Get Started in Ham Radio

Welcome! Amateur radio is open to everyone. You don't need an engineering degree, a massive antenna farm, or a trust fund. You need curiosity — and a license.

Step 1: Get Licensed

In the United States, the FCC grants three main license classes:

Technician

Entry level. VHF/UHF privileges plus limited HF. One 35-question exam. Perfect for local repeater, satellite, and digital work.

General

Full HF access — DX, digital modes, voice on all ham bands. Technician + General exam (or pass both at once).

Extra

All privileges, including exclusive slices of spectrum. Hardest exam, but many hams pass with study.

No Morse code test since 2007. Study with free resources:

HamStudy.org — flash cards and practice exams
ARRL Getting Licensed
Ham Radio Crash Course (YouTube)

Exam sessions (VE sessions) happen regularly in Las Vegas through ARRL VEC and Laurel VEC volunteers. Fee: $15 per session (as of 2026).

Step 2: Get on the Air

Budget Starter (~$100)

Baofeng UV-5R or similar handheld (~$25)
Upgrade antenna (~$15)
Program local repeaters from RepeaterBook
Listen, learn etiquette, make your first contact

Serious Starter (~$500–$1000)

Yaesu FT-5DR, Icom ID-52, or AnyTone DMR handheld
2m/70cm mobile rig for the car
RTL-SDR dongle for receiving and learning
Or: Xiegu G90 / Icom IC-7300 if HF is your goal (General license)

Step 3: Join the Community

Local repeaters — Say your call sign, listen to nets, ask questions. Hams love helping newcomers.
ARRL — National organization; membership includes QST magazine and advocacy.
Clubs — Search ARRL club directory for Las Vegas area clubs. LVDX is everyone's club — you're already here!
Online — Reddit r/amateurradio, QRZ.com forums, Discord servers, YouTube creators.
Events — Field Day (June), Hamvention (May, Ohio), local hamfests.

Ham Radio by the Numbers

733K

USA (Jul 2026)

361K

Technician (US)

70K

Canada

389K

Japan

3M+

Worldwide est.

Sources: FCC/ARRL license counts (July 2026), IARU historical data, national regulator reports.

Pick Your Path

🌍 DX & HF

Chase countries, work distant stations, feel the ionosphere.

💻 Digital & Gadgets

Hotspots, SDR, FT8, MMDVM — tinkerer's paradise.

🛰️ Satellites

Work the ISS, track AMSAT birds, aim at the moon.

📡 VHF/UHF

Repeaters, nets, IRLP, local community.

🦊 Fox Hunting

Outdoor adventure with directional antennas.

📶 Antennas

Build, experiment, understand the magic.

Getting Started FAQ

No minimum age in the US. Young hams are common — some pass exams at 7 or 8 with study help.

With consistent study (30 min/day), most people pass Technician in 1–2 weeks. Weekend cram sessions work too.

The hobby is evolving, not dying. License counts peaked in 2022; digital modes, satellites, and SDR are attracting new generations. The gadget crowd is thriving.

No! LVDX is everyone's club. Our name honors Las Vegas, but our spirit is global DX — distance, discovery, community. Wherever you are, you're welcome.

Ready? 73 and see you on the air!

Study. Pass the test. Key up. The world is listening.

Back to Home