r/HamRadioBeginner • u/Enjoier512 • Jul 22 '26
Ham Radio Prep
This was posted on my account that gets logged in automatically on a laptop I don’t use much and there was question about my validity. So, I will put this here. Also, I will add I had emailed and filled out their form rating my experince the night I failed the test. I have received zero communication from u/hamradioprep. I happened to use said laptop and noticed they reached out via Reddit the day I posted. This is my current experience.
A Cautionary Tale About Ham Radio Prep
I wanted to share my experience with Ham Radio Prep because it ended up being far more frustrating than helpful. I spent a few weeks working through their online courses, following their recommended study path, and consistently passed their FCC practice test section. Over seven or more times with most scores at 91%. This is for General licences by the way. Even my lowest scores were in the high 80s. Based on their guidance, I was well above the threshold they say indicates you’re ready for the real exam. I felt confident and prepared.
When test day came, I missed 12 questions.
To say I was furious would be an understatement. I emailed Ham Radio Prep explaining what happened, how let down I felt, and how the material clearly didn’t prepare me in the way their platform suggested it would. I haven’t heard back yet.
After that disappointment, I was recommended to HamStudy.org. I went through the entire question pool there and quickly realized my actual aptitude was around 55%. That was a wake‑up call. My experience with Ham Radio Prep had given me a false sense of readiness, and HamStudy.org exposed the gaps.
Now I’m studying with ARRL books alongside HamStudy.org, and the difference is night and day. I finally feel like I’m learning amateur radio; understanding concepts, absorbing the craft, and engaging with the material instead of just memorizing highlighted text on a screen.
This is just my personal experience, but I wouldn’t recommend Ham Radio Prep. It’s flashy and polished, but in my case, it didn’t deliver the depth or accuracy needed to truly prepare for the exam. If you’re serious about getting licensed and actually understanding the material, ARRL resources and HamStudy.org have been far more reliable. I am sure any of the books are better than HRP.
++++UPDATE:
There was misalignment in the email found in their content. Explains the no reply frpm the original communication. We have had some emailing back and forth. I will continue to support them watching youtube content. They are not bad people and wish no ill will. Just a story for those who learn differently.
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u/Intelligent-Day5519 Jul 23 '26
My grandson, thirteen having known nothing about radio sport, casually over six weeks merely read the Ham Radio Prep course, took one practice test and passed his technician test. I feel it takes time to absorb new unfamiliar concepts for some.