Jimmy Bob
Jimmy Bob, a friendly cartoon mountain man in a trucker cap and overalls

The schoolhouse is open, neighbor.

The Mountain Trail

4 stops, 6 short lessons each. Every stop ends with the exam for your next license.

Join free to save your progress.

Glossary

  1. Stop 1 · Exam earns Tenderfoot

    Level 1: Welcome to the Air

    Real-world match: Intro to the hobby

    1.1

    What is ham radio?

    define amateur radio, name 4 things hams do, explain why a license is required.

    1.2

    How radio works

    describe a radio wave, relate frequency and wavelength, name the parts of a station.

    1.3

    Bands and the radio spectrum

    name HF, VHF, and UHF, and identify 4 common ham bands.

    1.4

    Call signs and the phonetic alphabet

    read a call sign, identify correctly, spell with the phonetic alphabet.

    1.5

    On-air manners

    join a frequency politely, use procedural words, use common Q-signals.

    1.6

    Your first QSO

    complete the steps of a basic contact and give a signal report.

    📝 Exam 1: earn your Tenderfoot license (simulated)Finish 6 more lessons →

  2. Stop 2 · Exam earns Technician

    Level 2: Getting on the Air

    Real-world match: FCC Technician (Element 2)

    2.1

    Repeaters and simplex

    explain repeaters, offsets, and tones, and know when to use simplex.

    2.2

    Modes of transmission

    name voice, Morse, and digital modes and when each is used.

    2.3

    Antenna basics

    describe dipole, vertical, and Yagi antennas, and explain SWR and coax.

    2.4

    Electricity you need to know

    apply Ohm's law and the power formula.

    2.5

    Station safety

    name RF, electrical, tower, and lightning hazards and how to prevent them.

    2.6

    Rules of the road

    explain Technician privileges and things hams may not do.

    📝 Exam 2: earn your Technician license (simulated)Finish 6 more lessons →

  3. Stop 3 · Exam earns General

    Level 3: Working the World

    Real-world match: FCC General (Element 3)

    3.1

    Propagation: how signals travel far

    explain ground wave, sky wave, and the ionosphere, and predict band conditions by time of day.

    3.2

    HF bands and band plans

    describe the HF bands, General privileges, and band plans.

    3.3

    Building an HF station

    name the parts of an HF station and how they connect.

    3.4

    Digital modes and logging

    describe FT8 and other digital modes, and keep a log and confirm contacts.

    3.5

    Interference and being a good neighbor

    identify causes of interference and fix them.

    3.6

    Operating events and awards

    describe contests, Field Day, DXing, and awards programs.

    📝 Exam 3: earn your General license (simulated)Finish 6 more lessons →

  4. Stop 4 · Exam earns Amateur Extra

    Level 4: Elmer in Training

    Real-world match: FCC Amateur Extra (Element 4)

    4.1

    Advanced electronics

    explain reactance, resonance, impedance, and decibels.

    4.2

    Advanced antennas and feed lines

    compare antenna gain figures, feed line loss, and matching.

    4.3

    Satellites and space

    describe amateur satellites, the ISS, and exotic propagation.

    4.4

    Emergency communications

    describe emergency organizations, net procedures, and formal messages.

    4.5

    Rules in depth

    explain the purpose of Part 97, operator responsibilities, and how licenses are earned.

    4.6

    Becoming an Elmer

    mentor a newcomer and host a Learning net.

    📝 Exam 4: earn your Amateur Extra license (simulated)Finish 6 more lessons →