So, you passed your Technician license exam and got your call sign—congratulations! But what comes next? Too many new hams let their licenses collect dust without ever making a contact. Don’t be one of them! There are countless ways to enjoy and explore the world of ham radio, from emergency communications to contesting and beyond.
Here’s a guide to 10 simple things you should do as a newly licensed ham to get active and start operating.
1. Buy a Handheld Ham Radio
If you haven’t already purchased a handheld ham radio (HT), now is the time! A handheld radio is an excellent way to get started, and you don’t need to break the bank. Affordable options like the Baofeng UV-5R or Yaesu FT-65R are great entry-level choices. As you explore different parts of the hobby, you can always upgrade later. If you need help deciding, check out our guide to the Top Five Handheld Radios for beginners.
2. Make Your First Contact on Simplex
One of the biggest obstacles for new hams is making that first contact. It’s actually easier than you think! Just find a fellow ham and program both of your handheld radios to the same frequency. Press the push-to-talk (PTT) button, say your call sign, and start chatting. Remember to follow FCC rules, which require you to identify with your call sign at the beginning, every 10 minutes, and at the end of your transmission.
Need help programming your radio or picking the right frequency? Check out our step-by-step guide to making your first contact.
3. Start Logging Contacts
A great way to track your progress is by logging your contacts. The World Radio League offers a free online logbook and mobile app where you can record your first contact and every one that follows.
Logging contacts becomes even more rewarding when you start operating on HF, POTA (Parks on the Air), and contesting. The World Radio League also helps you connect with other hams, find nearby POTA and SOTA (Summits on the Air) sites, search call signs, and participate in community discussions.
4. Get a Band Plan
Before making more contacts, you need to know which frequencies you’re allowed to use based on your license class. A band plan will show your privileges and which modes (voice, CW, digital) you can use.
As a technician, most of your privileges are on VHF/UHF, which are great for local communication. However, you also have limited HF privileges on the 10-meter band, which can let you make long-range contacts when conditions are right.
Download a free band plan PDF or grab a printed poster to keep as a quick reference.
5. Make a Contact on a Local Repeater
Handheld radios typically have a range of a few miles, but repeaters extend that range significantly. A repeater is a powerful transmitter that receives your signal and rebroadcasts it over a much larger area.
To get started:
- Use an online repeater directory to find one near you, such as RepeaterBook.
- Program your radio with the repeater’s receive frequency, offset, and CTCSS tone.
- Key up the repeater, announce your call sign, and say “monitoring” to see if anyone responds.
Many repeaters also have scheduled nets, where hams check in at specific times. These are great for practice and meeting other local operators.
6. Join a Local Ham Radio Club
Ham radio is all about community, and joining a club can help you learn faster. If you took your license exam in person, stay in touch with that group or find a club near you.
Club members can help you:
- Learn to program your radio.
- Get involved in emergency communications.
- Participate in local nets and public service events.
Check out World Radio League’s “Find Members Near Me” feature to connect with hams in your area and join the community chat.
7. Install a Mobile Ham Radio in Your Car
A mobile radio in your car provides more power and better range than a handheld radio, making it perfect for road trips, off-roading, and emergency preparedness.
Most mobile radios put out 25+ watts, compared to a handheld’s 5-8 watts, giving you significantly more range. With a properly mounted antenna, you can easily communicate over 25+ miles.
Consider programming your mobile radio with Simplex frequencies, local repeaters, and emergency channels for maximum usability.
8. Upgrade to the General License
If you want to talk worldwide, you’ll need access to HF frequencies. Upgrading to a General Class license unlocks most HF bands, allowing for long-range communication without repeaters, internet, or cell towers.
HF opens up exciting opportunities, including:
- DXing (long-distance communication).
- Parks on the Air and contesting.
- Emergency backup communication for disasters.
The General Class exam isn’t much harder than the Technician exam. Use the Ham Radio Prep course to study with video lessons, quizzes, and practice tests.
9. Start Using HF as a Technician
Even Technicians have some HF privileges! The 10-meter band (28.300-28.500 MHz) is available for SSB (voice) communication, and when conditions are right, you can make contacts across the world.
If you’re ready to try HF:
- Get a beginner HF radio (like the Icom IC-7300).
- Set up an antenna (you can build or buy one). We even have a guide on how to build an HF dipole antenna!
- Try digital modes like FT8, which work well with low power.
Check out our guides on affordable HF radios and antenna setups to get started.
10. Operate on the Magic 6-Meter Band
The 6-meter band (50-54 MHz) is called the Magic Band because it exhibits characteristics of both VHF and HF. On some days, you may only make contacts a few miles away, while on others, you could reach 1,500+ miles thanks to atmospheric propagation!
Exciting propagation modes on 6 meters include:
- Sporadic E (Es) – Signals bounce off charged layers in the atmosphere.
- Tropospheric ducting – Signals travel long distances via temperature inversions.
- Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) bounce – Contact other hams by bouncing signals off the moon!
Many HF radios include 6-meter support, and using a directional antenna (Yagi) can improve performance significantly.
Bonus: Try Satellite Operations
Did you know you can use your Technician License to talk through ham radio satellites? There are dozens of satellites that function as repeaters in space, allowing you to make contacts hundreds of miles away.
To get started:
- Use a handheld radio and a Yagi antenna.
- Find satellite pass schedules online.
- Program your radio just like a repeater.
Operating satellites is a fun challenge that helps you improve your skills and experiment with new aspects of the hobby.
Get on the Air and Start Learning!
Your ham radio license is just the beginning! The real learning starts when you get on the air, make contacts, and explore different parts of the hobby. Whether you’re making your first Simplex contact or bouncing signals off the moon, ham radio offers endless possibilities.
Want to accelerate your learning? Check out the Ham Radio Basics course from Ham Radio Prep and start mastering the hobby today!
