I went to the local food store. Saw a truck with a bunch of antennas. Struck up a conversation.
Not a ham!
Maybe I can help.
ham radio licensing menu
If you would like to become licensed, pick at least one:
- take a test over and over until you pass (click ‘practice test’)
- study the question pool and their correct answers and then take tests until you pass (study mode)
- learn the theory and regulations on your own without a ham-specific guide (longest time and effort, probably - overkill definitely)
- learn the theory and regulations from a book
- learn the theory and regulations from youtube videos
- learn the theory and regulations from an online class
- learn the theory and regulations from someone nearby
Which do I pick
Nothing stops you from doing multiple. Take practice tests - once you are consistently passing (four in five attempts?), find an exam (preselected for my new friend’s area) assuming you don’t have an exam included with a class.
Hell, try all of them. If you find a book makes you tired, try youtube videos. If you hate taking tests and resent the test in the first place, try a class first.
One of these probably appeals to you more than the rest. Follow your gut on this one, don’t try and force studying the ‘right way’. There is no right way except the way that gets you licensed and learning.
Ham radio is about experimentation, innovation, and learning. The license is a license to learn more than a license to do anything in particular - it’s well understood that to understand radios in any way at all generally requires playing with them. Don’t be afraid to cram for the test just for the test - once you start using the radio, it’ll start to click into place.
By the way - study a bit more for general and when you’ve taken the technician and passed it, you will likely have an opportunity to take the general test too at no extra cost. Do so - tech and general are very similar, but general has a lot more privileges.
REAL ham radio
Ham radio itself is extremely broad, far broader than I could address here. There is no one part of the hobby that is necessary. I barely even operate the silly things, I like the learning and experimentation side a lot more.
Presumably you already want a ham license - so start with whatever made you consider getting a license. The more radio you do the more ham niches you’ll be exposed to. Clubs and hamfests and are a good way to get more exposure to the other sides of ham radio. And of course, there’s everything online.
I hate to say it, but -
As a side note - if you meet a bastard that happens to be a ham, that’s not the norm. Trust your gut. I have exclusively linked to good places with good people where I’ve had good experiences in the past, and I fully expect you’ll have good experiences with them too.