American Aid Worker Tests Positive for Ebola in Congo — Outbreak Death Toll Tops 600

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I passed my ham radio Technician license exam last month. Thirty-five multiple-choice questions. I studied for about a week using a free app. The exam was $15. I'm now licensed to transmit on frequencies that reach further, carry more information, and access more infrastructure than any consumer radio. The barrier to entry was smaller than I expected.

Here's what I've got this morning.

Ham Radio: The Technician License in One Week

We covered FRS and GMRS radios in Issue 55. Ham radio is the next level: longer range, more frequencies, access to repeater networks and emergency communication systems, and the ability to communicate globally under the right conditions.

The Technician license is the entry-level FCC amateur radio license. It grants access to VHF and UHF frequencies (the most useful for local and regional communication), repeater networks, satellite communication, and digital modes. The exam has 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from a public question pool. You need 26 correct to pass.

Study resources are free or nearly free. HamStudy.org provides the full question pool with explanations. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual ($33) covers everything in depth. Apps like Ham Test Prep ($0 to $5) let you take practice exams on your phone. Most people pass after 5 to 10 hours of study over 1 to 2 weeks.

The exam is administered by Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams across the country. Sessions are held at libraries, fire stations, and ham club meetings. Some are available online. The exam fee is $15.

With the Technician license and a handheld radio ($25 to $60), you can access local repeaters that extend your communication range to 50+ miles. During emergencies, ham radio operators provide communication when all other systems fail. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) coordinate with official emergency management.

A basic handheld ham radio (like the BaoFeng UV-5R at about $25) gives you a functional emergency communication device. It's not the best radio, but it's the cheapest way to get on the air and start learning.

The real value isn't the radio itself. It's joining a communication network of licensed operators who practice emergency communication regularly. Your local ham club likely has weekly nets (scheduled on-air check-ins) that you can join for practice.

Download the HamStudy.org app and take a practice Technician exam.

See how you score without studying. Most people get 15 to 20 out of 35 correct on their first attempt based on general knowledge alone. The gap between your score and the 26 needed to pass is what you'll study.

FCC Just Rewrote the Ham Radio Technician Exam

The entry-level license exam covered in this issue is now testing on a brand-new question pool. Effective July 1, 2026, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators retired the 2022–2026 pool (412 questions) and replaced it with one built for 2026–2030: 409 questions total, including 27 new questions, 30 removed, and roughly 155 rewritten or updated. The changes lean hard into digital modes — new questions cover DMR code plugs and color codes, Winlink for emergency email, and FT8 privileges for Technicians. If you studied from an older ARRL manual or practice app, confirm it's the 2026–2030 edition before you sit for the exam; anything built for the 2022 pool is now out of date.

Source: ARRL, HamStudy.org

Joshua Enyart (Gray Bearded Green Beret) uses radio communication in his outdoor education programs. In Surviving the Wild, he writes about communication as a force multiplier for every other survival skill. You can find water, build shelter, and provide first aid, but if you can't communicate your location or coordinate with others, you're limited to what one person can do alone.

Enyart considers a ham radio license the highest-value communication investment for anyone serious about preparedness. The license costs $15 and opens access to equipment and networks that no consumer radio can match.

American Aid Worker Tests Positive for Ebola in Congo as Outbreak's Death Toll Tops 600

The CDC confirmed Friday that a U.S. citizen working for a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease. The State Department says it's aware of the case and is working to support the American; no details on the person's condition have been released. The case lands as the underlying DRC outbreak, first confirmed in Ituri Province on May 15, has grown to 1,759 confirmed cases nationwide, with the death toll reaching 600 as of July 9. New suspected cases have now appeared beyond the original epicenter, in Tshopo and Haut-Uele provinces, and Africa CDC says this is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on the continent. There is no FDA-approved vaccine or treatment for this strain, and historical mortality rates for it run 25 to 50 percent. CDC says the risk of spread to the U.S. remains low. If you have family or colleagues working abroad in an active outbreak zone, check CDC's current travel health notices before they go, and agree on a check-in plan that doesn't depend on the local cell network staying up.

Source: CDC, NPR

BaoFeng UV-5R Handheld Radio (With Technician License)

The UV-5R is the most common entry-level ham radio. It transmits on both VHF (2m) and UHF (70cm) bands, has a range of 3 to 10 miles depending on terrain (dramatically more through repeaters), and runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts about 12 hours of active use.

With my Technician license, I've been checking into my local ham club's weekly net, monitoring emergency frequencies, and testing range with another licensed friend. Through a local repeater, we've communicated clearly at 25 miles.

The radio's biggest limitation is the stock antenna. Upgrading to a Nagoya NA-771 antenna (about $18) roughly doubles effective range. About $25 for the radio.

Budget alternative: There is no cheaper entry point. The UV-5R at $25 is the floor. But you need the $15 license first. Total: $40 for licensed, functional ham radio capability.

Overrated: Expensive ham radios for beginners. A $500 Yaesu or Kenwood is a better radio, but the $25 BaoFeng gets you on the air, learning, and connected to your local ham community. Upgrade after you know what features you actually need.

Underrated: Local ham radio clubs. Most meet monthly, many offer free license exam prep, and the experienced operators are generous with their knowledge. Joining a club accelerates your learning dramatically and connects you to the emergency communication network in your area.

HamStudy.org — Free Technician exam study and practice tests.

ARRL.org — American Radio Relay League. Find local clubs and exam sessions.

RepeaterBook.com — Directory of ham radio repeaters by location.

Grokipedia: Amateur Radio — Background on ham radio history and operations.

ARES/RACES — Amateur Radio Emergency Service information and volunteer opportunities.

The hiker and day-tripper kit. A lightweight emergency kit for people who spend time outdoors recreationally and want to come home safely every time.

THE READY BRIEF is published for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here is professional legal, medical, financial, or tactical advice. Preparedness looks different for every household — use your own judgment, consult qualified professionals when the stakes are high, and adapt what you read here to your actual situation.