Ham Radio Resources
A curated directory of external resources. Links open in a new tab.
Licensing & Regulatory
- 🏛️ ARRL — The National Association for Amateur Radio (opens in new tab) — The primary national organization for amateur radio in the US. Licensing information, operating resources, technical references, member benefits, and advocacy for spectrum access.
- 🏛️ FCC Amateur License Search (ULS) (opens in new tab) — Official FCC Universal Licensing System. Look up any US amateur radio licence by callsign, name, or FRN. The authoritative source used by ORLP for automated licence verification.
- 🏛️ FCC Amateur Radio Service — Getting Licensed (opens in new tab) — Official FCC guide to obtaining an amateur radio licence. Explains the three licence classes (Technician, General, Amateur Extra) and the exam process.
- 🏛️ Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) (opens in new tab) — National amateur radio organisation for Canada. Licensing guidance, operating resources, and advocacy for Canadian VE/VA callsign holders.
- 🏛️ Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) (opens in new tab) — The national amateur radio society for the UK. Licensing information for UK M/G/2E callsigns, exam resources, and operating guides.
- 🏛️ Ofcom — Amateur Radio Licences (UK) (opens in new tab) — UK regulator Ofcom's amateur radio licence portal. Licence renewals, callsign lookup, and regulatory information for UK operators.
- 🏛️ Industry Canada — Amateur Radio (opens in new tab) — Spectrum management and amateur radio operator certification information for Canadian operators.
- 🏛️ IARU — International Amateur Radio Union (opens in new tab) — International body representing amateur radio nationally and before international regulatory bodies. Member societies for every ITU region.
Callsign Lookup
- 🔍 QRZ.com — Callsign Database (opens in new tab) — The world's largest amateur radio callsign database. Look up any callsign worldwide for operator name, address, grid square, and biography. Used by ORLP for international callsign verification.
- 🔍 HamDB.org — Free Callsign Lookup (opens in new tab) — Free, no-registration callsign lookup covering US callsigns and many international callsigns. Provides name, address, licence class, and expiry. Used by ORLP as a primary lookup source.
- 🔍 callook.info — US Callsign Lookup (opens in new tab) — US-only callsign lookup with daily FCC database updates and a simple JSON API. Fast and reliable. Used by ORLP as the primary US callsign source.
- 🔍 HamQTH.com — International Callbook (opens in new tab) — Free international ham radio callbook. Covers operators in many countries where FCC and HamDB data is unavailable. Offers a developer API (free account required).
- 🔍 FCC ULS — Licence View (opens in new tab) — FCC ULS public API for US licence lookups. Used by ORLP as an authoritative fallback when other sources return no result.
Repeater Directories
- 📡 RepeaterBook.com (opens in new tab) — The world's largest free and crowdsourced repeater database. Covers VHF/UHF repeaters worldwide including digital modes (DMR, D-STAR, Fusion, P25). Now powers the ARRL Repeater Directory.
- 📡 Radio Reference — Frequency Database (opens in new tab) — Comprehensive radio frequency database covering amateur repeaters, public safety, business, and maritime frequencies across the US and internationally.
- 📡 ARRL Repeater Directory (opens in new tab) — ARRL's repeater directory, now powered by RepeaterBook. Covers over 22,000 US and Canadian repeaters organised by state, province, county, and city.
- 📡 MyGMRS Repeater Map (opens in new tab) — GMRS repeater directory searchable by state, city, or callsign. Includes tone codes, coverage notes, and owner contact information.
VoIP Linking Networks
- 🌐 AllStarLink (opens in new tab) — The AllStar VoIP amateur radio linking network. Over 38,000 registered nodes worldwide using the IAX2 protocol and Asterisk PBX. ORLP includes an AllStar bridge for simultaneous connectivity.
- 🌐 EchoLink (opens in new tab) — EchoLink allows licensed amateur radio stations to communicate worldwide over the internet using streaming audio. ORLP includes an EchoLink bridge for simultaneous connectivity.
- 🌐 IRLP — Internet Radio Linking Project (opens in new tab) — The original internet radio linking system, founded in 1997. Legacy hardware-based system that ORLP was designed to modernise and replace. Still operational with nodes worldwide.
- 🌐 AllStar Node List (opens in new tab) — Live searchable directory of all registered AllStar nodes worldwide. Find nodes by callsign, location, or node number.
- 🌐 EchoLink Node List (opens in new tab) — Live list of currently connected EchoLink nodes. Browse by callsign, conference, or location.
Learning & Exam Prep
- 📖 HamStudy.org — Free Exam Practice (opens in new tab) — Free, adaptive ham radio exam practice for Technician, General, and Amateur Extra licence classes. Official FCC question pools with explanations. Highly recommended for new hams.
- 📖 ARRL Learning Center (opens in new tab) — ARRL's official online course catalog. Structured courses covering all licence classes plus specialty topics like emergency communications, digital modes, and antenna design.
- 📖 ARRL — Find a Licence Exam (opens in new tab) — Search for upcoming amateur radio licence exam sessions near you. Exams administered by Volunteer Examiner teams across the US.
- 📖 Ham Radio Prep (opens in new tab) — Comprehensive exam preparation courses for all three US licence classes. Video lessons, practice exams, and study guides.
- 📖 ARRL Question Pools (opens in new tab) — Official FCC question pools for all three US amateur radio licence classes. The official source — exams are drawn directly from these pools.
- 📖 HamRadioSchool.com (opens in new tab) — Online study materials and books for the Technician licence. Beginner-friendly approach suitable for new hams with no radio background.
Software & Tools
- 🛠️ CHIRP — Free Radio Programming (opens in new tab) — Free, open-source radio programming software for a wide range of handheld and mobile radios. Import, edit, and export channel memories. Supports Baofeng, Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu, and many others.
- 🛠️ WSJT-X — Weak Signal Digital Modes (opens in new tab) — Free software for weak signal digital modes including FT8, FT4, JT65, and MSK144. Essential for HF DX and moonbounce (EME) contacts.
- 🛠️ FLdigi — Digital Modes (opens in new tab) — Free digital mode software supporting PSK31, RTTY, Olivia, MFSK, CW, and many other modes. Cross-platform (Linux, macOS, Windows).
- 🛠️ JS8Call (opens in new tab) — FT8-based keyboard-to-keyboard messaging mode with store-and-forward capabilities. Popular for digital ragchewing and emergency preparedness.
- 🛠️ Ham Radio Deluxe (opens in new tab) — Popular integrated ham radio software suite: logbook, rig control, satellite tracking, and digital modes. Windows-based with broad radio manufacturer support.
- 🛠️ SDR# (SDRSharp) (opens in new tab) — Popular Software Defined Radio application for Windows. Works with RTL-SDR dongles and Airspy hardware. Excellent for wideband scanning, signal analysis, and monitoring.
- 🛠️ GQRX — SDR Receiver (opens in new tab) — Open-source SDR receiver for Linux and macOS. Works with RTL-SDR, HackRF, Airspy, and other SDR hardware. Good FM demodulation for discriminator tap monitoring.
- 🛠️ OpenWebRX — Web-Based SDR (opens in new tab) — Open-source web-based software defined radio receiver. Host your own SDR waterfall accessible from any browser on your network. Integrates with ORLP for optional RF monitoring.
- 🛠️ Log4OM — Free Ham Radio Logbook (opens in new tab) — Free full-featured ham radio logging software for Windows. Award tracking, contest logging, cluster integration, and LoTW/eQSL sync.
- 🛠️ N1MM Logger+ — Contest Logging (opens in new tab) — The most widely used free contest logging software. Supports virtually every major contest. Windows-based.
Emergency Communications
- 🚨 ARRL ARES — Amateur Radio Emergency Service (opens in new tab) — ARRL's volunteer emergency communications programme. ARES teams provide amateur radio communication support during disasters and public safety events across the US.
- 🚨 SKYWARN — NWS Severe Weather Reporting (opens in new tab) — NOAA National Weather Service programme that trains volunteer spotters to report severe weather. Many SKYWARN nets use amateur radio repeaters and VoIP linking for coordination.
- 🚨 ARRL RACES (opens in new tab) — Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service — amateur radio operators who provide communications for civil defence authorities. Works alongside ARES in disaster response.
- 🚨 EMCOMM — Emergency Communications Resources (opens in new tab) — ARRL's complete emergency communications resource hub. Training materials, EMCOMM guides, and public service resources for ham operators.
- 🚨 Winlink — Radio Email (opens in new tab) — Radio email system using amateur radio as the transport layer. Used extensively in emergency communications for sending messages when internet and phone infrastructure is down.
- 🚨 APRS.fi — APRS Tracking Map (opens in new tab) — Live Automatic Packet Reporting System map. Track APRS-equipped stations, weather stations, and objects in real time. Useful for emergency coordination and monitoring node positions.
DX, Contesting & Awards
- 🏆 Logbook of the World (LoTW) (opens in new tab) — ARRL's electronic QSL confirmation system. The gold standard for DXCC, WAS, and other ARRL award confirmations. Digitally signed confirmations from operators worldwide.
- 🏆 Club Log (opens in new tab) — Free DX contact logging and DXCC entity tracking. Upload your log and track progress toward DXCC and other DX awards. Includes real-time DX cluster integration.
- 🏆 eQSL.cc — Electronic QSL Cards (opens in new tab) — Free electronic QSL card exchange service. Accepted for several awards. Complement to Logbook of the World for broader operator participation.
- 🏆 DX-World.net (opens in new tab) — DX expedition news, plans, and updates. The go-to source for upcoming rare DXCC entity activations and current DXpedition operations.
- 🏆 DX Maps — Real-Time Propagation (opens in new tab) — Real-time propagation map based on DX cluster spots. See which bands are open to which parts of the world right now.
- 🏆 ARRL Contest Calendar (opens in new tab) — Complete calendar of upcoming amateur radio contests worldwide. Filter by date, mode, and bands.
GMRS Resources
- 📻 MyGMRS.com — GMRS Community (opens in new tab) — The largest online GMRS community. Repeater directory, forums, licensing guides, and equipment reviews. Essential resource for General Mobile Radio Service operators.
- 📻 FCC — Apply for GMRS Licence (opens in new tab) — Official FCC guide for General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) licensing. A single GMRS licence covers an operator and their immediate family. No exam required.
- 📻 GMRS Society (opens in new tab) — Non-profit organisation promoting GMRS operation and community repeater networks. Member resources, training, and advocacy for GMRS operators.
- 📻 BridgeCom Systems — GMRS Radios (opens in new tab) — GMRS radio equipment including mobiles and repeaters. Useful reference for GMRS hardware compatibility information.
Propagation & Space Weather
- ☀️ SolarHam.net — Space Weather for Hams (opens in new tab) — Solar activity, propagation forecasts, and geomagnetic data for HF amateur radio operators. Tracks solar flux, sunspot numbers, and band conditions.
- ☀️ DX Maps — Real-Time Propagation (opens in new tab) — Real-time map of HF propagation based on cluster spots and beacons. See current band openings worldwide.
- ☀️ VOACAP — HF Propagation Prediction (opens in new tab) — Professional-grade HF propagation prediction tool. Predict signal strength between any two locations on any HF band based on current solar conditions.
- ☀️ Space Weather Prediction Center (opens in new tab) — NOAA's official space weather forecasting centre. Solar flare alerts, geomagnetic storm watches, and aurora forecasts affecting HF and VHF propagation.
- ☀️ Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) (opens in new tab) — Network of automated amateur radio receivers that report what CW, RTTY, and FT8 signals they're hearing. Useful for checking propagation and antenna performance.
News & Community
- 💬 eHam.net — Ham Radio Community (opens in new tab) — Long-running ham radio community site with equipment reviews, forums, classified ads, and technical articles. Extensive review database for equipment research.
- 💬 QRZ Forums (opens in new tab) — Active ham radio discussion forums covering all aspects of the hobby. Technical help, equipment discussions, operating experiences, and licensing questions.
- 💬 Reddit — r/amateurradio (opens in new tab) — Active amateur radio community on Reddit. New ham questions welcome. Equipment advice, operating stories, news, and technical discussions.
- 💬 Reddit — r/GMRS (opens in new tab) — GMRS-focused Reddit community. Repeater setup, equipment reviews, licensing questions, and operating tips for GMRS users.
- 💬 Ham Radio Now — YouTube (opens in new tab) — Long-form ham radio interview and educational video series. In-depth discussions on operating, technology, emergency communications, and the ham radio community.
- 💬 KB9VBR Antennas — YouTube (opens in new tab) — Practical ham radio YouTube channel focused on VHF/UHF antennas, repeaters, and getting started. Excellent beginner-friendly content.
- 💬 Hamvention (opens in new tab) — The world's largest amateur radio event, held annually in Dayton, Ohio. Vendors, forums, flea market, and the hub of the worldwide ham radio community.
- 💬 Ham Radio Outlet (opens in new tab) — One of the largest US amateur radio equipment retailers. New and used radios, antennas, accessories, and test equipment.
- 💬 DX Engineering (opens in new tab) — Ham radio equipment retailer specialising in antennas, towers, rotators, and accessories. Excellent technical support and product selection for serious operators.
- 💬 GigaParts (opens in new tab) — Ham radio and electronics retailer with competitive pricing on popular radios, accessories, and computer hardware.