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Solar
SFI 128
SN 113
A 16
K 3 Unsettled
X-Ray B6.2
Wind 571.5 km/s
Aurora 3
Updated 02:00 UTC HamQSL · N0NBH
Day 80/40m Poor 30/20m Good 17/15m Good 12/10m Fair
Night 80/40m Fair 30/20m Good 17/15m Good 12/10m Poor

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✅ 100% Free Ham Radio Study System
Study for your Technician, General, or Amateur Extra license completely free right here with structured lessons, clear explanations, and practice quizzes — no signup required.
📖 This course is available in print and on Kindle.
Read offline, highlight your favourite sections, and study away from the screen.

🖨️ Get the printed textbook on Amazon →
📱 Read on Kindle →

Ham Radio License Study System

This study system provides a complete learning path for all three amateur radio license levels: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra.


Each level is organized into topic groups that match the structure of the official exam. Every lesson page explains the concepts behind the questions so you can understand the material, not just memorize answers.


At the end of each lesson every question that may appear on the exam for that topic will be presented to you, if you choose an incorrect answer we will guide you to the appropriate section so you can review just that topic.


Whether you are just starting out or upgrading to full privileges, this guide gives you a clear, structured way to learn radio theory, operating practices, safety, electronics, antennas, digital modes, and the rules that govern amateur radio.

Key point: Each license level builds on the one before it. This system helps you progress smoothly from beginner to full amateur radio privileges.

License Levels Overview

Amateur radio licensing in the United States consists of three progressive levels. Each level expands your operating privileges and introduces more advanced concepts.

The three license levels:
  • Technician — Entry‑level license with full privileges above 30 MHz and limited HF access
  • General — Adds extensive HF privileges for long‑distance communication
  • Amateur Extra — Grants full access to all amateur bands and modes
Start with Technician, then upgrade to General and Amateur Extra as you gain experience and interest.

Technician Amateur Radio License

The Technician license focuses on safety, basic electronics, operating procedures, radio wave behavior, antennas, and FCC rules. These topics form the foundation of amateur radio knowledge.

You’ll be tested on 35 questions, and you must answer at least 26 correctly to pass. These questions are randomly drawn from a pool of 411 possible questions (reduced to 409 starting July 1, 2026). Every question that could appear on the Technician License exam is fully explained and covered in this lesson series
SafetyElectrical, antenna, and RF safety
Rules & RegulationsFCC rules, licensing, station ID
Operating ProceduresCalling, repeaters, emergency ops
PropagationWave behavior, skip, line‑of‑sight
Amateur PracticesStation setup and operating controls
Electrical PrinciplesVoltage, current, power, Ohm’s Law
ComponentsResistors, capacitors, semiconductors
Practical CircuitsTroubleshooting, SWR, test instruments
Signals & EmissionsFM, SSB, digital modes, satellites
Antennas & Feed LinesPolarization, coax, SWR, tuners

General Amateur Radio License

The General license expands your privileges into the HF bands and introduces more advanced operating practices, propagation concepts, and electronics theory.

You’ll be tested on 35 questions, and you must answer at least 26 correctly to pass. These questions are randomly drawn from a pool of 429 possible questions on the General License exam. Every question that could appear is fully explained and covered in this lesson series.
Rules & RegulationsOperating standards and privileges
Operating ProceduresHF operating, nets, DX practices
PropagationHF propagation, solar effects
Amateur PracticesStation setup, grounding, filters
Electrical PrinciplesAC theory, impedance, power
ComponentsSemiconductors, power supplies
Practical CircuitsTransmitters, receivers, amplifiers
Signals & EmissionsModulation, digital modes
Antennas & Feed LinesHF antennas, tuners, matching

Amateur Extra Amateur Radio License

The Amateur Extra license covers the most advanced topics in amateur radio, including detailed electronics theory, advanced propagation, digital communication, and full regulatory knowledge.

You’ll be tested on 50 questions, and you must answer at least 37 correctly to pass. These questions are randomly drawn from a pool of 598 possible questions. Every question that could appear on the Amateur Extra License exam is fully explained and covered in this lesson series.
Amateur Extra License Hub:
Go to Amateur Extra License Study Guide →
Rules & RegulationsAdvanced operating rules
Operating ProceduresAdvanced HF, contesting, DX
PropagationAdvanced propagation and modeling
Amateur PracticesReceiver performance, noise reduction
Electrical PrinciplesComplex impedance, reactance
ComponentsAdvanced semiconductors, ICs
Practical CircuitsOscillators, mixers, amplifiers
Signals & EmissionsDigital theory, modulation math
Antennas & Feed LinesAntenna theory, patterns, arrays

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