Use this collection when amateur radio is still new. Work through it in order: understand the FCC account/licensing path, study from the official Technician pool, learn the core rules, then become familiar with where different activities belong on the bands.
Know what to study, where the rules live, and what your first licensing steps look like.
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01Getting Started · Operating
Listen to Ham Radio Live — No License Required
WC4DC — Dickson County Amateur Radio Club
Hear real amateur-radio activity through public software-defined receivers before you own a radio or earn a license.
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02Getting Started · Licensing
What Is an Amateur Radio Call Sign?
WC4DC — Dickson County Amateur Radio Club
A beginner-friendly explanation of U.S. amateur call signs, call districts, common formats, sequential assignments, vanity calls, and special-event calls.
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03Getting Started · Operating
First QSO Simulator — Practice Before Going On-Air
WC4DC — Dickson County Amateur Radio Club
Practice repeater, net, simplex, HF CQ, and POTA exchanges in a browser before making a real transmission.
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04Getting Started · Licensing
FCC CORES — Get or Manage an FRN
Federal Communications Commission
Official FCC system for creating and managing the FCC Registration Number used for licensing transactions.
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05Getting Started · Licensing
2026–2030 Technician Question Pool
NCVEC Question Pool Committee
The current official Technician-class question pool, syllabus, errata, and diagrams from NCVEC.
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06Licensing · Operating
47 CFR Part 97 — Amateur Radio Service
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
The current federal rules governing the U.S. Amateur Radio Service.
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07Licensing · Operating
ARRL Amateur Radio Band Plan
ARRL — The National Association for Amateur Radio
A practical voluntary band-plan reference showing common operating segments and activities.
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08Antennas · Operating
ARRL RF Exposure Calculator
ARRL — The National Association for Amateur Radio
Interactive calculator for estimating RF-exposure compliance distances for an amateur station.
