Becoming an Amateur Radio operator has never been so easy. The ARRL has a few self-study guides to help you prepare for your exams.
The Technician exam is only 35 multiple choice questions pulled from a published question pool which is included with the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. Plus there are websites and apps for your cell phone to take practice exams.
Follow this link for details on the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual.
Want to save a few dollars and be able to study anywhere on your smartphone, tablet, or computer? Here is a link to the Kindle Edition and how to put the Kindle app on your device.
Follow this link to a map of Texas which shows the North, West, and South Texas sections as definded by the ARRL. The STX part of the map has been setup so that if you click on a county the pop up table will display the Section, District and County Emergency Coordinators plus a link to where they can post meeting info. Then simply follow the County link.
Note: Not all browser and operating systems work 100%. For Windows 7 and 10 Firefox seems to work fine. If your browser shows just the Section, SEC, and County name you need to try a different browser.
Follow this link to the ARRL website to join the ARRL and learn the benifits of becoming one of the 160,000 members of the only national organization representing Amateur Radio in the US.
How to Find a Local Club using the ARRL website:
Follow the link the ARRL website to Search for ARRL Affiliated Clubs. You can search by Zip Code, City, State plus a few other ways. This is a great tool if you want to scope out clubs you can visit on your next trek across the states or while on vacation.
ARES Membership Requirements:
Every licensed amateur regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable but is not a requirement for membership. A second requirement is a desire to serve.