so ive been interested in ham radio for a while now, my neighbor has this whole setup in his garage and it looks really cool, he suggested i get licensed before he shows me how to use any of it. i went online and found out there are different levels of licenses but im not really sure which one to go for first or how hard the test actually is. is there like a standard way people study for this? i downloaded some app but it just throws questions at me without really explaining why the answers are right. also how long does it take most people to pass, im not in a rush but kind of want to know what im getting into

honestly the technician exam isnt that bad, i was pretty nervous going in but ended up passing first try. i used hamstudy.org mostly, it breaks down the question pool by section so you actually understand the concepts instead of just memorizing answers. the questions about electrical theory tripped me up at first but once you understand ohms law and a few basics it all starts to click. most people study a few weeks, some people cram it in a weekend if they really focus. find out when your local club is running an exam session, the ARRL website has a tool for that. the examiners are usually pretty laid back and helpful, its not like a DMV situation at all

yeah what the other person said, hamstudy is the go-to. i'd also say dont underestimate the ham radio prep book by Gordon West, some people think its old fashioned but it actually explains the why behind stuff which helps a lot more than just drilling flashcards. the tech exam is 35 questions and you need 26 right to pass so you've got a little wiggle room. one thing i'll mention is once you pass tech you'll probably want to get your general pretty quick because tech keeps you on VHF and UHF mostly and once you catch the HF bug you'll want those privileges. just something to think about down the road