Everything You Need to Get Your First Ham Radio License! The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual will help you discover all the excitement of ham radio. It has easy-to-understand "bite-sized" sections to help you get started. From understanding the rules and regulations to selecting your equipment, setting up your first station, and making your first contact! Plus, it's an excellent reference as you advance your interest in radio communications. Filled with all the information you need to pass the Technician class exam, Amateur Radio Rules and Activities Radio and Signals Fundamentals Electricity, Components, and Circuits Propagation, Antennas, and Feed Lines Amateur Radio Equipment Communicating with Other Hams Licensing Regulations Operating Regulations Electrical and Mechanical Safety ARRL's best-selling study guide features all the questions and answers, with detailed explanations, for examinations taken through June 30, 2026. Use it to study for the 35-question exam and there will be no surprises on exam day! Hams experiment with technology and electronics, serve the public through emergency communications, and enjoy talking to people across the country and around the world. Portable transceivers allow you to get on the air anywhere, from a park bench to a roving SUV, to a mountaintop, and more! With a Technician class license, any ham can contact the International Space Station, measure the reach of their signal with propagation beacons, or connect with others via satellite. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual will help you get licensed on the air!
This was a really good book. I learned enough halfway through to comfortably pass the example exam on ARRL's website. By the end, I recorded my results for all of the questions in the pool (listed in the back), and got a 75% against the 74% requirement. I do have a background in IT and worked with some radios in the military. I'll be studying all of the questions I got wrong, which some I answered incorrectly because I didn't read some questions nor answers completely. The book does a really good job at labeling where information's at so you can go back and study or reference what's needed.
This book is essential reading for the amateur radio Technician class exam. There's a lot of material in the test, and the book covers all the questions. I recommend supplementing this with other study materials. I used the YouTube playlst from Dave Casler.