Buying Your First Radio - ARRL
Which radio will you purchase for your first Amateur Radio station? Do you want a large, full-featured transceiver for the HF bands? Perhaps a mobile radio for operating on VHF+ or even a tiny handheld transceiver?
These helpful Elmers (ham radio mentors) may be willing to loan or demonstrate a radio so you can experience different styles of operating before making buying decisions.
What Rig Should I Buy? - ARRL
With so many radios out there, this can be a confusing question for all radio amateurs. At ARRL HQ, our job is to show you how to choose one to suit your needs. Newcomers wish for ease of operation, while contesters and serious DX'er require top performance.
Gordon West - ARRL
ARRL is the publisher of the Amateur Radio License Preparation books and related resources authored by Gordon West, WB6NOA (see ARRL News). Gordon West’s popular books, classes, and audio courses have been a mainstay of amateur radio licensing for decades.
FCC Rules and Regulations - ARRL
Amateur Radio has been fortunate that when many of these issues come up, hams recognize potential problems and either help their companies or organizations deal with the problem directly. Others contact the ARRL for help.
Getting Licensed - ARRL
The Technician class license is the entry-level license of choice for most new ham radio operators. To earn the Technician license requires passing one examination totaling 35 questions on radio theory, regulations and operating practices.
Your First Station - ARRL
Build Your Own Radio. Most hams buy their radios factory assembled, but you can design your own transceiver from scratch. There are also many transceiver kits available. Kit building is fun and educational and you’ll save a considerable amount of money in the process.
Ham Radio License Manual - ARRL
Use the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 5th edition, as your textbook to help you pass the Technician Class License exam. Refer to the supplemental information below for additional references that may be helpful to you.
Vanity Call Signs - ARRL
A Vanity call sign is a call sign that the licensee wants assigned by the FCC for use in place of an existing call sign (or for an Amateur Radio club, it is a call sign assigned to replace the existing FCC-assigned club license call sign).
ARRL Handbook 2023
The 2023 edition features new projects and tools, including 3D printing techniques for ham radio construction, battery selection for portable operation, analog-to-digital converter overload, solid-state amplifier linearity, an update on Solar Cycle 25, and more.