Ham Exam Study Guides
Technician Class License Study Guide
The Technician license is your entry point into amateur radio. Grants all VHF/UHF privileges and limited HF. Click any subelement to expand.
35
Questions on Exam
26
Correct to Pass (74%)
412
Questions in Pool
T1-T9
Subelements
T1 - FCC Rules, Descriptions, and Definitions +
Key Topics
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>Purpose of amateur radio: Advancing the radio art, training operators, enhancing international goodwill, providing emergency communications.
>Part 97 basis: Five stated purposes in 97.1 - know them all.
>Technician HF privileges: 80m (3.525 MHz CW), 40m (7.025 MHz CW), 15m (21.025 MHz CW), 10m (28.000-28.500 MHz voice/CW/digital).
>Control operator: Responsible for proper operation at all times; must be licensed.
>Third-party communications: Allowed with US amateurs and countries with agreements; prohibited with most DX.
>Prohibited transmissions: Music, obscene language, false distress signals, broadcasting, encrypted messages, transmissions for payment.
>Station identification: Every 10 minutes and at end of contact. Tactical calls do not replace ID.
>Vanity callsigns: Any licensed amateur can apply; assigned by FCC.
Tip: T1 = 6 exam questions. Focus on Part 97 rules, privileges, and station ID requirements.
T2 - Operating Procedures +
Key Topics
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>Phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie through Zulu. Used to spell callsigns clearly.
>Q codes: QRM (interference), QRN (static), QSB (fading), QSY (change frequency), QTH (location), QRZ (who is calling).
>Calling CQ: "CQ CQ CQ, this is [callsign]" - repeat callsign 3 times.
>Band plans: Voluntary guidelines for voice, CW, digital segments; not FCC law.
>Repeater operation: Offset, CTCSS/DCS tones, courtesy tone, timeout timers.
>Simplex vs. repeater: Simplex = same TX/RX frequency. Repeater = different TX/RX with offset.
>Emergency calls: MAYDAY for life-threatening emergencies. Anyone may transmit on any frequency regardless of license.
>Net operations: NCS directs traffic; check in with callsign only unless asked for traffic.
>RST report: Readability (1-5), Strength (1-9), Tone (1-9 CW only). Voice uses RS only.
Tip: Know your Q codes cold - QRM, QRN, QSB, QSY, QTH, QRZ all appear in the pool.
T3 - Radio Wave Characteristics and Propagation +
Key Topics
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>Polarization: Vertical antenna = vertical polarization; horizontal = horizontal. Cross-polarization = up to 20 dB loss.
>Wavelength formula: Wavelength (meters) = 300 / frequency (MHz).
>VHF/UHF propagation: Mostly line-of-sight; limited by the horizon.
>Tropospheric ducting: Temperature inversion bends VHF/UHF beyond normal range.
>Sporadic-E: Patchy E-layer ionization; allows unexpected long-distance VHF contacts.
>HF propagation: Uses ionosphere layers D, E, F1, F2. F2 most important for long-distance.
>Antenna gain: Yagi/beam antennas have gain over a dipole; measured in dBd or dBi.
>Half-wave dipole: 468 / frequency (MHz) in feet.
>SWR: Measures impedance mismatch between antenna and feedline. Ideal = 1:1.
Tip: Memorize wavelength = 300/f and dipole = 468/f. Common exam math questions.
T4 - Amateur Radio Practices and Station Setup +
Key Topics
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>Station grounding: Single-point grounding prevents RF feedback and reduces shock hazard.
>RF bonding: Connect all equipment chassis together with wide braided strap.
>VOX: Voice Operated Transmission - automatically keys the radio when you speak.
>Coax types: RG-8/RG-213 (low loss, large), RG-58 (higher loss, small), LMR-400 (very low loss).
>Connectors: PL-259 for most HF/VHF, BNC for handhelds, SMA for HTs.
>Dummy load: Used for testing transmitters without radiating a signal.
>SWR meter: Placed in feedline between radio and antenna.
>RFI reduction: Use ferrite chokes to reduce common-mode current.
Tip: Know coax loss levels and when to use a dummy load - both appear frequently.
T5 - Electrical Principles +
Key Topics
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>Ohm's Law: V = I x R. Also I = V/R and R = V/I.
>Power: P = V x I. Also P = I^2 x R and P = V^2 / R.
>Units: Volt, Ampere, Ohm, Watt, Farad, Henry, Hertz.
>Metric prefixes: Mega=10^6, Kilo=10^3, Milli=10^-3, Micro=10^-6, Pico=10^-12.
>Decibels: 3 dB = double power, 10 dB = 10x power, 20 dB = 100x power.
>Series circuits: Resistances add directly.
>Parallel circuits: 1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2.
>Capacitors: Block DC, pass AC. Inductors pass DC, oppose AC changes.
Tip: T5 has the most math. Drill Ohm's Law and power calculations until automatic.
T6 - Electrical Components +
Key Topics
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>Resistors: Oppose current flow; measured in ohms. Fixed and variable (potentiometer) types.
>Capacitors: Store energy in electric field; block DC, pass AC. Measured in farads.
>Inductors: Store energy in magnetic field; pass DC, oppose AC. Measured in henries.
>Diodes: Allow current in one direction only. LED emits light when forward biased.
>Transistors: Used for amplification or switching; BJT and FET types.
>Integrated circuits: Many components in one package.
>Schematic symbols: Know resistor, capacitor, inductor, diode, transistor, battery, switch symbols.
>Fuses and circuit breakers: Protect circuits from excess current; always in series.
Tip: Study schematic symbols - the exam shows diagrams and asks you to identify components.
T7 - Station Equipment +
Key Topics
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>Transceivers: Combines transmitter and receiver in one unit.
>Handheld transceiver (HT): Portable battery-powered radio; common for VHF/UHF FM.
>Mobile vs. base station: Mobile = vehicle mount; base = fixed home station with AC power.
>Receiver incremental tuning (RIT): Slightly shifts receive frequency without changing transmit frequency.
>Squelch: Silences receiver when no signal is present; set just above noise floor.
>CTCSS/DCS: Subaudible tones used to open repeaters; also called PL tones.
>Dual watch / dual receive: Monitor two frequencies simultaneously.
>Power output: Most HTs = 1-8W; mobile radios = 25-75W; base stations up to legal limit.
>Microphone types: Dynamic, electret condenser, desk mic, boom mic.
>Digital modes: FT8, PSK31, APRS, D-STAR, DMR, System Fusion (C4FM).
Tip: Know the difference between HT, mobile, and base station radios and their typical power levels.
T8 - Modulation Modes, Amateur Satellites, and Operating Methods +
Key Topics
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>AM (Amplitude Modulation): Signal strength varies with audio. Used on HF broadcast and some aviation.
>FM (Frequency Modulation): Frequency varies with audio. Standard for VHF/UHF repeaters.
>SSB (Single Sideband): Efficient HF voice mode; LSB used below 10 MHz, USB above 10 MHz.
>CW (Continuous Wave): Morse code; most efficient mode for weak signal work.
>Bandwidth: CW is narrowest, then SSB, then AM, then FM (widest).
>APRS: Automatic Packet Reporting System; transmits GPS position, messages, weather data via packet radio.
>Amateur satellites: Use Doppler shift correction when operating through LEO satellites. Uplink and downlink on different bands.
>ISS contacts: International Space Station has amateur radio equipment; contacts possible on 145.800 MHz FM.
>Meteor scatter: Reflects VHF signals off ionized meteor trails; brief contacts possible.
>EME (Earth-Moon-Earth): Bouncing signals off the moon; requires high power and large antennas.
Tip: Know which modes are used on which bands, and understand bandwidth differences between AM, FM, SSB, and CW.
T9 - Antennas and Feedlines +
Key Topics
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>Half-wave dipole: Most common antenna; length = 468 / freq (MHz) in feet. Fed at center with 50-ohm coax.
>Quarter-wave vertical: Length = 234 / freq (MHz) in feet. Requires ground plane or radials.
>Yagi antenna: Directional beam antenna with driven element, reflector, and directors. High gain.
>J-pole antenna: Popular for VHF/UHF; end-fed half-wave with matching section; no ground plane needed.
>Antenna tuner (ATU): Matches transmitter impedance to antenna system; does not fix a bad antenna but reduces SWR at the radio.
>Feedline losses: Loss increases with frequency and length. Use lowest-loss coax you can afford.
>Coax impedance: Most amateur coax is 50 ohms. TV coax (RG-6) is 75 ohms - not ideal for amateur use.
>Balun: Balanced to unbalanced transformer; used at dipole feedpoint to reduce feedline radiation.
>Antenna height: Higher = better for VHF/UHF line-of-sight. HF antennas benefit from height in wavelengths.
>SWR effects: High SWR causes power loss in feedline and can damage transmitter final amplifier.
Tip: T9 = 2 exam questions. Focus on dipole/vertical length formulas, coax impedance, and SWR effects.