  • Attic antennas: If you have attic access, antennas work well there
  • Portable operation: Take your radio to a park - POTA (Parks on the Air) is hugely popular

Getting on the Air - Your First Contact

Before You Transmit

  • ✔ Wait for your call sign to appear in the FCC database
  • ✔ Program local repeaters into your radio using CHIRP
  • ✔ Listen first - learn the local protocols and etiquette
  • ✔ Understand repeater offsets and PL/CTCSS tones

Finding Local Repeaters

Use RepeaterBook.com to find repeaters in your area. Look for active repeaters with regular nets (scheduled on-air meetings). Your local amateur radio club's website is also a great resource.

Making Your First Contact

  1. Listen first: Wait for a break in conversation or the end of a QSO
  2. Key up and identify: Press PTT and say "[Your Call Sign], listening" or "[Your Call Sign], monitoring"
  3. Have a basic QSO: Exchange call signs, names, locations, and signal reports
  4. Close properly: Say "[Their Call Sign], [Your Call Sign], 73" (73 means "best regards")

Don't Be Nervous!

The ham radio community is incredibly welcoming to newcomers. If you make a mistake, someone will kindly help you out. Everyone was new once. The worst thing you can do is never try!

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

  • Transmitting without a valid license (illegal!)
  • Not identifying with your call sign
  • "Kerchunking" repeaters (transmitting without ID to test)
  • Over-explaining or rambling - keep it concise
  • Being afraid to make mistakes - just try!

Ham Radio for Emergency Preparedness

When cell towers fail, landlines are down, and internet is unavailable, ham radio keeps working. This is why emergency management agencies, search and rescue teams, and preparedness-minded individuals rely on amateur radio.

Why Ham Radio for Emergencies?

  • Infrastructure independent: Works without cell towers, internet, or power grid
  • Long-range capability: HF can reach hundreds or thousands of miles
  • Licensed operators: Training and testing ensures competent communicators
  • Organized community: ARES and RACES provide structured emergency response

Real Emergency Uses

Amateur radio operators have provided critical communication during:

  • Hurricane Katrina and Maria - health and welfare traffic
  • California wildfires - evacuation coordination
  • Earthquake response - damage assessment
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Severe weather spotting (SKYWARN)

Emergency Organizations

  • ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service): ARRL-sponsored, works with local agencies
  • RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service): Government-sponsored emergency communications
  • SKYWARN: NWS weather spotters using ham radio

Building Emergency Capability

Minimum

Handheld radio with spare batteries. Can communicate locally via repeaters.

Better

Mobile radio with car power. Higher power, better antenna options.

Best

HF capability for long-range. Can reach across state or country when local infrastructure fails.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Anyone can purchase ham radio equipment legally. You only need a license to transmit. Many people buy a radio first to listen and learn while studying for their exam. Listening (receiving) is always legal and free.

Most people pass with 10-20 hours of study over 1-3 weeks. The question pool is public, so you're studying the actual test questions. The pass rate is approximately 80% for first-time test takers. If you can pass a written driver's test, you can pass the Technician exam.

Budget $100-150 total: FCC license fee ($35), exam fee ($0-15), and a basic radio ($25-100). You can be on the air for under $100 with a budget radio like the Quansheng UV-K5 (~$30). The license is valid for 10 years.

HF (High Frequency, 3-30 MHz): Travels long distances by bouncing off the ionosphere. Used for worldwide contacts. Requires General license for most voice privileges.

VHF (Very High Frequency, 30-300 MHz): Line-of-sight propagation. Used for local repeaters, satellite work. 2-meter band (144-148 MHz) is the most popular.

UHF (Ultra High Frequency, 300 MHz - 3 GHz): Also line-of-sight. Better building penetration than VHF. 70-cm band (420-450 MHz) is popular for local communication.

Simplex (direct radio to radio): 2-10 miles depending on terrain, antenna, and power. Urban areas with buildings may be less.

Via repeater: 25-100+ miles depending on repeater location and coverage. Repeaters on mountain tops can cover entire regions.

Range depends heavily on antenna quality, location (elevation helps), and repeater access.

Yes, for amateur radio use by licensed operators. The FCC has taken action against Baofeng for marketing radios to unlicensed users (like FRS/GMRS), but the radios themselves are legal for licensed amateur radio operators to use on amateur frequencies.

The FCC allows unlicensed transmission only for immediate threats to life or property when no other means of communication is available. This is a narrow emergency exception, not a general permission. Get licensed before you need it - you'll be more effective in an emergency if you've practiced.

Typically 1-2 weeks. Some VECs submit results the same day, others take a few days to process. Once your call sign appears in the FCC ULS database, you're legally authorized to transmit. You can check your status at the FCC ULS website.

No. The Morse code requirement was eliminated in 2007. You can obtain any license class (Technician, General, or Extra) without knowing code. That said, many hams learn CW (continuous wave/Morse code) as an optional skill because it's effective, fun, and works well in poor conditions.

A repeater is a station that receives your signal on one frequency and simultaneously retransmits it on another frequency, usually at higher power from an elevated location. This extends the effective range of low-power handheld radios from a few miles to 50+ miles. Most local ham radio communication happens through repeaters.

Ready to Get Started?

You now have everything you need to begin your ham radio journey. The path is simple: study for a couple of weeks, pass a 35-question exam, spend about $100 on equipment, and join a worldwide community of over 750,000 US operators.

1 Get your FRN at FCC CORES
2 Study at HamStudy.org (free)
3 Pass your Technician exam
4 Get your radio and make your first contact

The best time to get your ham radio license was years ago. The second best time is today.

Start Studying at HamStudy.org View Recommended Radios