The Hamstudy Basic 2025 online self-study course is designed to help you prepare for success on the Basic Amateur Radio Certificate exam.
On 15 July, 2025, Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada implemented a new Basic Question Bank. The new bank contains 984 questions in 100 categories.
This course provides all 984 questions with instructional material relevant to every question.
To get a feel for how this self-study course is organized and operates, you can try the preview lessons below. They are exactly the same as the regular lessons, but do not require registration.
Introduction to Hamstudy Basic (preview without registration)
This introduction explains the ownership, history, and structure of the Hamstudy Basic course. In particular, it explains the conventions used for presentation and how best to use the material.
Lessons
Legal Preview About Radio Amateurs of Canada Preview About Hamstudy Preview Welcome to Amateur Radio Preview Changes to Hamstudy and the Basic Question Bank Preview How to get the most from Hamstudy PreviewChapter 1: Regulations and Policies (some lessons available in preview)
Amateur Radio in Canada is governed by an array of international agreements, federal law, regulations and policy. This chapter covers those topics in detail.
Lessons
B-001-000 –Introduction Preview B-001-001 –Radio licences, applicability, eligibility of licence holder Preview B-001-002 –Licence fee, term, posting requirements, change of address B-001-003 – Licence suspension or revocation, powers of radio inspectors, offences and punishments B-001-004 – Operator certificates, applicability, eligibility, equivalents, reciprocal recognition B-001-005 – Operation, repair and maintenance of radio apparatus on behalf of other persons B-001-006 – Operation of radio apparatus, terms of licence, applicable standards, exempt apparatus B-001-007 – Content restrictions – non-superfluous, profanity, secret code, music, non-commercial B-001-008 – Installation and operating restrictions – number of stations, repeaters, home-built, club stations B-001-009 – Participation in communications by visitors, use of station by others B-001-010 – Interference, determination, protection from interference B-001-011 – Emergency communications (real or simulated), communication with non-amateur stations B-001-012 – Non-remuneration, privacy of communications B-001-013 – Station identification, call signs, prefixes B-001-014 – Foreign amateur operation in Canada, banned countries, third-party messages B-001-015 – Frequency bands and qualification requirements B-001-016 – Maximum bandwidth by frequency bands B-001-017 – Restrictions on capacity and power output by qualifications B-001-018 – Unmodulated carriers, retransmission B-001-019 – Amplitude modulation, frequency stability, measurements B-001-020 – International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, applicability B-001-021 –Operation outside Canada, ITU regions, reciprocal privileges, international licences B-001-022 – Examinations – delegated examinations, disabled accommodation B-001-023 – Antenna structure approval, neighbour and land-use authority consultation B-001-024 – Radio frequency electromagnetic field limits B-001-025 – Criteria for resolution of radio frequency interference complaintsChapter 2: Operating and Procedures
Our conduct on the air is an essential part of the responsible use of the radio spectrum allocated to Amateur Radio. By following some well-established practices, your time on the air will be more pleasant and more efficient.
Lessons
B-002-000 – Introduction B-002-001 – Voice operating procedures – channelized VHF/UHF repeater B-002-002 – Phonetic alphabet B-002-003 – Voice operating procedures – simplex VHF/UHF and HF B-002-004 – Tuneups and testing, use of dummy load, courteous operation B-002-005 – Morse (CW) operating procedures, procedural signs B-002-006 – RST system of signal reporting, use of S meter B-002-007 – Q signals B-002-008 – Emergency operating procedures B-002-009 – Record keeping, confirmation practices, maps/charts, antenna orientationChapter 3: Station Assembly, Practice and Safety
This chapter includes detailed descriptions of fundmental concepts of AM, FM, SSB, CW and the digital data modes
Lessons
B-003-000- Introduction B-003-001 – Functional Layout of HF stations B-003-002 – Functional Layout of FM Transmitters B-003-003 – Functional Layout of FM Receivers B-003-004 – Functional Layout of CW Transmitters B-003-005 – Functional Layout of SSB/CW Receivers B-003-006 – Functional Layout of SSB Transmitters B-003-007 – Functional Layout of Digital Systems B-003-008 – Functional Layout of Regulated Power Supplies B-003-009 – Functional Layout of Yagi-Uda Antennas B-003-010 – Receiver Fundamentals B-003-011 – Transmitter Carrier, Keying and Amplitude Modulation Fundamentals B-003-012 – Carrier Suppression, SSB fundamentals B-003-013 – Frequency and Phase Modulation Fundamentals B-003-014 – Station accessories for telegraphy, radiotelephony digital modes B-003-015 – Digital Mode Fundamentals RTTY, ASCII, AMTOR, Packet B-003-016 – Cells and Batteries, Types, Ratings, Charging B-003-017 – Power Supply Fundamentals B-003-018 – Electrical Hazards, Electrical Safety, Security B-003-019 – Electrical Safety Ground, Capacitor Discharge, Fuse Replacement B-003-020 – Antenna and Tower Safety, Lightning Protection B-003-021 – Exposure of Human Body to RF, Safety PrecautionsChapter 4: Circuit Components
Our equipment is built from a wide variety of components. In this chapter, you will be required to show a general knowledge of them.
Lessons
B-004-000 – Introduction B-004-001 – Amplifier fundamentals B-004-002 – Diode Fundamentals B-004-003 – Bipolar transistor fundamentals B-004-004 – Field-effect transistor fundamentals B-004-005 – Triode vacuum tube fundamentals B-004-006 – Resistor colour codes, tolerances, temperature coefficientChapter 5: Basic Electronics and Theory
This chapter deals with various aspects of electrical theory and applied electronics.
Lessons
B-005-000 – Introduction B-005-001 – Metric Prefixes – pico, micro, milli, centi, kilo, mega, giga B-005-002 – Concepts of current, voltage, conductor, insulator, resistance B-005-003 – Concepts of energy and power, open and short circuits B-005-004 – Ohm’s law – single resistors B-005-005 – Series and parallel resistors B-005-006 – Power law, resistor power dissipation B-005-007 – AC, sine wave, frequency, frequency units B-005-008 – Ratios, logarithms, decibels B-005-009 – Introduction to inductance, capacitance B-005-010 – Introduction to reactance, impedance B-005-011 – Introduction to magnetics, transformers B-005-012 – Introduction to resonance, tuned circuits B-005-013 – Introduction to meters and measurementsChapter 6: Feedlines and Antenna Systems
Antenna systems are essential to your success in Amateur Radio. Antennas radiate the signals you generate with your transmitter and they collect the signals of the stations you want to contact and feed them to your receiver. Without antennas, we cannot communicate.
Lessons
B-006-000- Introduction B-006-001 – Feedline characteristics, characteristic impedance B-006-002 – Balanced and unbalanced feedlines, baluns B-006-003 – Popular antenna feedline and coaxial connector types B-006-004 – Line losses by line type, length and frequency B-006-005 – Standing waves, standing wave ratio (SWR) meter B-006-006 – Concept of impedance matching B-006-007 – Isotropic source, polarization via element orientation B-006-008 – Wavelength vs physical length B-006-009 – Gain, directivity, radiation pattern, antenna bandwidth B-006-010 – Vertical antennas – types, dimensions, characteristics B-006-011 – Yagi antennas, – types, dimensions, characteristics B-006-012 – Wire antennas – types, dimensions, characteristics B-006-013 – Quad/loop antennas – types, dimensions, characteristicsChapter 7: Radio Wave Propagation
The term “propagation” refers to the ways in which radio signals travel from transmitter to receiver. The single most important influence on radio wave propagation is the sun. The ways in which the sun influences radio wave propagation are many and varied.
Lessons
B-007-000 – Introduction B-007-001 – Line of sight, groundwave, ionospheric wave (sky wave) B-007-002 – Ionosphere, ionospheric regions (layers) B-007-003 – Propagation hops, skip zone, skip distance B-007-004 – Ionospheric absorption, causes and variation, fading, phase shift, Faraday rotation B-007-005 – Solar activity, sunspots, sunspot cycle B-007-006 – MF and HF, critical and maximum useable frequencies, solar flux B-007-007 – VHF and UHF, sporadic-E, aurora, ducting B-007-008 – Scatter – HF, VHF, UHFChapter 8: Interference and Suppression
Because we use radio transmitters, Radio Amateurs may cause our neighbours some grief. Many modern electronic devices can be affected and malfunction because of a nearby transmitter. To be a good neighbour, you have to help find ways to mitigate interference problems.