BUILD YOUR COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY · HAM RADIO
The Technician exam is 35 questions from a published pool, passable in 2–4 weeks of study. What it unlocks — repeater networks, emergency nets, and communication that works when everything else doesn't — is worth the investment.
WHY IT MATTERS
Ham radio has provided emergency communication during every major American disaster of the last century — not as a backup to modern systems, but as the primary communication infrastructure when modern systems failed. It is the only communication technology with no single point of failure and no infrastructure dependency.
Ham radio communicates directly between operators or through volunteer-maintained repeaters. There is no company, no central server, no monthly fee, and no single point of failure. It works when cell towers, internet, and power grids fail simultaneously.
HF (shortwave) bands — accessible with a General license — allow communication across continents without any repeater or satellite. A ham in North Carolina can routinely contact operators in Europe, South America, and Asia on a modest antenna.
ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN integrate licensed ham operators with official emergency management agencies. When hospitals, fire departments, and EOCs need communication support during disasters, they call on these volunteer networks.
THE LICENSING PATH
Each license level unlocks more frequency access. Most preparedness-focused ham operators are fully served by Technician. General adds significant HF capability that expands communication range dramatically.
Start here · 2–4 weeks study
35 questions, 74% to pass. Covers basic electronics, FCC rules, and radio operation. Unlocks all VHF and UHF amateur bands — local and regional repeaters, emergency nets, APRS, and satellite communication. Covers the most practically useful capabilities for emergency preparedness.
Exam fee: ~$15. Pool: 423 questions. License valid 10 years.
Next step · 4–8 weeks study
35 questions, 74% to pass. Adds significant HF band privileges — 160 through 10 meters. HF enables long-distance communication without any repeater infrastructure, which becomes critically important when regional disasters take down local repeaters.
Technician required first. Significantly expands geographic communication reach.
Advanced · 6+ months study
50 questions, 74% to pass. Adds exclusive sub-bands on HF and full operating privileges. Primarily relevant for operators who become serious hobbyists — the additional privileges matter less for preparedness than the technical knowledge the study builds.
General required first. Represents mastery of amateur radio theory and regulations.
HOW TO PASS THE TECHNICIAN EXAM
Study resources (all free)
Finding an exam session
Exams are administered by volunteer examiner teams (VECs) through clubs and organizations. Search arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session for sessions near you. Many clubs now offer online exam sessions. Expect a $15–$20 exam fee.
You receive your call sign within a few days of passing. You can transmit legally as soon as the call sign appears in the FCC ULS database — before the paper license arrives.
YOUR FIRST RADIO
The right first radio lets you get on the air, access local repeaters, and join emergency nets without spending money on features you won't use yet. Most new hams overspend on their first radio and underinvest in the antenna.
$25–$40 · Entry level
Inexpensive Chinese dual-band (VHF/UHF) handheld that has introduced more people to ham radio than any other radio in history. Covers all Technician-accessible frequencies. Programming requires the free CHIRP software and a programming cable.
Limitations: poor receiver selectivity (adjacent channel interference), mediocre build quality, and confusing front-panel programming. Fine as a learning radio and backup unit — not ideal as a primary long-term radio.
Best for: getting on the air cheaply while studying. Fine for repeater access and basic emergency use.
$80–$200 · Recommended first radio
Japanese-made handhelds with significantly better receiver performance, build quality, and ergonomics. The Yaesu FT-60R is a workhorse entry radio — simple, reliable, excellent receive, built for field use. APRS-capable models like the Kenwood TH-D74A add digital position reporting useful for emergency deployments.
Worth the step up in cost for anyone serious about emergency preparedness use. Will serve reliably for many years.
Best for: primary emergency communication handheld. Buy once, use for a decade.
The stock rubber duck antenna on a handheld radio is adequate for nearby repeaters. A longer replacement antenna ($15–$30) can meaningfully improve performance. For home base operation, an outdoor dipole or vertical antenna — even a simple one — will dramatically outperform any handheld antenna. Invest in the antenna before upgrading the radio.
Affiliate disclosure: New World Survival earns a small commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. We only recommend gear we'd put in our own kit.
EMERGENCY NETWORKS
Three volunteer networks integrate licensed ham operators with official emergency management. Each has a different focus and structure, and joining all three is common for preparedness-focused operators.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Organized by county through the ARRL, ARES groups provide communication support for public safety agencies, hospitals, and relief organizations during disasters. Groups train regularly and participate in real activations during declared emergencies.
Join at: arrl.org/ares — find your Section Emergency Coordinator.
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. A government-organized program that integrates ham operators directly with civil defense and emergency management agencies. Operates under stricter government control than ARES — activated only during declared emergencies and government-authorized exercises.
Join through: your county emergency management office. Many operators join both ARES and RACES.
NWS volunteer spotter network. SKYWARN spotters are trained by the National Weather Service to identify and report severe weather from the ground — confirmed tornado touchdowns, hail size, flood levels, and wind damage. Ham radio is the primary communication method for spotter reports during storms.
Join at: weather.gov/skywarn — free training, widely available online and in-person.
FINDING YOUR LOCAL CLUB
Local clubs are where you learn to actually use the radio — not just pass the exam. Experienced operators demonstrate operating technique, antenna building, and emergency net procedures that no study guide covers. Club nets give you regular practice communicating formally under simulated conditions.
Most local clubs host exam sessions, maintain area repeaters, and coordinate with county emergency management. Joining one is the single best step you can take after getting licensed.
The ARRL club finder at arrl.org/find-a-club searches by zip code and shows clubs within your area with contact information and meeting schedules. RepeaterBook.com lists local repeaters with the club or trustee who maintains them — contacting a nearby repeater's trustee often leads directly to the active club.
Most clubs welcome new technicians warmly. Visiting a meeting before your exam is common and encouraged — you'll get study tips, see the equipment, and know the people before your first transmission.
GETTING ON THE AIR
RepeaterBook.com and the ARRL repeater directory list active repeaters by location with full frequency, offset, and access tone information. Find the two or three most active repeaters in your area — look for ones with recent activity logs — and program them into your radio using CHIRP or your radio's memory channels.
Every repeater has an input frequency (what you transmit on) and an output frequency (what you listen on). The difference is the offset — typically +600 kHz on VHF or +5 MHz on UHF. Most radios handle this automatically if you enter the correct offset direction and magnitude.
Many repeaters require a CTCSS access tone to prevent interference from distant stations. Enter the correct tone in the transmit tone field, not the receive tone field.
Listen before transmitting. Get familiar with the repeater's traffic pattern — how people identify themselves, how conversations start and end, the pace of the net if one is running. This is the ham equivalent of reading the room before speaking.
A standard way to announce your presence on a repeater: key up and say your call sign once. If someone is monitoring, they'll usually respond. On an active repeater with a regular net, wait for a pause and check in with your call sign.
Emergency net procedure is more formal — listen to your local ARES net to understand the format before participating. Most nets are open to any licensed operator after the net control passes through the check-in list.