ok so i've been interested in ham radio for like a year now and i keep telling myself i'm gonna do it but honestly i dont even know where to begin. like do i need to take a class or can i just study on my own? i looked up the technician exam and it seems like there's a question pool but im not sure if i actually need to memorize all of it or if there's some smarter way to study. also does it matter which testing session i go to or are they all the same. sorry if these are dumb questions i just dont really know anyone who does this

not dumb at all, everyone starts somewhere. honestly the easiest way to go about it is just use HamStudy dot org and drill the question pool every day for like two or three weeks. the technician test isnt that hard, most people pass without any formal class. the question pool is public so what you're studying is literally what shows up on the test, just randomized. some of the questions are wordy but once you do enough practice tests you start recognizing the patterns. i think i did maybe 10 practice exams before i felt ready and ended up passing no problem. as for testing sessions, ARRL has a search tool to find VE sessions near you, and a lot of clubs do them regularly. some are even online now through Zoom or whatever if theres nothing close. just sign up, bring your ID and the fee, and go for it

yeah i was in the same boat like 8 months ago. i used the Gordon West book which some people swear by but honestly i think i wouldve been fine just doing HamStudy. the book was fine for understanding the why behind some of the questions but if you're short on time just do the flash cards online and grind practice tests. one thing i'd say is dont overthink the electrical theory stuff, like the ohms law questions are straightforward once you just memorize the formula and same with the antenna stuff. i passed on my first try and i was genuinely shocked haha. also once you pass tech you might get the itch to just go straight for general too, i waited a month and went back and did both