Ham Radio Blog
Plain-English articles for new and studying hams: getting licensed, the exams, your first radio, and getting on the air.
Gear · 7 min readYour first ham radio: the Baofeng UV-5RM and other budget handheldsThe best first ham radios for new Technicians in 2026: the Baofeng UV-5RM, TIDRADIO TD-H3, Quansheng UV-K5 and Yaesu FT-65R, what each costs, and the two upgrades worth buying.November 3, 2026Read License Exams · 8 min readHow to study for the Technician exam in two weeksA day-by-day, 14-day study plan for the 2026–2030 ham radio Technician exam: what to learn each day, the math you need, and how to know you're ready to pass.November 3, 2026Read Getting Licensed · 6 min readHow much does a ham radio license cost?A ham radio license costs $35 to about $50 in 2026: the FCC's $35 fee plus an exam session fee. Here's every cost, from studying to renewal and your first radio.November 3, 2026Read Getting Licensed · 9 min readHow to get your ham radio license in 2026, step by stepEverything you need to get your Technician ham radio license in 2026: what to study, getting an FRN, finding an exam, the $35 FCC fee, and getting on the air.November 3, 2026Read License Exams · 6 min readWhat changed in the 2026 Technician examThe Technician exam switched to a new question pool on July 1, 2026: 27 new questions, 30 removed and about 155 reworded. Here's what changed and how to study for it.November 1, 2026Read
Studying for your license?Try the first Technician lessons free, with the real exam questions. Try it freeNew to it all? Start with the New to Ham Radio guide.