An amateur radio repeater directory, licensing guide, equipment reviews, and a frequency reference — for newcomers earning their first callsign and operators chasing the next contact.
The gateway license. A 35-question multiple-choice exam, no Morse code required. Grants access to VHF/UHF frequencies (2m, 70cm bands) plus some HF privileges. Study with the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual or free at hamstudy.org. Pass rate: 80%+ with a week of study.
Second level. A 35-question exam that opens most HF bands and worldwide communication. Study the ARRL General Class License Manual. Most hams stop here — General covers about 90% of what you'd want to do.
Top level. A 50-question exam granting full access to all amateur bands and frequencies, with advanced electronics theory. Worth it for contesting, DXing, and bragging rights. About 20% of licensed hams hold Extra.
ARRL.org lists VE (Volunteer Examiner) sessions near you. Many clubs offer monthly testing, and online testing is available through some VE teams. Cost: about $15. A license is good for 10 years and free to renew.
A radio relay station, usually on a hilltop or tall building, that receives a signal on one frequency and retransmits it on another. It extends the range of handheld and mobile radios from about 5 miles to 50+ miles — the backbone of local ham radio communication.
RepeaterBook.com is the largest directory — search by location, frequency, or callsign. The ARRL Repeater Directory is published annually, and RadioReference.com adds public-safety frequencies. Most repeaters live on 2m (144–148 MHz) or 70cm (420–450 MHz).
Program your radio with the repeater's output frequency, input offset, and CTCSS/PL tone. Identify with your callsign, listen before transmitting, and keep conversations brief during busy times. Many repeaters host weekly nets — scheduled group check-ins.
You'll need two radios (or a dedicated repeater unit), a duplexer, an antenna, feedline, a power supply, and a good high location — height is everything. Budget $500–$2,000 for a basic setup. Coordination with your regional frequency coordinator is required.
Baofeng UV-5R ($25): incredible value, VHF/UHF. Yaesu FT-65R ($80): better build quality. Kenwood TH-D75A ($550): premium D-STAR, GPS, Bluetooth. Icom ID-52A ($500): D-STAR, touchscreen. Start with a Baofeng and upgrade once you know what you want.
Yaesu FTM-300DR ($360): dual-band, Fusion digital. Icom IC-2730A ($280): dual-band, 50W. Kenwood TM-D710GA ($600): APRS built in. Mount one in your vehicle with a mag-mount antenna; 50W reaches repeaters 30+ miles away.
Icom IC-7300 ($1,100): the best-value HF radio ever made, with a waterfall display. Yaesu FT-991A ($1,400): all-band, all-mode. Elecraft KX3 ($900): portable QRP. Icom IC-7610 ($3,200): dual receivers for serious contesting.
The antenna matters more than the radio — a $25 radio with a great antenna beats a $3,000 radio with a bad one. VHF/UHF: J-pole ($30–50), mag-mount ($20–40). HF: wire dipole (free–$50), end-fed half-wave ($100–200), Yagi beam ($200–500+).