Ham Radio Technician study plan
Ham Radio Technician · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Amateur Radio Service rules and regulations (47 C.F.R. Part 97)
Map the structure of 47 C.F.R. Part 97 into its subparts (A through E) and identify which subparts govern licensing, operating, and technical standards.
Memorize the Technician-class frequency privileges on the 2 m, 70 cm, 6 m, and 10 m bands, including mode restrictions and power limits.
Distinguish between primary and secondary allocations and explain what a secondary user must do when interference occurs.
Define the classes of operator licenses and the privileges each class may exercise.
Your checkpoint
A one-page personal frequency-privilege chart for the Technician license, written from memory and checked against Part 97.
Amateur Radio Service rules and regulations (47 C.F.R. Part 97)
Explain the station identification requirement, including timing, form, and the use of phone versus CW identification.
Differentiate control operator, station licensee, and third-party traffic rules, and state who is responsible for proper operation.
Describe the prohibited transmissions and practices under Part 97, including broadcasting, indecent language, and business communications.
Summarize the processes for license renewal, vanity call signs, and modification of station licenses.
Your checkpoint
A 15-question self-quiz on Part 97 rules that you author and answer, with each answer cited to the relevant subpart.
Operating procedures and station control
Demonstrate correct calling and responding procedures on simplex and repeater frequencies, including the use of ITU phonetics.
Explain the purpose and operation of CTCSS tones, offset frequencies, and repeater courtesy practices.
Identify the components of an emergency communication plan and the meaning of priority traffic.
Describe proper logging practices and when station records must be retained.
Your checkpoint
A written script for a simulated repeater contact, including call sign exchange, signal report, and sign-off, performed aloud with a timer.
Operating procedures and station control & Radio and electronic fundamentals
Explain the relationship between voltage, current, resistance, and power using Ohm's law and the power equation.
Calculate the total resistance of series and parallel resistor networks and the power dissipated in each.
Describe the function of capacitors and inductors in AC circuits and define reactance.
Distinguish between conductors, insulators, and semiconductors with examples relevant to station equipment.
Your checkpoint
A worked problem set of 10 Ohm's law and power calculations with all steps shown and units carried correctly.
Radio and electronic fundamentals
Explain the properties of radio waves, including frequency, wavelength, and the relationship between them.
Describe the behavior of RF signals in transmission lines, including characteristic impedance, standing wave ratio, and losses.
Distinguish between amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and single sideband in terms of bandwidth and signal characteristics.
Identify the function of diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits in basic radio circuits.
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn block diagram of a simple transceiver showing the signal path from microphone to antenna and back, labeled with component functions.
Station equipment, antennas, and transmission modes
Compare common antenna types (dipole, vertical, Yagi) in terms of gain, polarization, and radiation pattern.
Explain the purpose and placement of baluns, feed line connectors, and lightning protection in a station.
Describe the function of a power supply, SWR meter, and dummy load in station setup and testing.
Differentiate between FM, SSB, and digital modes in terms of required equipment and typical operating practices.
Your checkpoint
A station equipment list with a one-sentence justification for each item, matching the list to the Technician privileges you mapped in Week 1.
Station equipment, antennas, and transmission modes & Amateur Radio Service rules and regulations (47 C.F.R. Part 97)
Explain RF exposure limits and the factors that determine safe distances from antennas.
Describe the causes and effects of interference, including harmonic radiation and intermodulation, and the required response.
Review the Part 97 rules on station control and third-party communications as they apply to digital and repeater operations.
Identify common antenna and feed line faults and the measurements used to diagnose them.
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting checklist for a station with high SWR, including at least five steps and the expected measurement at each step.
Amateur Radio Service rules and regulations (47 C.F.R. Part 97) & Operating procedures and station control & Radio and electronic fundamentals & Station equipment, antennas, and transmission modes
Complete a full-length practice examination under timed conditions and review every incorrect answer.
Re-answer all missed questions from Weeks 1 through 7 and explain the correct reasoning aloud.
Summarize the key rules, formulas, and equipment facts in a single reference sheet.
Confirm readiness by scoring consistently above the passing threshold on two consecutive practice exams.
Your checkpoint
A final one-page reference sheet and a log of two timed practice exam scores with error analysis.
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on the self-authored Part 97 quiz without notes, and correctly state the identification and control operator rules from memory.
Week 4: Solve all 10 Ohm's law and power problems correctly and explain the difference between series and parallel resistance without referring to notes.
Week 6: Present the labeled transceiver block diagram and station equipment list, correctly matching each item to a Technician privilege or rule.
Week 8: Achieve two consecutive timed practice exam scores at or above the passing threshold, with a written error analysis for each missed question.