General Class License Manual

While studying the ARRL General Class License Manual to prepare for your exam you may find that you need a bit more background to fully understand a topic. Maybe you'll just be curious and want to know more detail. Either way, this General Class License Manual web page is intended to act as your "study buddy. We recommend that you "bookmark" this site in your web browser.

The ARRL General Class License Manual, 10th edition has been updated for the latest changes in the FCC General license exam question pool. It will prepare you for the General license exam July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027.

Online Review and Practice Exams
Use the ARRL study manual with ARRL Exam Review for Ham Radio to review chapter by chapter. Take randomly generated practice exams using questions from the actual examination question pool.

Updates and Corrections to the General Class License Manual and the General Q&A
After publication we sometimes find omissions or need to make corrections to published content: Updates to GCLM 10th edition and General Q&A 7th edition (as of 11/27/2023).

Supplemental Information

Below you'll find resources and additional information about topics discussed in the study manual. The question pool in the order in which the questions are discussed in the General Class License Manual can be found in the General Study Guide.

Introduction

Each section of the General Class License Manual has numerous links to this Web site - for resources, study aides and reference. Learn More

Procedures & Practices

You’ll find that operating on the HF bands as a General Class licensee has many similarities to the operating you’ve done as a Technician. Learn More

Rules & Regulations

The FCC rules apply equally to HF and VHF+ operation, but there are a number of special situations that apply only to HF operation. Learn More

Components & Circuits

Part of becoming a General Class ham is learning more about electronics and radio so that you can take advantage of all those new privileges! Learn More

Signals, Modes and Equipment

As you advance to General, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the signals you use to communicate, and how they are received and transmitted. Learn More

Antennas

Antennas are the key to radio — without them, signals are not transmitted or received. Learn More

Propagation

Once a signal is traveling between antennas, how does it get from Point A to Point B? What makes bands open and close? Learn More