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New to Ham Radio?

Everything you need for your first weeks on the air: getting licensed, your first contact, checking into a net, and the lingo you'll hear.

Get Your License

In the US you need an FCC amateur license to transmit. There are three classes, each a multiple-choice exam. No Morse code is required.

Technician · 35 questions. Local VHF/UHF (repeaters, 2m and 70cm) and some HF. Where nearly everyone starts.
General · 35 questions. Adds most of the HF bands for long-distance contacts.
Amateur Extra · 50 questions. All amateur privileges.
  1. Study the question pool with a free practice site like HamStudy.org or the ARRL licensing guide.
  2. Get an FCC Registration Number (FRN) in the FCC CORES system.
  3. Find an exam session (in person or online) with the ARRL exam session search.
  4. After you pass, pay the FCC application fee in CORES. Your call sign appears in the FCC database, usually within a few days to two weeks, and is good for 10 years.

Once you have a call sign, add it to your Profile and My HAM Hub pulls your license from the FCC.

Your First Radio

Most new hams start with a dual-band (2m/70cm) handheld. Two cheap upgrades make the biggest difference: a better antenna than the one in the box, and a programming cable so you can load repeaters with free software like CHIRP.

Import your area's repeaters on the Repeaters tab, star the ones you use, and export a CHIRP file to program your radio in one step.

Your First Repeater Contact

  1. Program the repeater's frequency, offset and tone. Your radio won't open the repeater without the right tone.
  2. Listen for a few minutes to learn the local style and make sure the channel is free.
  3. Press the mic button, wait a second, then speak slowly. Release, and wait for the repeater's tail to drop before answering.

To let people know you're there:

"KG5ABC, listening."

To call a specific station, their call sign first, then yours:

"W5XYZ, this is KG5ABC."

When you're done, sign off with your call sign:

"Thanks for the contact, have a great evening. 73, KG5ABC clear."

Replace KG5ABC with your own call sign. Log the contact on the QSO tab.

Checking Into a Net

A net is a scheduled on-air meeting run by a net control station (NCS). Nets are the friendliest place to start: everyone is expected to talk, and new hams are welcome.

  1. Listen to the opening. Net control will ask for check-ins, sometimes by area or call sign suffix.
  2. When it's your turn, give your call sign phonetically, then your name and location.
  3. Wait for net control to acknowledge you. Mention if you're new; people are glad to help.
"Kilo Golf Five Alfa Bravo Charlie, Pat in Baton Rouge, first-time check-in."

Add local nets on the Nets tab to get reminders and track your check-ins.

Phonetic Alphabet

A AlfaB BravoC CharlieD DeltaE EchoF FoxtrotG GolfH HotelI IndiaJ JuliettK KiloL LimaM MikeN NovemberO OscarP PapaQ QuebecR RomeoS SierraT TangoU UniformV VictorW WhiskeyX X-rayY YankeeZ Zulu

Numbers are said normally; many hams say "niner" for 9.

Q-Codes and Lingo

73Best regards. Said when signing off.
QTHYour location. "My QTH is Baton Rouge."
QSOA contact or conversation with another station.
QSLI confirm / received. Also the card you exchange to confirm a contact.
QRZ?Who is calling me?
QSYChange frequency. "Let's QSY to 146.550."
QRM / QRNInterference from other signals / from static and noise.
QRTStopping transmissions, going off the air.
CQA general call to any station.
SimplexTalking radio to radio on one frequency, without a repeater.
Offset and toneThe repeater's transmit shift and access tone your radio needs to use it.
Net control (NCS)The station running a net and taking check-ins.

Signal Reports (RST)

A report like 59 means Readability 5 (perfectly readable) and Strength 9 (very strong). On CW (Morse) a third digit, Tone, is added: 599.

R · Readability 1–5 · 1 unreadable, 3 readable with difficulty, 5 perfectly readable.
S · Strength 1–9 · 1 faint, 5 fairly good, 9 extremely strong.
T · Tone 1–9 · CW only; 9 is a pure tone.

On FM repeaters, people usually just say "full quieting" (clear) or "a little scratchy."

Rules to Remember

  • Say your call sign at least every 10 minutes during a conversation and at the end.
  • Stay inside your license class's privileges. See them on the Bands page.
  • No music, no coded or encrypted messages, no business on behalf of an employer, and no obscene language.
  • Use the least power needed to make the contact.
  • Emergency traffic always comes first. See the Emergency Quick Card.

Next Steps in My HAM Hub

Friends · Look up any call sign and save the hams you meet.Nets · Add local nets and get reminders.Repeaters · Import repeaters and program your radio.QSO · Log your first contact.Emergency Quick Card · Your go-to card when it matters.