All License Levels
Your next contact starts here. Choose a path and make it your own.
Frequencies & Places for Home and Travel. Choose a state, then narrow the resources if needed.
Need a refresher? Explore Band & License Guidance in Study.
Two analog FM references from the ARRL national band plan. Listen first and check regional guidance. This is not the Arizona repeater list.
| Frequency | Band / mode | Operation | Source status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.520 MHz 2 m · VHF | 2 m · FM | Simplex · same RX/TX | National guidance |
| 446.000 MHz 70 cm · UHF | 70 cm · FM | Simplex · same RX/TX | National guidance |
Source reviewed November 3, 2026. Regional use and on-air activity are not independently confirmed.
Your radio, a nearby gateway, or an internet client. Find a route that fits.
Choose where your station will transmit. Find the official band plan and coordinator guidance before choosing frequencies or digital modes. For a remote station, use the station’s location.
For a specific repeater, confirm its frequency, offset, tone, mode and access rules with the operator. A band plan does not establish that a repeater is on air.
Match the options below to your radio or remote station’s capabilities.
A mode is how a radio carries voice or data. A network connects stations. Your radio must match the mode of the station it reaches over the air—even when the conversation continues through the internet.
With analog FM, your voice varies the radio signal continuously. Digital voice converts speech into encoded data, sends it over the air, then reconstructs speech at the receiving end. Different systems use different formats; a receiver needs the right decoder. Digital can add callsign/data features and network routing, but it does not guarantee greater range or clearer audio in every situation.
Match capabilities, not the logo. Different brands can talk when their models support the same mode, band and settings. Two radios from the same brand may still use incompatible digital systems.
| Mode | What It Is For | What Must Match |
|---|---|---|
| Analog FM | Local voice, simplex contacts and repeaters. A practical starting point. | FM-capable radios across brands; frequency pair, bandwidth and required access tones. |
| D-STAR | Digital voice and associated data; local contacts or gateway-linked conversations. | D-STAR-capable models, including supported Icom radios and Kenwood TH-D75. Frequency and callsign/routing settings must suit the repeater. |
| DMR | Digital voice with talkgroups for selected conversations. | Compatible DMR models across brands, usually Tier II in amateur use; correct frequency, color code, time slot and talkgroup. Extra features can differ. |
| C4FM / Fusion | Digital voice on supported Yaesu radios; local contacts or linked rooms. | Compatible C4FM operation and the operator’s settings. DN is a Fusion voice/data mode. A Fusion repeater is not automatically a working WIRES-X node. |
| FT8 | Short, structured weak-signal contacts, often on HF—not spoken conversation. | Compatible software such as WSJT-X, accurate timing, suitable radio/audio interface and operating settings. It does not turn a voice repeater into an FT8 gateway. |
A D-STAR handheld cannot directly decode C4FM or DMR just because it can tune the frequency. If both radios support analog FM, they may communicate in FM instead.
Your radio still sends ordinary FM. A node is the radio/interface/computer connection that carries the audio onto a network. AllStarLink and EchoLink can connect equipped FM stations. Neither name describes a digital mode you must select on your handheld.
The repeater owner chooses the hardware, links, permissions and control commands. You may join an already-linked conversation using normal repeater settings; do not assume you may change links. Ask the operator for access instructions.
No local node? A normal FM repeater continues to provide local coverage, but has no internet route merely because another repeater uses the same frequency or callsign.
This is a possible route, not a universal feature. A bridge joins particular networks; crossing voice formats may also require a transcoder that decodes and re-encodes speech, or an audio interface. The operator must provide and enable each part.
A hotspot is a small personal gateway, usually using your internet connection. Multiple supported modes do not guarantee simultaneous operation or conversion between every pair. Rooms, reflectors and talkgroups are ways networks organize conversations; identical names or numbers on different networks do not prove they are linked.
Yaesu’s AMS can recognize FM or C4FM. Depending on configuration, a Fusion repeater can repeat incoming audio in FM; AMS alone does not mean D-STAR/DMR conversion or internet access. WIRES-X also supports configured analog nodes. Check the specific node’s operating instructions.
An “FM + DMR + D-STAR + Fusion” listing describes available entrances only when the operator has documented them. It does not make your radio compatible with all four over the air.
Local radio-to-radio contacts need no internet. Internet-linked paths depend on their gateways and connectivity. Pause between transmissions so linked stations can join; follow the host’s rules.
Explore Nets & Reflectors → · Find Regional Band Guidance →Reviewed November 3, 2026. Recheck quarterly and when manufacturers or networks change capabilities. These are examples of supported paths, not tests of any particular repeater.
No nearby repeater? Your HT still has somewhere to go. With basic, reliable internet access and a compatible personal gateway or hotspot, your handheld can connect you to other stations around the world—even where local repeater coverage is limited or absent. Your HT talks to the gateway nearby; the internet carries the conversation onward.
Selected for different radio setups, not ranked by market share. Confirm the exact model and desired network before buying.
| Gateway / Best Fit | What You Need | Where It Connects / Limits |
|---|---|---|
| ClearNodeAnalog FM HT | An FM HT matching the node’s VHF or UHF version, the powered ClearNode and internet. Its built-in computer handles the node; a phone app manages it. | AllStarLink and EchoLink, plus documented digital-network options including DMR, YSF and FCS. The HT stays in FM; supported conversion happens at the node. Credentials and configuration vary. Official ClearNode Guide ↗ |
| SharkRF openSPOT4 ProDigital HT | A compatible UHF digital HT and Wi-Fi internet. Standalone, battery-powered hotspot; no running desktop PC needed. Configure through its web interface. | D-STAR, DMR, C4FM and other documented protocols; selected cross-mode combinations are supported. An analog-only HT is not the digital-radio route. YSF/FCS access is not native WIRES-X room access. Official Features & Compatibility ↗ |
| Yaesu WIRES-X PDNYaesu + Windows PC | A supported Portable Digital Node transceiver, model-specific cables, WIRES-X software, Windows PC and internet. In Access Point mode, a second compatible C4FM HT talks through the node radio. | WIRES-X nodes and rooms. Direct Operation uses the connected radio itself; it is different from using a separate HT over RF. PDN does not require an HRI-200; registration, firmware and cable requirements still apply. Official WIRES-X Software & PDN Manuals ↗ |
Start with your HT’s mode, then your intended network. Choose a locally appropriate simplex gateway frequency using regional guidance; do not occupy calling channels or repeater inputs. Use your assigned callsign and required network registrations. A hotspot does not add RF modes to your HT.
Official product information reviewed November 3, 2026; not a hands-on interoperability test. Recheck quarterly and before purchase. Internet-linked communication depends on connectivity.
Yes. With a valid amateur license and the required validation, supported apps let you speak with other operators over the internet. Your device supplies the microphone and speaker. A connected gateway may carry the conversation onto RF; not every conversation uses an over-the-air link.
Listening is another path. Browser receivers such as WebSDR let you listen without transmitting or owning a radio. A remote transceiver service instead controls an actual station and requires appropriate operating privileges and access. Neither is the same as a voice-network app.
Official app information reviewed November 3, 2026. Platforms and network support can change; check the linked provider pages. Our preference is editorial, not a claim that one client reaches every network or room.
GMRS Radio · Explore GMRS Repeaters
A separate service: an amateur license does not grant GMRS privileges.
This is a curated starting directory, not a popularity ranking. Provider availability and access policies can change. Registration happens on the provider’s website; Ham101 never asks for your license documents or network passwords.
You don’t need to learn every mode—or buy everything—to take your next step.
Listen first, talk with other licensed operators online, or use a radio you already have. Start with one path.
Explore apps and listening options →Choose a region to find its coordinator and band plans. For a particular repeater, check the operator’s frequency, tone and access instructions.
Find regional resources →A club or experienced operator can help with your first contact. Ask questions, listen to local practice and introduce yourself with your assigned callsign.
Find a local club ↗No license yet? Start with Technician. Choose a study style that works for you.
Question practice · Web, iOS and Android
Free Website · $3.99 AppAdaptive question practice, explanations and practice exams. Pair it with a manual or course to build understanding. The website is free, including in a mobile browser.
Guided video lessons · Web, iOS and Android
Free Practice · Paid CoursesStructured lessons, videos and quizzes for learners who prefer a guided course. Technician is listed at $35 for lifetime access. Bundles and promotional prices vary.
Book-based learning · Online companion resources
Technician Manual · $32.95 List PriceThe Ham Radio License Manual, 6th Edition, explains radio fundamentals and operating practices while preparing you for Technician. Use this edition for exams beginning July 2026.
Already licensed? These providers also offer General and Amateur Extra resources. Choose the correct level and current question pool. Prices and availability can change; confirm with the provider.
Scheduled conversations. Familiar voices. A place to join in.
A curated starting collection of established US-hosted nets and networks. Operator-published schedules and access guidance, not a live activity monitor or popularity ranking.
AllStar, EchoLink and IRLP are linking systems, not RF digital modes. A bridge must be available for your chosen path. Listen to net control before checking in.
Use the operator’s official connection instructions for current rooms, talkgroups and reflector modules. A compatible radio plus a linked repeater or hotspot is typically needed; EchoLink may offer computer or phone access.
We look for published recurring schedules, named hosts or net-control procedures, established participation and official access guidance. These are editorial signals, not a guarantee of current operation or conduct. No independent audience ranking is available. Sources checked November 3, 2026; recheck before joining. Schedule times use the operator’s local time zone, including daylight saving where observed.
Plan Your Bands / GMRS Repeaters · Back to Listen & Talk
Find operator-reported active GMRS repeaters and their access settings.
GMRS requires its own license and suitable certified equipment. An amateur license does not grant GMRS privileges. Membership or owner permission may also be required for a repeater.
Only operator-reported active records within their review period appear here. A source check is not a radio test. We omit known offline, deactivated, conflicting and unconfirmed records. Listings expire after 30 days unless reviewed again. An empty state means a research gap, not proof of no repeaters.
Use the official operator link for notices and access requirements before traveling. A private tone is not guessed or copied from an unofficial source. Report discrepancies to the operator; our editorial review must resolve them before restoring a held record.
Community / Parks on the Air
Parks on the Air (POTA): hunt a park from home, or take a portable station outdoors.
POTA runs the program and defines its rules. Its official site is the place for park references, spots, accounts and credit; logging apps help you record contacts.
A hunter contacts an operator in a listed park. Open the official spotting page, find a station you can hear on a band and mode you may use, listen to their exchange, and call when invited. An account lets you track your progress.
Official Hunter Guide ↗Register with POTA, choose a listed park, and check the park agency’s boundaries, opening hours and operating restrictions. Bring your radio, antenna, power, a way to log, and a backup plan for weather and connectivity. Rehearse your station and logger before leaving.
A successful activation requires 10 eligible contacts within one UTC day. Use bands and modes your license permits. Land-repeater contacts do not count; direct VHF/UHF contacts can. Read the current official rules before operating.
Hunters: keep a personal log if you like, but POTA credit comes from the activator’s uploaded log. Hunters do not submit a separate POTA log.
Activators: record callsigns, UTC date/time, band and mode, and keep the correct park reference with your activation. Export an ADIF file (the standard contact-log exchange format), check it, and upload it through POTA’s My Log Uploads. Submit contacts even if you did not reach ten, so hunters can receive credit.
Android · iOS · Apple Silicon Macs via iPad app
A portable logger with POTA activity support. A practical starting point for phone or tablet logging. The official installation guide links to the app stores; no native Windows version is currently listed.
Windows · macOS · Linux · Mobile
A portable logger with offline operation, POTA park data and ADIF import/export. The official site provides desktop downloads and current product/pricing information. Check the platform and plan before choosing it.
These are independent logging tools, not POTA authorities. Paper logging followed by ADIF entry is also an option. Test an export before your first trip and keep a backup of your log.
POTA is not a contest. Set goals, build your park totals and follow your achievements in your POTA account. If you enjoy a competitive goal, work toward personal milestones rather than assuming contest scoring or exchanges apply.
Support Your Parks weekends offer a shared reason to get on the air. The official glossary describes them as the third full weekend of January, April, July and October. Check POTA’s current announcements before planning a trip.
There may be a POTA club or an amateur radio club with an active POTA group near you. Search ARRL’s club directory, then ask about park outings, portable operating and a mentor for your first activation. The directory is not a POTA-specific club list.
Official sources reviewed November 3, 2026. App availability and program details can change. Links lead to the responsible organization or software publisher; no software was installed or field-tested for this guide.
Meet nearby operators. Get outdoors. Build skills together.
Find a scheduled conversation or linked community, then choose an access path that fits your equipment.
Browse Nets & ReflectorsOperator-published schedules and access instructions; not a live activity monitor.
Meet nearby hams, join a club net, or find someone to help with your first contact.
Find a Club with ARRL ↗Try Parks on the Air: hunt from home, join a park outing, and learn to log your contacts.
Get Started with POTAPractice setting up a station and making contacts alongside other operators. Ask a local club how you can take part.
Explore ARRL Field Day ↗Download the Ham101 Logo & Icon Kit (ZIP)
A recent website check is not the same as a confirmed working repeater.
Our research points to official coordinators, operators and software publishers. Each resource carries its source and review date. Proposals, broken links and unresolved information stay clearly labeled.
The nationwide coordinator research and software directory are browsable. Detailed local repeater guides, correction submissions and automated monitoring are planned, not live services. No programming downloads are offered here.
Until a public correction channel is configured, record the resource name, official source URL and the detail that differs for the project maintainer. Do not send license documents or credentials.
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