The Ham Radio Field Directory

One of the most complete amateur radio suppliers in the country, stocking thousands of SKUs across antennas, coax, connectors, transceivers, and accessories. Their HF antenna selection — including AlexLoop, SteppIR, and Alpha Antennas — is particularly deep. Same-day shipping on most in-stock items, with a knowledgeable phone staff who can actually talk shop about impedance matching.

The largest chain of amateur radio stores in the U.S., with both physical locations and a full online store. Authorized dealer for Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Alinco, and more. A reliable source for new transceivers, handheld radios, mobile rigs, and accessories, with competitive pricing and a return policy that doesn't require an attorney to understand.

Carries a solid lineup of transceivers, SDR hardware, antennas, and amateur accessories alongside a broader electronics catalog. Pricing is frequently competitive with HRO and DX Engineering, and their website search is more refined than most. Worth checking for software-defined radio receivers, USB interfaces, and digital mode hardware specifically.

The go-to source for discrete RF components when you're building rather than buying. Capacitors, toroids, SMA connectors, RF transistors, and passive components ship next day with no minimum order headache. Essential for anyone building matching networks, low-pass filters, or homebrew QRP rigs from scratch.

Specializes in wire antennas, coax, and antenna components at prices that undercut the big retailers. Particularly well-stocked on LMR-series coax by the foot, pre-made dipole kits, and end-fed half-wave antennas. If you're equipping a new shack or replacing aged feedline, this is a logical first stop.

A veteran amateur radio retailer in business since 1942, carrying new and used ham equipment alongside an excellent shortwave receiver selection. Their used equipment section is carefully tested and honestly described — a rarity in this market. Also stocks hard-to-find accessories, mobile mounting solutions, and antenna analyzers.

The definitive source for RF power transistors, vacuum tubes for amplifiers, and hard-to-find semiconductor components used in amateur linear amplifiers and transmitters. If you're repairing or building an HF linear, RF Parts is almost certainly where you'll end up. Inventory includes 3CX800A7, 4CX800A, and modern LDMOS devices.

Ham Radio Outlet operates brick-and-mortar stores in California (Burbank, Oakland, San Diego, Sunnyvale), Georgia (Atlanta), Virginia (Woodbridge), New Hampshire, and Oregon. Walk in and handle a transceiver before buying — the staff at most locations are licensed operators who can answer technical questions on the spot.

A long-standing Chicagoland institution serving the Midwest amateur radio community with new and used equipment sales, repairs, and a staff that includes several licensed hams. Known particularly for hands-on help with antenna installation planning and rig troubleshooting that you simply can't get from an online order form.

GigaParts operates a physical retail location in Huntsville, Alabama — the same city that hosts Hamfest Alabama each year. The store carries a strong selection of transceivers and SDR hardware in person, and the staff are active in the local amateur radio community. Worth a stop if you're anywhere near the Tennessee Valley.

The world's largest amateur radio gathering, held annually in Xenia, Ohio (near Dayton). Thousands of vendor tables sell new, used, and vintage gear at prices you'll rarely find online. The outdoor flea market alone draws serious buyers from across North America. Held each May — plan your trip with plenty of cash and carry bags.

One of the oldest hamfests on the East Coast, drawing buyers and sellers from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. A strong vintage market alongside new equipment vendors and active club recruiting tables. If you're northeast-based and haven't attended, you're leaving deals on the table.

Ham Radio Outlet's Texas location serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metro and surrounding areas of the Southwest. The Plano store handles walk-in transceiver demos, trade-ins, and accessories, with the same broad authorized-dealer lineup as the chain's flagship locations. Good option for DFW-area hams who want to handle equipment before committing.

The most trusted peer-to-peer marketplace in amateur radio, with thousands of active listings for used transceivers, amplifiers, test equipment, and antenna hardware. The linked seller review system keeps dishonest listings rare. Unlike eBay, buyers and sellers here actually know what they're looking at — which keeps descriptions accurate and prices realistic.

QRZ.com's Swap Shop forum is a high-traffic buy/sell/trade venue for used amateur radio equipment, drawing active buyers from the site's enormous registered user base. Posts move quickly on popular items — set up email alerts for specific gear. Particularly good for mobile rigs, VHF/UHF gear, and odd accessories that rarely appear elsewhere.

Hamilton, Ohio-based dealer with a curated inventory of used and demo-condition transceivers, receivers, and accessories. A reliable source for tested vintage equipment, including occasional finds from Collins, Drake, and Kenwood's classic TS-series. Their in-house testing means fewer surprises than pure classifieds.

eBay's vintage amateur radio category surfaces gear that rarely appears elsewhere — Collins S-Line units, National HRO receivers, vintage military surplus, and unusual handhelds from the 1970s. Know your market values before bidding; use eHam reviews and the QRZ forums to research any piece before committing to a price. Great for tubes and test equipment too.

A Burbank, California-based surplus dealer with a broad inventory of military and commercial electronics, including test equipment, cables, connectors, meters, and occasional radio gear at significant discounts. Best browsed in person for shack-building components — meters, enclosures, power supplies — at prices that reward patience.

Canada's largest amateur radio dealer carries both new and consignment-used equipment, shipping across North America. Their used inventory is professionally described, with full disclosure of cosmetic condition — refreshingly honest by any standard. A practical alternative for Canadian operators who want to avoid cross-border shipping markups on new gear.

Manufacturers of the industry's premier motorized, continuously-tunable Yagi and vertical antennas. A SteppIR BigIR or 3-element Yagi can cover 40m through 6m without traps or lossy loading coils — each element extends and retracts via stepper motor to exact resonance. Engineering-grade construction and the performance data to back it up.

The respected California builder of high-gain Yagi antennas for VHF, UHF, and microwave — including arrays purpose-built for EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) moonbounce operation. Their 2m and 70cm Yagis are used by serious weak-signal operators worldwide. Build quality is noticeably above the field; hardware is stainless and elements are precision-cut aluminum.

The prolific Mississippi-based manufacturer of antenna tuners, baluns, magnetic loop antennas, and dozens of accessories that fill gaps in the amateur radio market. Their MFJ-269C antenna analyzer remains a staple tool in many shacks. Product quality is variable — but their catalog breadth means they've likely made something for whatever problem you're solving.

A small-batch manufacturer producing portable and field-deployable HF antennas specifically designed for emcomm, SOTA, and POTA applications. Their EMCOMM series of end-fed wires pack into a small bag but perform across multiple HF bands without a tuner. Particularly popular with Field Day operators and rapid-deployment teams who need something that works first time, every time.

Produces a line of compact, multiband HF verticals and portable dipoles engineered for restricted-space installations and portable operation. Their FMJ series covers 80m through 10m in a package that fits in a car trunk. Popular with apartment-dwelling operators and anyone for whom a full-size Yagi isn't an option.

The modular, portable Buddipole system has become the standard for travelers and portable HF operators — reassembling as a dipole, vertical, or loop in minutes. The arms, elements, and coil adapters pack into a compact case and cover 40m through 2m. Widely used on POTA activations, cruise-ship operations, and DXpeditions where weight and packability matter.

The largest amateur radio organization in the U.S., serving as the primary advocacy body for the hobby at the FCC and providing educational resources, licensing support, the QST magazine, and a network of affiliated clubs in every state. ARRL membership includes access to their full online technical library — including the ARRL Handbook in digital form.

ARRL maintains a searchable database of affiliated amateur radio clubs across the U.S. and territories. Search by ZIP code, state, or club name to find active clubs near you — including meeting times, repeater information, and contact details. Joining a local club remains the single fastest way to improve as an operator and find Elmers willing to help.

The global federation of amateur radio national societies, representing over 160 countries in frequency coordination, spectrum defense, and international operating agreements. IARU Region 2 covers the Americas. Essential reading for operators interested in DXpeditions, international licensing reciprocity, and the political landscape of amateur spectrum allocation.

A worldwide awards program encouraging amateur radio operators to activate summits designated in their region's Association Reference Manual. Activators hike to qualifying peaks and make at least four contacts; chasers work activators from home. An addictive combination of outdoor activity and portable HF operating — deeply popular in the backpacking and hiking communities.

Rapidly becoming one of the most popular on-air activities in North America, POTA encourages amateur radio operators to activate national, state, and regional parks. The spotting network via pota.app makes real-time chasing easy, and the program is free to participate in. Over 500,000 activations have been logged globally — activity on the bands shows it.

A long-running HF club focused on 10-meter operations and propagation, with a numbered membership system and awards for contact totals. Active nets run daily on 28.380 MHz and nearby frequencies. A good entry point for Technician licensees who want to explore HF privileges on 10 meters without upgrading to General class.

The most widely recommended free exam preparation tool in amateur radio, covering Technician, General, and Amateur Extra question pools with spaced repetition logic that actually works. The site tracks your weakest question areas and focuses sessions there. The companion app (Study for Ham Radio) works offline and syncs progress across devices — take it to work or the waiting room.

ARRL's official licensing and education portal links prospective operators to exam sessions, VEC contacts, and ARRL-published license manuals for all three license classes. Their online courses (Ham Radio License Course, General Class License Course) provide structured video instruction for those who prefer a guided approach over self-study. VEC exam session search included.

A polished, video-based licensing course covering Technician, General, and Extra class with well-produced lessons, practice exam questions, and a clean interface. One of the best-rated paid options for those who need more structure than flashcard tools provide. Free trial available; the full course pays for itself in one exam sitting if it means you walk out licensed.

The official FCC database for amateur radio license applications, renewals, modifications, and callsign lookups. All U.S. amateur licenses are managed here. Key tasks: license renewal (must be done before the two-year grace period expires), address updates, and callsign change applications. Bookmark this — you'll use it at least every ten years when your license renews.

QRZ.com's built-in practice exam tool generates simulated test sessions from the current official question pool — formatted to exactly match the real VE session experience. Best used in the final week before your exam to simulate test-taking conditions and identify any remaining weak spots. Completely free, no account required to take a practice test.

One of the major FCC-coordinated Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs), with a nationwide network of licensed exam sessions for Technician, General, and Extra class. Also publishes Gordon West study guides — long favored for their plain-language explanations of technical concepts. If ARRL VEC sessions aren't convenient, W5YI's network likely has a session near you.

The central hub of online amateur radio culture — home to the definitive callsign lookup database, active forums covering every facet of the hobby, a popular logbook tool, and a DX cluster. Virtually every licensed U.S. operator has a QRZ page. The forums lean toward experienced operators and can be blunt, but the technical depth is unmatched in the hobby's online spaces.

The home of the internet's most comprehensive amateur radio equipment review database, with thousands of user-submitted reviews dating back to the late 1990s. Before buying any used transceiver or accessory, checking its eHam review page is a professional-grade move. Active forums and classifieds round out a resource that rewards bookmarking and regular visits.

A highly active subreddit with over 300,000 members, spanning new licensees asking basic questions to Extra-class operators posting antenna modeling screenshots. The community is generally welcoming to beginners and the weekly stickied "New to Amateur Radio" thread is an excellent onramp. Best for quick questions, gear opinions, and Field Day / contest activity reports.

A real-time DX cluster aggregator pulling spots from dozens of cluster nodes worldwide, with filtering by band, mode, continent, and DXCC entity. Indispensable for chasing rare countries and DXpeditions. The web interface is cleaner than most telnet cluster connections, and the band conditions panel is a useful quick-reference before sitting down for a morning HF session.

An automated propagation reporting network that maps real-time reception reports from FT8, JS8Call, PSK31, and other digital mode transmissions worldwide. Transmit for 60 seconds on any digital mode frequency and within minutes you'll see exactly where your signal is reaching — invaluable for antenna optimization, band condition monitoring, and low-power propagation experiments.

ARRL's technical library, giving members access to decades of QST articles, technical correspondence, and research notes. If you're troubleshooting RFI, designing a matching network, or looking for the original data behind a published circuit design, the TIS is where to dig first. Requires ARRL membership for full access — worth it if you spend time on technical problems.

ARRL's nationwide voluntary emergency communications organization, with local groups (ECs) coordinated by ARRL field organization structure. ARES members train for and respond to public service events and disaster situations — providing communications when commercial infrastructure fails. Training requirements vary by section; contact your ARRL section manager to connect with your local EC.

A part of U.S. civil defense infrastructure, RACES is activated by government civil defense authorities during declared emergencies. While operationally quieter than ARES in normal times, RACES operators have a formal government mandate and specific frequency authorizations during declared disasters. RACES registration is separate from ARES and handled at the local emergency management agency level.

The National Weather Service's trained storm spotter network, with many local SKYWARN nets operated on amateur radio repeaters. SKYWARN spotters provide real-time severe weather ground truth to NWS forecast offices — hail size, rotation, flooding — information that directly influences warnings. Training is free through local NWS offices and takes a single afternoon.

Most ARES sections now require IS-100 and IS-700 ICS certifications before members can deploy to activations. FEMA's Independent Study program offers both courses free online, with certificates on completion. IS-100 (Introduction to ICS), IS-200, IS-700 (NIMS), and IS-800 are the standard baseline for any operator who expects to function in an organized emergency response.

A worldwide radio messaging network used by amateur operators and maritime mobile stations to send and receive email via HF, VHF, or UHF radio with no internet infrastructure required. Winlink is widely deployed in ARES activations for ICS-213 form transmission and situation reports. The free Winlink Express client software connects via Pactor, Vara HF, Vara FM, or Packet nodes.

A real-time web mapping interface for the Automatic Packet Reporting System — showing the positions of APRS-equipped stations, weather data, and messages worldwide. Essential for EmComm net control operators tracking deployed teams during activations. Also useful for monitoring traffic during events, Field Day, and POTA activations where GPS-equipped operators are on the move.

The free software suite by Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor (K1JT) that revolutionized weak-signal HF operating. WSJT-X implements FT8, FT4, JT65, JT9, and MSK144, enabling contacts at signal levels 10–15 dB below what SSB voice requires. If you haven't tried FT8, you haven't seen what modern HF propagation looks like when the antenna is mediocre and the conditions are marginal.

The Swiss Army knife of HF digital mode software, supporting PSK31, PSK63, RTTY, Olivia, MFSK, Hellschreiber, and dozens of others via a single interface. Fldigi connects to your rig via a sound card interface and CAT control cable, and handles logging, macros, and contest integration through companion tools like Flrig and Fllog. Open-source and actively maintained.

The most popular Windows-based software-defined radio application, running RTL-SDR, Airspy, and HackRF hardware with a polished spectrum display and plugin architecture. If you want to scan aircraft transponders, listen to weather satellites, receive NOAA imagery, or explore the VHF/UHF spectrum, SDR# and a $25 RTL-SDR dongle is where almost everyone starts.

A comprehensive Windows suite combining rig control (CAT), digital modes (DM780), logbook, satellite tracking, and DX cluster integration in one package. The industry-standard choice for operators who want everything talking to everything — transceiver, interface, and logging software — in a single environment. Paid license; a free trial is available.

The data backend for the WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) network — a worldwide grid of amateur transmitters and receivers continuously mapping HF propagation by exchanging ultra-low-power beacon signals. Run WSPR on any HF band at 200mW and the map reveals which paths are open, and to what distance. An endlessly useful tool for antenna comparison and band-opening alerts.

The free, open-source tool for programming channels, repeater frequencies, CTCSS tones, and memory banks into hundreds of VHF/UHF transceivers — from Baofeng handhelds to Icom and Kenwood mobiles. Far more reliable than manufacturer-supplied software, and maintained by the community. If you've tried to hand-program 50 repeater channels, you already know why this exists.

The most widely used NEC-based antenna modeling software in amateur radio, allowing you to simulate the radiation pattern, gain, feedpoint impedance, and SWR of virtually any wire antenna design before cutting a single piece of wire. Essential for anyone building or optimizing a directional antenna, a trap dipole, or an NVIS system. A free demo version handles basic antenna designs.

Published annually since 1926, the ARRL Handbook is the definitive technical reference for amateur radio — covering electronics fundamentals, RF circuit design, transmission lines, antenna theory, propagation, digital modes, and station construction in over 1,200 pages. Owns a shelf in virtually every serious shack. Buy the current edition for updated propagation and digital mode chapters.

The most comprehensive single-volume antenna reference in amateur radio, covering dipoles, verticals, Yagis, loops, phased arrays, and specialty designs from portable to high-power fixed installations. Includes antenna modeling data and practical construction detail missing from shorter guides. If the Handbook is your electronics bible, the Antenna Book is your antenna bible — own both.

Gordon West (WB6NOA) has been writing amateur radio license study guides since the 1980s, and his plain-English explanations remain among the most approachable for newcomers. Available for Technician, General, and Extra class, his books contextualize why each answer is correct rather than just what it is — a key distinction for retaining knowledge through test day and beyond.

The flagship monthly journal of the ARRL, covering technical articles, product reviews, contest results, DX news, and club happenings since 1915. Included with ARRL membership in both print and digital formats. The product reviews alone justify membership for active buyers — independently tested by licensed operators with actual bench measurements, not marketing copy.

John Devoldere's (ON4UN) comprehensive treatment of 160m, 80m, and 40m DXing is the definitive reference for operators serious about low-band work. Covers propagation peculiarities, noise reduction, receiving antenna design, transmitting antenna systems, and the pursuit of DXCC on Topband. Not for beginners — but if you're hearing Europe on 160m and want to work them, this is the book.

The monthly journal of the Radio Society of Great Britain, the UK's equivalent of QST. RadCom publishes technical construction articles, equipment reviews, DX news, and contest results relevant to the international amateur community — not just British operators. Available by subscription and worth reading for a different perspective on antenna design and operating practice than the American publications offer.