Ground Wave
Before you get your license and go on-air, it’s smart (and fun) to lurk — to listen, study, and absorb the hobby. This gives you a feel for proper radio etiquette, the technical side of communication, and even helps you choose what kind of ham activity you want to pursue.
1: Scanner Apps & Websites
These let you listen in on ham bands and other radio services (like police, fire, and weather). You're not transmitting, just monitoring public broadcasts.
Popular Options:
Broadcastify – Streams public safety, amateur repeaters, and more.
Scanner Radio App (iOS/Android) – Easy to use; organized by location.
Radio Garden – Lets you listen to live radio stations worldwide (not ham, but useful for tuning your ear).
RTL-SDR Blog – If you get an SDR dongle (see below), you can use your own gear to listen to ham bands.
Note: Some scanner apps filter out ham radio because it’s less popular than police/fire channels. For deeper access, use WebSDRs or an SDR dongle.
WebSDRs (Software-Defined Radios Online)
A WebSDR is a website connected to a real radio that you can control remotely through your browser. You choose frequency, mode, and filter settings just like a real ham.
Where to Try It:
http://websdr.org – Massive list of SDRs all over the world.
Tune into HF, VHF, UHF, CW (Morse), SSB, digital modes, etc.
Why WebSDRs Rock:
You can listen worldwide (e.g., tune into Europe or Asia from your home).
You can hear how bands change with time of day and solar conditions.
You can hear digital tones and CW and learn to recognize them by ear.
Get an SDR Dongle (Optional, ~$30)
If you want to build your own listening station, pick up a USB SDR dongle like the RTL-SDR v3. Plug it into your computer, install free software (like SDR#, CubicSDR, or HDSDR), and you’ve got your own wideband receiver.
With it, you can:
Monitor local repeaters or HF traffic
Decode weather data, digital ham modes, or even aircraft (ADS-B)
Explore non-ham radio signals: marine, satellites, shortwave broadcasts, etc.
No license needed — receiving is legal nearly everywhere, as long as you’re not decoding encrypted or private signals.
What to Listen For (Lurking with Intent)
When you listen, pay attention to:
Call signs and IDs (legally required every 10 minutes)
How people “check in” on repeaters or nets
Emergency traffic protocol (very formal)
Contesting styles on HF (fast, efficient exchanges)
Morse rhythm (dit-dit-dah becomes intuitive with time)
You’ll start to hear patterns — pauses, “over to you” phrases, Q-codes, phonetics, even regional slang.
Legality: Can You Do This Without a License
Yes. In almost every country (including the U.S., U.K., and most of Europe), it is 100% legal to listen to amateur radio without a license. You only need a license to transmit.
Exceptions: Don’t decode encrypted private traffic (e.g., police or military comms if scrambled). Stick with publicly accessible broadcasts like ham radio.
Pro Tip: Keep a Listening Log
Create a simple journal or spreadsheet:
Date / time
Frequency
Mode (SSB, FM, CW, etc.)
What you heard
Who was talking
Your questions or observations
This turns passive listening into active learning.
Want More Practice?
Practice with online ham exams while you listen.
Join a local ham club — most welcome guests.
Use QRZ.com to look up call signs you hear.