After Hurricane Katrina, after the Haiti earthquake, after Puerto Rico — when cell towers failed and internet lines went dark — amateur radio operators provided the only functioning communication links in some areas for days. Ham radio doesn’t need towers, servers, or someone else’s infrastructure.
It needs a license, an antenna, and a radio. The license takes 4–6 weeks to study for and one afternoon to test for. James Hartwell’s practical guide walks you from zero knowledge to licensed and on the air, covering everything in plain language:
How amateur radio works, the Technician exam (35 topic areas, multiple-choice, 74 questions), choosing your first radio, setting up an antenna, making local an global contacts, and joining the 750,000+ licensed operators in the US. Chapters cover repeaters and simplex operation, digital modes, HF and shortwave operation, DXing (contacting other countries), emergency communication groups (ARES and RACES), and building your own equipment. No prior electronics knowledge required.
You don’t need a background in physics or engineering. You need this book, a study guide, and a few weeks. The world’s most resilient communication system is waiting for you.
Start studying today.
