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Perera's Telegraph Collectors Guide -- The most complete source of information for all those interested in telegraph keys from beginner to avid collector.

The Story of the Queen Mary and W6RO -- DVD. A story about W6RO and its impact on the Amateur Radio Service through its operation aboard the Queen Mary.

Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II -- Now Shipping! -- A story of the quartz crystal—a technology that changed the tide of World War II.

Edgar Harrison -- Now Shipping! -- A remarkable story of Edgar Harrison and the extraordinary adventures he encountered throughout World War II.

Don C. Wallace: W6AM, Amateur Radio's Pioneer -- This book traces the life of Don Wallace and with it the early history of Amateur Radio.

Welcome to the Exciting World of Ham Radio!

You’ll find some resources on this page that may be useful to you as you decide how you want to get started with your new license.  We’ve listed resources that will help you explore different areas of interest and answer common questions new hams have.

Choosing A Ham Radio: Your Guide to Selecting the Right Equipment.
Among new hams, by far the most frequently asked question is, “What radio should I buy?” Whether you’re new to ham radio, or getting involved again after a respite, this guide will help you figure out what equipment would be most suitable by guiding you through the relevant considerations for the type of operating you plan to do.

Ham Ways – A Primer
This is an introduction to ham radio operating practices for the new ham familiar with using public agency or commercial radio systems.  For example, fire departments, school districts, community volunteer teams, or business radio users operate differently than hams do, even though the radios are very similar.  Understanding some of the key differences will help you understand the features and terms associated with your radio and to feel more at ease when communicating with other hams.

Antennas
Among new hams, second only to, “Which radio should I buy?” is the question, “Which antenna is best?”

Propagation
A good knowledge and understanding of radio signal propagation is one of the most important tools any radio amateur can have.  Here are some resources that will help you explore that fascinating subject.

ARRL On-line Resources

Affiliated Club search
Find an amateur radio club in your local area. Connect with local hams for ham radio activities and to learn from radio amateurs who have a variety of amateur radio interests.

QST Product Reviews
ARRL’s Lab is known for its thorough and dependable reviews of amateur radio equipment.  As you are considering purchases you will want to check out any product reviews for relevant information that may influence your decisions.  Our online archive of product reviews is available to ARRL Members to search and download past reviews. Non-members may purchase reprints of specific reviews.


Publications for New Hams


ARRL Technical Information Service

Our technicians can direct you to information to help you overcome technical hurdles or answer questions to help you get started. This service is available to ARRL Members.

On-line Ham Radio Communities

Find out what’s going on in amateur radio cyberspace.

Aids and References

Join ARRL!

If you haven’t already done so, please consider becoming a member!



Page last modified: 10:01 AM, 18 May 2009 ET
Page author: djohnson@arrl.org
Copyright © 2009, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.