How long Technician, General, and Extra take if you actually study.
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Handheld transceiver (HT)The Baofeng UV-5R is the cheapest way in; the Yaesu FT-65 and Kenwood TH-D74 are the step up with better build and receive. Get your Tech license first.
Coax cable + connectorsRG-8X is the compromise between RG-58 loss and RG-8 bulk. Good PL-259 connectors and proper weatherproofing prevent more problems than most operators expect.
SWR meter / antenna analyzerA basic SWR meter tells you if your antenna is matched. NanoVNA is the $50 tool that replaced $300 analyzers for most hobbyists.
RTL-SDR dongleA $25 RTL-SDR V3 lets you receive everything from aircraft transponders to weather satellites. The rabbit hole is real.
Morse code key / paddleA straight key for learning; an iambic paddle once you're comfortable. Bencher BY-1 and N3ZN paddles are the two that don't wobble.
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