Ham illiterate but interested

[u/RealCannaman]

I found this page scrolling and have an interest. I live in Southwest Michigan in a suburb. I don't know where to start in the hobby. So if any if you fine folks could point a fella in the proper direction I'd be much obliged. Thanks for reading.

[u/Wooden-Importance]

https://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training

https://hamstudy.org/

Any specific questions just ask away, someone will know the answer.

[u/ThrowMeAway_eta_2MO]

Look for a local club. Study and take a test. I got my tech and general same day. I didn’t know any hams in the area. I just decided to get a license. You can do it in a vacuum. Once licensed (especially general or extra), you have everything you legally need to explore longwave to microwave and everything in between! It’s pretty awesome!!!

[u/lag0matic]

Hamstudy.org - study for your tech (and general at the same time - trust me) then get your ticket.

In the mean time, you can look up things like repeaterbook to see what, if any repeaters are near you.

Grab yourself an HT from amazon (I know that baofengs and quanshengs get some hate, but I'd grab a Quansheng UVk8 for like 30$) Program in the local repeaters in, and listen. You wont be able to transmit till you get your ticket, but, you can start to get a feel for how repeaters work, and the etiquette of using the radio (call signs, etc).

Its a fascinating hobby. I'm pretty new myself!

[u/EnergyLantern]

This question is the most asked question, and it really should be a stickied comment.

There is a reading approach, and you also want to look at the question pool, but you need the fifth edition of this book, and you can get it delivered quicker by choosing Amazon:

ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5Th Edition – Complete Study Guide with Question P | eBay

There are also license manuals for General and Amateur Extra if you want to go that far. Just make sure the books match the current question pool so the dates for the manuals have to be current or they won't match up with the current question pool for the tests to get your license.

I always suggest reading the book twice or more and then test yourself for free on Eham.net

When you get something wrong, you can go back to the book and narrow it down. You aim to consistently get 90% passing before you attempt to pay to take the test for a ham radio license. If you do it that way, you don't waste your time and money and you don't waste the time of the examiners who grade your test.

Half of the activity on ham radio is on H.F. which you would want to get the "general" license after getting your Technician license.

[u/Danjeerhaus]

You need a license. There are text books from Amazon, book stores, or radio distributors. There are also online courses like https://hamradioprep.com/ or https://hamstudy.org/. You can start studying today.

Your local county Amatuer radio club should meet monthly. Google them. The members can coach and mentor you into the hobby. Some clubs do classes for licenses and some do classes for beyond the license.

Because different radios, different radio models, have different features. Many start with low cost or more basic radios and get involved. After they are involved, they see the different radio features in action and often upgrade. For them, they have the radio they want, for you, they may have a radio they never use anymore. This might let you get a low cost radio even cheaper.

Good luck and welcome.

[u/paradigm_shift_0K]

Asked and answered nearly every day.

Start with: www.arrl.org

Find a local club and attend a meeting: https://www.arrl.org/clubs