Tag: beginner
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The Frequencies Every Ham Radio Should Have Programmed for SHTF
The exact frequencies I keep programmed into every radio I own, from NOAA weather to GMRS, MURS, CB, and ham simplex calling channels, so I’m never scrambling to find them when it matters.
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Two Cheap Ways to Get Into DMR
Part of our Getting On The Air: Modes, Operations, and Making Contacts guide. DMR is one of the cheapest digital modes to actually get on the air with, and you don’t need a nearby repeater to do it. There are two realistic paths in: buy a little hardware, or skip the hardware entirely and run…
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Magnetic Loop Antennas: The HOA-Proof HF Antenna
Why a magnetic loop might be the only real HF option for balconies, apartments, and HOA lots that stealth wire antennas can’t get past.
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Getting Licensed: A Beginner’s Path Into Ham Radio
How to get your Technician ham radio license in 2026: what’s on the new 2026-2030 exam, how to study, your first radio, and the path beyond.
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GMRS Radio: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about GMRS radio: the $35 license, real-world range, repeaters, and which radio to actually buy first.
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Ham Radio Cheat Sheet: Q Codes, Band Plan, Phonetics & Antenna Lengths
Every ham radio cheat sheet you need in one place: Q codes, the ARRL band plan for Technician, General, and Extra, the phonetic alphabet, and EFHW and random wire antenna lengths for HF.
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CHIRP: Free Programming Software for Your Handheld Radio
Programming a handheld one channel at a time on its tiny keypad is genuinely miserable. CHIRP is the free tool nearly everyone switches to instead, and it works across a huge range of radios.
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What Is JS8Call?
JS8Call takes the weak-signal power of FT8 and turns it into real keyboard-to-keyboard conversation and messaging. Here is what it does.
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Choosing Coax for HF: Efficiency, Length, and Cost
Coax is not just a wire that connects your radio to your antenna. The type and length you choose affects efficiency, cost, and your whole operating experience. Here is how to think about it.
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Building Your First QRP Kit: What to Expect
There is a specific kind of satisfaction in making a contact with a radio you soldered together yourself. Building a QRP kit is one of the most approachable ways into homebrewing, even with zero electronics background.