Maker & Engineering ›
Ham Radio
Ham Radio
The further from centre, the more strongly this hobby leans that way. Your quiz answers are scored against exactly these fifteen.
Getting licensed and making contacts by radio, sometimes worldwide, using bought or homemade equipment and antennas.
TonightTime to first win
About an hourA session
Indoors or outWhere
Step 1: Book your foundation licence exam.
Is it you?
What you need3 things
The honest floor, taking the cheapest option in each$108
How we make money: if you buy through one of these we take a small cut, and the price is the same either way. The cheapest option that works is always listed first.
The path14 quests
ASetting up2 things to sort, in any order$65
- Book your foundation licence exam
- Get a handheld radio and an antenna
BThen the quests
- Pass the foundation licence exam
- Pass your amateur radio exam
- Make your first contact
More on Ham Radio
Everything else we have written about it. Free to read, no account needed.
Guides1
What to buy3
Best Antenna Analyzer (2026): An SWR Meter Tells You Less Than You ThinkAn SWR meter tells you that your antenna is wrong. An analyzer tells you which way it is wrong and by how much, which is the difference between trimming a dipole in one afternoon and cutting it four times and hoping. They are usually shelved together and they answer genuinely different questions.Best HF Base Station Ham Radio (2026): 3 Rigs to Grow IntoAn HF base station is the radio that lets you talk across the country and around the world, not just to the local repeater a few towns over. Unlike a handheld, an HF rig needs a General-class license, an antenna, and a 12V power supply, but in return it opens up real long-distance contacts (what hams call DX). Here are three good ones, from an affordable SDR rig to an all-band radio you will not outgrow.Best Ham Radio for Beginners (2026): From a $30 Handheld to a 50W BaseThe best first ham radio is a cheap handheld: for the price of a takeout meal you get a real dual-band radio to learn on, hit local repeaters, and pass your license test with. As you get into it, a higher-power handheld or a 50W mobile opens up far more range. Here are three good ones, and yes, you need a license to transmit (it is easy to get).
From the blog5
20 Nerdy Hobbies That Make You SmarterEvery time you pick up a challenging hobby, your brain adapts. New neural pathways form, existing ones strengthen, and cognitive functions that atrophy from routine get a workout. Here are 20 hobbies that are genuinely, measurably good for your mind.Unusual Hobbies: 18 Niche Pursuits Most People Never ConsiderEveryone's heard of running and guitar. But the most interesting rabbit holes are the ones that rarely come up at dinner: the niche, slightly eccentric pursuits with deep, welcoming communities. Here are 18 unusual hobbies worth a look, from the crafty to the cryptic.Tech Hobbies for Adults: The Best Technical Hobbies to Start in 2026Tech hobbies cover everything from 3D printing and mechanical keyboards to ham radio and home automation. This guide covers the best technical hobbies for adults, what each one actually involves, and the honest cost of getting started.Hobbies to Start in Your 30s (The Best Time to Actually Begin)Your 30s are when you finally know yourself well enough to choose a hobby that genuinely fits, rather than one you think you're supposed to have.
Read the blogLearn it with a course
UdemyRecommended course
Fundamentals of SDR, Software Defined Radio -An Introduction
Start on UdemyAffiliate link
Same shape of evening, different thing to hold at the end. Or follow a tag sideways.
