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Study Resources

As you prepare to test for your technician-level amateur radio license, you’ll need resources to help you understand the material you’ll be tested on. As I pointed out in the Study Strategies section, people have different learning styles and budgets that steer their course. Below you’ll find my favorite resources for studying in a variety of styles. I done my best to curate a solid list of resources. Please reach out if you feel one that has helped you is missing and I’ll take a look at it. The goal is to cut through often unnecessary complexity to the heart of the matter and get studying.

Some overlap exists between the study strategies and resources pages. That is intentional. You’ll choose a path that works for you using the strategies page. But when it is time to study, you’ll want to book park this page to have easy access to the various resources at your disposal. As this site works well on a desktop/laptop or on a mobile device, always having the right resources for at home or on the go study is easy.

Resource Types

Books

The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual

The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (4th Edition)
(Spiral Bound Softcover, ~$30 on Amazon)

The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (4th Edition)
(Kindle eBook format, ~$20 on Amazon)

The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual is the gold standard in study resources. When in doubt, this is a great place to start. With this said, it is not for everyone.

The ARRL manual is comprehensive. It gives you everything you need to know to pass your technician license exam and more, much more. Therein lies the problem for some folks.

People have different learning styles. Be sure that the strategy you choose and the resources you use fit your style of learning. DON’T choose a strategy or style that a friend recommends only because you respect that person. That friend may learn very differently than you. Plan accordingly.

The ARRL manual is an excellent choice if you need to have all the details to feel like you understand a topic. If you are constantly asking, “but why?” this manual may be just what you need.

Be sure to order the correct version. You can get the third edition for a lower price but remember it was written for the testing period from 2014-2018. Some questions have changed. Currently, you’ll want the 4th edition that is specifically geared for the 2018-2022 question pool.

The exam questions are adjusted every fours years. You can probably make it through with an older version, but the ride to master the test questions will be a bit bumpier. If you can, I recommend using the latest manual if you go this way.

Hamurai Tip: Hams are pretty friendly folks. If resources are tight and you want to use the ARRL manual try attending a local amateur radio club. Ask if someone has a 4th edition manual they will loan or sell at a discount. That friend that got you interested in the first place might be willing to loan his or her copy (as long as you promise not to use the book as a TV tray). Your local library may also have a copy available.

Full Disclosure: I passed all three levels of licensing exam without cracking the ARRl manuals more than once. The one time I did I was overwhelmed by the amount of information. I knew that it would take me forever to get through the material and prepare for my test if I used that manual. I chose to go with a resource that gave me just the knowledge I needed to understand to get through the test. I now own a copy of the ARRL manual and I use it as a reference resource. A friend of mine is a die-hard ARRL manual kinda guy. He is sure in his heart that I am the strangest duck on the planet for not studying “like everyone else.” We both love ham radio and we both passed our exams. And we both agree to disagree on study approaches. Lesson? Know thyself and study accordingly.

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ARRL’s Tech Q&A Guide

The ARRL Tech Q&A Guide (7th Edition)
(Softcover, ~$18 on Amazon)

The ARRL Tech Q&A Guide (7th Edition)
(Kindle eBook, ~$10 on Amazon)

So you’ve devoured the ARRL license manual and now you’re ready to master the question pool so you can ace that exam. Well, you’re in the right place (or one of them anyway).

The ARRL Q&A guides are designed to help you prepare for the actual test. If you’re a book oriented learner, look no further. This guide presents every question in the 400+ question pool with answers and brief explanations.

Again, if you are on a course of preparing with books only, this book will be your goto resource for final exam preparation. I believe everyone would benefit from taking online practice exams as I think these exams simulate the actual testing experience. However, for book-oriented learners, this is a must have.

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No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: for tests given between July 2018 and June 2022
(Softcover, ~$18 on Amazon)

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: for tests given between July 2018 and June 2022
(Audible Audio Book, ~$11 or 1 Credit from on Amazon or directly from Audible (an Amazon Company))

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: for tests given between July 2018 and June 2022
(Kindle eBook, ~$10 on Amazon)

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: for tests given between July 2018 and June 2022
(Downloadable PDF, $0 via above link)

Long-time ham Dave Romanchik (KB6NU) has written what he describes as a no nonsense guide. In my opinion he has done just that. Does this mean that I the ARRL manual contains nonsense? Maybe . . .

Let me clarify, I learn by doing. I’m fine in reading theoretical information, but when I’m prepping for an exam I want the stuff that I need for the exam, not extra theory. I’ll need that in time and I know I can find in in the ARRL manual and online when I need it. If this sounds more like your learning style, this may be your goto book.

Dan’s book touches on each topic you’ll face in the exam. He briefly explains what you need to know and then reviews the actual questions and answers related to that topic. This is the type of book that you can read straight through or use as a quick reference manual. Oh, and it also comes in an audio book format from Audible. So, you can put it on in the car and listen or enjoy the relaxing sounds of ham radio licensing study as you walk the dog or even as you drift off to sleep at night. (I love ham radio, but I’m going to be honest here, listening to the audio book before bed is more about insomnia and less about test prep.)

Some people suffer FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when using this guide. They want to go deeper as they study and feel their knowledge is incomplete without more background information. If this is you, use the ARRL manual instead of Dan’s. If you’re more of a “let’s get this sumo match started and over with kinda person” Dan’t guide will serve you well.

Hamurai Tip: I appreciate that Dan makes a downloadable PDF version of his technician’s study guide available for free. This makes ham radio accessible for all. If you prefer a printed document, you’ll have to use your own ink and paper but feel free to print the PDF and punch a few holes and drop it in your own binder.

If you choose to use Dan’s No Nonsense guide with Gary Wise’s videos, use the Study Guide Companion I put together to help you coordinate your weekly reading.

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Other Guide Books

I’m purposely trying to keep my recommendations simple and hassle free. There is this thing called the internet and a company called Google. If you are not satisfied with one of the options above, keep looking by all means. Thy searching for:

ham radio study guide books

You’ll find enough to keep you busy. Honestly though, the two options above give deep learners what they need and the information surfers what they need. My recommendation is to keep it simple. If you find that the books mentioned here are not enough by themselves, well . . . read on. You may just be looking for other resources besides traditional books and we’ve got a few for you to consider.

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Live Classes

Live classes seem to be harder to find than in the past. The ease of online study or YouTube-based video courses may be to blame. But whatever the reason, to find a local, start by searching the ARRL database. Many clubs that sponsor classes will list their classes on this site. Use the following Link:

The ARRL Find an Amateur Radio License Class Page

Typically classes are sponsored by local amateur radio clubs. If the ARRL page does not list any classes try a google search using “Find an amateur radio license class in [your city name]” as a search string.

Classes will come in a variety of formats and use several schedules. There are weekly classes that may run 90-120 minutes each and run for 8-10 weeks. There are also compressed format classes that work all the material into just two sessions. Be warned, these sessions are not for the timid techie in my opinion but rather for motivated folks that want to get ‘er done quick. Two back-to-back 8-hour Saturday classes can be a lot to take in. The compressed classes also typically required a fair amount of pre-study including reading or online work.

Live format classes offer a sense of camaraderie and extra motivation to get your license as part of a group push. It can be very motivating. Our local club uses a hybrid approach of watching free training videos from other clubs and operators that post them for use but doing so in a group environment. Think of this type of live class as a group “watch party.” Yes you could do it all yourself at home. But the group setting continues to provide camaraderie and motivation, which can be more than half the battle for some folks. Check out the Video Class section below for more information on video series that work well in this format.

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Video Classes

Why get out of your pajamas to attend a live class when all you need to do is spin up YouTube for all your learning needs? A good question, that. If you read the section about live classes above, you saw that I believe in the power of camaraderie and the motivation a group can inspire. If you like the idea of video classes but don’t want to skip the group experience, some clubs are now offering a hybrid approach that uses pre-recorded classes by some great teachers like Gary Wise (W4EEY) in South Carolina or Dave Casler (KEØOG) in Colorado. (There are a variety of others I have not yet had the time to peruse.) Check out A Little of This, A Little of That strategy in the Study Strategies section of this site to learn more about how this is done.

But, honestly, if you are not one that needs camaraderie and external motivation, self study can be an effective way to get your license. You may need an ‘elmer’ (a ham mentor willing to answer the tough questions you can figure out on your own) or resort to emailing the video host to ask for an answer or three. However, depending on your own internal motivation, you can knock out a full technician’s course in a couple of weeks while only breaking a mild sweat.

Below are two great options:

Video Classes on YouTube:

Gary Wise’s (W4EEY) Video Classes

If you like the classroom experience but would rather study at home or on the go, video classes can be ideal. There are a number of classes available. My two favorites are from longtime hams. One literally video tapes live classes and then lets you watch on YouTube. The other provides shorter,

Gary Wise (W4EEY) from Greer, South Carolina, works with several other hams in his area to host live classes to his community. The best part is that he and his group also go to the extra effort of recording the full class and hosting them on YouTube. What a valuable resource this. I personally used Gary’s Amateur Extra class (some 20+ hours of classroom instruction) as I prepared for my license upgrade.

Gary’s technician classes are based on the ARRL’s 4th Edition Technicians Study Guide. So, many people feel it is helpful to read that before or after watching each of Gary’s class recordings. I personally didn’t but I did use several other resources to augment Gary’s classes. See the links above to go directly to Gary’s playlists for his Technicians Class. Once there, if you’re upgrading you’ll find links to Gary’s other classes for General and Amateur Extra.

I am confident that if you watch the videos and augment that with your own reading or side studies, including taking practice exams, you will be well prepared for your test.

Dave Casler’s (KEØOG) Video Classes

Dave Casler is perhaps even more popular that Gary in number of subscribers to his YouTube channel. However, Dave offers a lot of videos about ham radio that go beyond just licensing. With that said there are parts I like about Dave’s offering for students and others I personally prefer with Gary’s material.

Dave’s videos are shorter, typically 5 to 15 minutes each. For the technician class there is one video for each section of the ARRL study guide. So again, think seriously about getting the study guide if you pick this option.

Dave’s videos are not videos of classroom instruction. Some may like these better. Others may prefer to feel like they are in a live class. Try both. Why not use both as you prepare? This set of videos feel more bite size for self study at home.

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Online Study Options

Before we leave study resources, I want to share my thoughts and a few reviews of some online study resources. Some are free and others are moderately priced. Two of these may be all you need to get licensed as they come with all of the material to study and question practice all wrapped in one package. The others make great companions for other study strategies. Let’s dig in and I’ll give you more about each below.

Ham Test Online

I used Ham Test Online to get my General license a number of years ago. I found it to be a wonderful learning experience. This type of online study fit my learning style well. I loved they way this site present information in small chunks and then let you answer associated questions as you went.

The best feature of this site is that it learns your strengths and weaknesses as you progress based on your right and wrong answers. It has you review your weak topics more often. It automatically tells you as you complete major portions of your study so that you have a sense of progress.

I think what I like the best is that this tool is fully customizable. You can tell it to focus on one or two topics at a time or the entire course. When it comes time to take practice exams everything you need is included. You can have it focus on your weak areas, on questions you haven’t seen yet, or give you a full simulation of the exam. There are plenty of reports to help spot weak areas as well. This is truly a one-stop-shop for studying for and passing your exam. I can say it you’re not big on hitting the books in a traditional manner, this may be the option for you.

This site supports PC and Mac, Desktop, Laptop, and Mobile.

(Full Disclosure: I am not affiliated with this site, nor do I receive any compensation for recommending this tool. I have simply found it to be effective for me. I love this way of studying. But I’ve also learned that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for online learning. Different strokes, different folks and all of that. No worries here.)

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Ham Exam

The Ham Exam website is a wonderful free resource for those looking to add online flashcard work and practice exams to their studies. The site was created by Ronald Chinn (NAØQ) out of Missouri. It provides solid reporting to help you get a feel for your weak and strong areas as you study. My recommendation is to use this site regularly as you study with other book or video based resources to cement your knowledge and begin taking practice tests.

Like Ham Test Online, you can turn sub elements on and off to allow you to focus on one or more areas at a time. The site has all questions for each element (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra).

For the Technician license, the creator references the page in Dan Romanchick’s No Nonsense guide where you can go to get more information on that particular question. I did not see any such references for the General license and there were references for Amateur Extra, but those were to the 11th Edition of the ARRL study guide. So, if you are looking to minimize costs you can most definitely use the free download of Dan’s book and this website to get all the information you will need to pass your test. It may not be quite as convenient as the Ham Test online site, but it is a solid cost-effective option.

This site supports PC and Mac, Desktop, Laptop, and Mobile.

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Ham Study

Ham Study is similar to Ham Exam but with a few important differences. Frankly, either one is an excellent companion to your other book or video studies. Ham Study is sponsored by ICOM a major ham radio equipment manufacturer. It seems to be more of a study wiki in that as you work either the flash cards or simply read the questions you can click the upper right corner of the question to see text explaining the answer. You can also see who last edited the answer.

In the reading mode you can shut off distractors (the wrong answers) and focus on the question and the correct answer only. This can be a very effective way to study because when you get into the actual test, if you are not sure about an answer, you will often recognize it as you will not have even seen the wrong answers. If you are going to do it this way, start this way from the beginning when you start looking at the questions. It is less effective if you have already ready through and practiced with the distractor questions turned on. (And yes, the distractor questions are unchanging. They are from the actual question pool.)

When you actually switch to the practice exam mode you will work through the questions in your test without seeing if you got a question right or wrong until you have the tool grade the entire test. This is good practice, especially right before you take the actual test. Often seeing how you are doing causes you to get over confident or unduly distressed (depending on how you are doing) as you take the test. When you take your actual license exam you won’t see right and wrong answers as you go. Again, this can be good mental preparation for the real deal.

This site also offers some solid study strategy suggestions and some other limited information about ham radio. Another great resource to augment your study.

This site supports PC and Mac, Desktop, Laptop. There is a $4 app available for iOS and Android mobile devices. I have not purchased the app and so cannot comment on that part.

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Ham Radio Prep

  • Ham Radio Prep Website
    (Technicians Course $25 for Lifetime Access, General course is also $25 for a lifetime subscription. You can combine both for $35)

Ham Radio Prep is similar to Ham Test Online that I spoke about first. I wanted to include it here even though I don’t have direct experience studying with it. I like that it has a lifetime subscription plan and that it also uses the model of presenting small chunks of knowledge and then reviewing questions about those topics immediately.

The site is newer and feels more up-to-date compared to many sites dealing with ham radio. (Many ham websites feel like they haven’t been updated since the 1990s. Not this one.) It uses simple animation and graphics to present information.

As I have not yet looked deeper into this tool, I can only say it has good potential. Pricing is fair. Add this to the list of resources to at least look into. I will be sure to update this information if I am able to review the full course.

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* Unfortunately, the owners and operators of this site cannot be liable or responsible for any Book, video or online subscription purchase or usage decisions. Information offered here and on other pages of this website are for informational purposed only. Any decision to buy or subscribe to a study resource is solely the decision and responsibility of the purchaser and operator.