Clearly, you guys know HF. I don’t want to have to rely on repeaters. Can you recommend an HF radio to start off with? Nothing too fancy, too heavy or too powerful. If we’re off grid we have to consider our capacity to generate enough power. Thanks!
I used both, passed both tests missing zero questions. I spent about 10 hours total studying for my Tech license, about the same amount of time studying for my General Class license.
The Tech License test is 35 questions based mostly on operating principles, FCC rules and common sense. A 10 year old can pass it easily.
The General Class is a little harder requiring some basic electronics principles, more FCC rules, operating principles and common sense.
I've been a "ham" for 5 years. Great hobby, absolutely love it. It's the one hobby where you can spend as little as you want and still talk great distances, or spent alot of money (like I did) putting up towers, big beams, etc.. and talk the world.
I'm not a "full blown" SHTF prepper like some are on here -- we have our food reserves, fuel reserves, own power generation and can live off-grid for about 6 months before we get into trouble. My amateur radio station I can operate completely off-grid via my generators and do so on Field Day each year.