{"product_id":"ham-radio-handbook","title":"Ham Radio Handbook for Beginners","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat's inside\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy ham radio still matters when cell towers and the internet go down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe bands explained: VHF\/UHF vs HF, repeaters, simplex, and call signs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGetting licensed step by step: the Technician exam, free practice tests, and the $35 fee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour first radio: what to buy, what to skip, and accessories that actually matter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to use repeaters: offsets, PL tones, finding nets, and making your first contact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating etiquette, Q-codes, phonetics, and net procedure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmergency communications: ARES, RACES, Skywarn, go-kits, and monitoring public safety as a ham\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho this is for\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComplete beginners who want to get on the air without drowning in jargon. Also preppers who want licensed, reliable two-way communications that work when nothing else does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the ham radio license test hard?\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry-level Technician exam is 35 multiple-choice questions from a public question pool. Most people pass with a few weeks of casual study using free practice apps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need to know Morse code?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The code requirement was dropped years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use a ham radio to listen to police?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, monitoring is legal and many hams keep public-safety channels in their radios.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstant download. After checkout, the PDF is delivered by email through Shopify Digital Downloads. Read it on any phone, tablet, or computer. Personal use license: buy it once, keep it forever, use it in your household.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore from PoliceRadio.org: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/emergency-frequencies\"\u003eEmergency Frequencies Directory\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/products\/off-grid-survival-comms\"\u003eOff-Grid Survival Communications Guide\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/police-scanners\"\u003escanner radios\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo shipping, no returns:\u003c\/strong\u003e digital products are delivered electronically with no shipping fee, and because downloads are delivered instantly they are non-returnable and non-refundable once delivered. If your download link fails or a file is defective, contact us within 30 days and we will replace it or refund you in full.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"PoliceRadio.org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48291537027290,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0633\/9176\/0602\/files\/ham-radio-handbook.png?v=1785708741","url":"https:\/\/www.policeradio.org\/products\/ham-radio-handbook","provider":"PoliceRadio.org","version":"1.0","type":"link"}