I started with a $25 RTL-SDR v3 kit that includes two antennas (for VHF and UHF, approximately). That allowed me to listen in on 2m and 70cm band repeaters, and familiarize myself with the language, etiquette, modes, etc. I recommend that to anyone that is interested in amateur radio, and you can still make good use of that stick once you get a transceiver, by using it as a spectrum scope / waterfall. From there, a $40 Baofeng will allow you to get used to the feel and operation of the radio, just don't transmit until you get your Technician license. You can sometimes get the Technician study book for free from ARRL by signing up for their welcome packet, or check it out from your library. The exam costs $15 or less, and you can cram study for it at hamstudy.org. (The few-dollar HamStudy mobile app is also worth the cost.)
That gets you a SDR with spectrum scope and waterfall, a portable HT UHF/VHF transceiver, and your Technician license, for ~$80. From there, you can look into getting your General license to transmit on HF, and a cheap HF radio and antenna, for less than $500 total. A higher quality HT like an Icom or Yaesu would be money well spent for VHF/UHF, as the Baofeng is notoriously hard to program and allows you to transmit outside the legal band limits.
(Note: the RTL-SDR works best for VHF and UHF. For an HF SDR, you'll want to check out something like the Airspy HF+ Discovery and perhaps a cheap $30 magnetic loop antenna from eBay, which is what I use.)
Edit: My apologies for the acronyms. SDR is software defined radio, allowing you to receive radio signals on your computer. HT is "handy-talkie" or handheld transceiver. HF/VHF/UHF are defined in the parent post.
* https://hamstudy.org/ is the go-to place to study for your license, and it's free. Use it, love it, thank the devs after you get your license.
* Don't listen to the naysayers (which aren't as loud these days), a Baofeng radio is a perfectly acceptable first radio, and it's impossible to beat the price.
* If your interests tend towards the tinkering with electronics side, you can pick up inexpensive/generic RTL-SDR dongles cheaply (less than $10) and modify them to receive HF. Or use them as-is.
* For zero dollars, you can use someone else's web-connected SDR, such as https://websdr.org/
* Look around at the various digital modes (there are many, with FT8 and WSPR being the most popular at the moment), especially if you're into computers. Many allow a structured way to get familiar with things without worrying about messing up on the etiquette front.
* For an HF rig, the uBitx (https://ubitx.net/ & https://www.hfsignals.com/) is hard to beat, and they just introduced a new version (v6). $199 with a case ($150 without) will get you a full-band, all mode, dual VFO 10 watt radio. That's unbelievable value for an HF rig. Add an amp later on for more power.
* For HF especially focus on making/buying good antennas before you go spend a bunch of money on radios.
Whatever you do, don't give up on it until you have tried HF in a semi-serious way, at least by visiting a functioning HF station and tuning around. In my view, VHF local FM can be great or very boring depending on where you live and the local community, whereas HF reaches all over the world and feels a lot different than a phone call.
Anyone who wants a demo should post their location in this thread... My station can be demo'ed just via a laptop (remotely, such as from a bar or coffee shop) and I'm sure many of us who are hams would be happy to help any interested person from HN get familiar with what it's all about.
That gets you a SDR with spectrum scope and waterfall, a portable HT UHF/VHF transceiver, and your Technician license, for ~$80. From there, you can look into getting your General license to transmit on HF, and a cheap HF radio and antenna, for less than $500 total. A higher quality HT like an Icom or Yaesu would be money well spent for VHF/UHF, as the Baofeng is notoriously hard to program and allows you to transmit outside the legal band limits.
(Note: the RTL-SDR works best for VHF and UHF. For an HF SDR, you'll want to check out something like the Airspy HF+ Discovery and perhaps a cheap $30 magnetic loop antenna from eBay, which is what I use.)
Edit: My apologies for the acronyms. SDR is software defined radio, allowing you to receive radio signals on your computer. HT is "handy-talkie" or handheld transceiver. HF/VHF/UHF are defined in the parent post.