At the end of the week, you should know your operating privileges, have a reliable learning contact, understand basic radio operation and have a plan for your next on-air experiment.
This plan assumes U.S. amateur radio licensing. If you are still waiting for your license grant, complete the receive-only activities first and do not transmit. You don't need to buy equipment to begin: club mentoring and internet SDRs can help you explore.
Day 1
Confirm your license and privileges
Find your FCC record, confirm that your grant is active, and note your callsign and current license class.
Check: I know which frequencies I am permitted to transmit on.
Day 2
Find your radio community
Find a nearby club or mentor, identify a local repeater, and write down its frequency, offset and tone. Ask someone local to verify the listing.
Check: I have one club or mentor contact and one verified repeater configuration.
Day 3
Get comfortable with your radio
Read the radio manual, identify volume and squelch controls, and practice listening before transmitting. Save a working receive-only memory.
Check: I can tune and hear a signal safely without pressing PTT.
Day 4
Listen to amateur activity
Listen to a local repeater net or use a browser-based HF receiver. Note callsigns, frequency and how operators communicate.
Check: I can describe one contact or exchange I heard.
Day 5
Prepare a first contact
Check antenna connection, repeater configuration, license privileges and channel activity. Read the printable first-contact script and consider practicing with a mentor.
Check: I can describe what I will say and when I should not transmit.
Day 6
Make a contact or practice receiving
If your license is granted and conditions are safe, attempt a brief repeater contact. Otherwise, join a mentor for a listening session and rehearse without transmitting.
Check: I recorded a legal contact or documented a receive-only practice session.
Day 7
Choose your next experiment
Decide whether you want to explore HF, Morse code, digital modes, antennas or portable operation. Pick one small project or club activity.
Check: I have a concrete next activity and a resource to help me try it.
Safety and good operating habits
Transmit only after your license grant is active and only within the privileges of your class. Verify local repeater details, keep antennas clear of power lines, use sound electrical practices, and follow current RF-exposure requirements. Ask an experienced operator whenever your equipment or installation raises doubts.
For a club mentor
Invite each learner to choose one day's activity during the first meeting. In the follow-up, ask what they observed, not whether they completed all seven days. The Club Learning Guide includes a session plan you can adapt.