so ive been interested in ham radio for probably two years now and i keep putting it off but im finally trying to actually do it. the problem is every time i try to figure out where to start i get overwhelmed. like theres the technician license and then general and then extra and i dont really know which one i need or if i should just try to get all three at once or what.

someone at work told me to just download some app and memorize the questions but that feels like cheating somehow? i dont know. i guess im also not sure what the test is actually like, is it multiple choice, do you have to know morse code, how hard is it really for someone who has zero background in electronics. any advice would be helpful i just dont really know what im asking exactly

honestly the app method is totally fine and basically everyone does it. HamStudy or Ham Radio Prep are the ones most people use and the question pool is publicly available so its not really cheating, theyve already told you what the answers are. the technician exam is 35 questions and you need 26 right to pass, all multiple choice, no morse code requirement hasnt been a thing for a long time now.

for a total beginner i'd say just focus on tech first and dont worry about doing all three at once unless you really want to. some people do a cram weekend and pass all three back to back which is impressive but also kind of exhausting and you dont retain much. if you actually want to understand what youre doing, tech first, get on the air, then study for general when you feel ready. the arrl handbook is great but its also a lot if you dont have any background, so maybe start with the arrl technician study guide which is more manageable. and find a local club, most of them run practice exams and the elmers there will answer questions that no app can really answer for you

i was in the same exact spot like eight months ago, had no clue about any of it. i just used hamStudy dot org for about three weeks maybe 20 minutes a day and passed tech on the first try. the electronics questions were the ones i struggled with most, like the ohms law stuff, but there are only a few of them and the rest is more like rules and regulations which you can just memorize. dont overthink it, its really not that bad