Amateur radio, colloquially "ham radio", is a fun and engaging hobby that pertains to the use of radio devices to communicate with others. Ham radio is a lot easier to get into than it was in years past. In this article, I'll talk more about ham radio and how to study for and obtain a license.
Ham radio has a lot of diverse uses. Some amateur operators like to use ham radio as a powerful long-distance communication method for overlanding, backpacking, cycling, etc. when other methods, like cell phones, are unavailable or unreliable. Others like to use HF (high-frequency) communication to bounce signals off the atmosphere and talk all over the world. Some people like voice modulation, and others prefer CW (Morse code). After obtaining your license you can explore many options for how to get the most out of the hobby! Personally, I use ham radio for communicating in small groups when hiking and camping, as well as HF to talk around the world.
Ham radio is split into frequency ranges or bands. The most common are VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency). These are primarily used for repeater and short-range communication. HF (High Frequency) is used for long-distance worldwide communication, and HF stations require more skill to maintain and operate.
You do need a license to operate a ham radio. I'll detail the steps for obtaining a license in the US and Canada below, as well as the various license classes/levels.
The US has three progressive license classes, Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Each progresses in difficulty, granting increased privileges each time. You have to take the tests in order, although you may opt to take multiple tests in the same testing session. Technician grants mainly VHF and UHF privileges, so most people planning to only use ham radio for short-range communication chooses to stay at the Technician level. General grants you the bulk of HF privileges. Amateur Extra grants you all amateur radio frequency allocations. The tests are 35 questions for Tech and General. Extra tests are 50 questions, and the questions on Extra are much more challenging than Technician and General.
Canada technically only two tests, but the first test grants you Basic or Basic with Honours depending on your score. The highest level is Advanced, although Basic with Honours grants all privileges most amateurs need. Basic is awarded to those who score between 70 and 80% on the test, and BH is awarded to those who score 80% or higher. BH grants HF privileges along with VHF/UHF, whereas Basic only grants VHF/UHF. Advanced is taken by repeater operators and those seeking HF privileges who only have the Basic qualification. The Basic test is 100 questions. The Advanced test is only 50 questions, although the questions asked are much harder.
Overall, the hobby of amateur radio operating is a lot of fun, and is a great way to learn about electromagnetic physics and electronics!