The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual

by American Radio Relay League

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, including:

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 and on the air!

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Technology

470 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2022

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are considering getting your Technician (first level) Amateur Radio license this is the book you need. The test question pools - and therefore the license manuals - are updated on a four year schedule. This, the fourth edition, includes all the test questions for the Technician test from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022. This is not just a list of test questions though. The first two thirds of the book consists of an introductory chapter followed by eight chapters addressing the basics of amateur radio operations: Radio and Signals Fundamentals; Electricity, Components, and Circuits; Propagation, Antennas, and Feed Lines; Amateur Radio Equipment; Communicating With Other Hams; Licensing Regulations; Operating Regulations; and Safety. Throughout these chapters all of the relevant test questions are introduced in the applicable section as the supporting information is covered. The last third of the book is a list of all of the test questions broken down by subelement. Throughout the book are references to online resources, mostly on the ARRL website, to include their online test question bank to practice by chapter, by subelement, or to practice with a randomly generated test with the correct number of questions from each subelement. Again, if you are working on your Technician Amateur Radio license this 4th edition is THE book you need to prepare for the test until June 2022. If you are getting your license through a local HAM club they will probably provide classes but with this book and watching some YouTube classes you can definitely self-study to pass the test.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passed the test.

[Tatum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward, great as a technical manual. It helped reinforce my knowledge to get my Technician's Class License but I would have been less prepared using this book alone.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it and passed, having never used a ham radio. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed to pass my Technician ham radio test!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for exam study.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good coverage of the basic information needed for HAM radio communication.

[Colleen White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather convoluted

I was very confused reading the manual. I'm glad I had a mentor to help or I wouldn't have gotten my license.

[José · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Clear explanation of theory. Includes question pool used on exam. I passed my Technician exam on the first try.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book used to study for the amateur (HAM) radio technician level license. It was useful to prepare for the exam.

[Ron]

Good technical manual. Lacks search and navigation using tiny thumbnails is impractical.

[James Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still reading this ebook. There is a lot of new stuff since I was a HAM operator.