Get licensed. Get on the air. Make contacts.
Shack Book turns Claude into the Elmer every new ham wishes they had. It coaches you through the exam with real understanding, plans a station that fits your space and budget, does the antenna and power math, sets up FT8 without the headaches, keeps your log in UTC and gets you ready for POTA, contests and nets.
Get Shack Book Ham Companion for $19 Calculate my antenna
- One-time $19
- Instant email delivery
- 14-day refund
- Works on any Claude plan, even free
Station plan: first HF setup, apartment
General class · 2nd floor balcony · HOA rules · budget $900
Privileges checkedRF exposure noted40, 20 and 10 m
- Radio100 W HF transceiver, usedRun 25 to 50 W from the balcony for RF exposure marginBuy
- AntennaEnd-fed wire on a fishing-pole mastUp when operating, down after · away from the power line on the streetBuild
- MathDipole for 14.074 MHz: 33.3 ft total468 ÷ 14.074 · cut 34.5 ft and trim for SWR under 1.5Calc
- ModeStart on FT8: works with low power and small antennasAudio levels, CAT control and time sync checklist readyNext
From exam prep to your hundredth contact
One companion for new and upgrading hams. US, Canadian and UK license levels, with your country's rules.
Exam study
Technician, General and Extra (or Canadian and UK levels) with concept explanations and practice drills.
Antenna and SWR math
Dipoles, verticals, radials, SWR fixes and feedline loss, in feet and meters.
Station planning
A shopping list in priority order for your space, budget and HOA rules.
FT8 and digital modes
A setup checklist for audio, CAT and time sync, and fixes when nothing decodes.
Logs in UTC
Clean contact logs with ADIF field names for LoTW, QRZ or your logger.
POTA, SOTA, contests and nets
Activation plans, exchange practice, net check-ins and an emergency go-kit.
Ask it like you'd ask your Elmer
It checks your license class before it suggests a frequency.
Yes, on 10 meters, with a limit
US Technicians have data privileges on part of 10 m (28.0 to 28.3 MHz) at up to 200 W PEP. The standard 10 m FT8 frequency, 28.074 MHz USB, is inside that range. 10 m is lively in a strong solar cycle, mostly in daytime.
Technicians also have data and phone on 6 m and up, so FT8 on 50.313 MHz works too, especially in summer openings.
What you can't do yet
20 m and 40 m FT8 (14.074 and 7.074 MHz) need General. That's your best reason to upgrade.
Want a quick setup checklist for WSJT-X, and a General study plan?
Legal, safe and courteous
Shack Book helps you operate well, and never outside your privileges.
- Privileges firstEvery frequency and mode is checked against your license class and country.
- Antenna safetyPower lines, lightning, grounding and RF exposure, every time.
- Concepts, not crammingOriginal practice questions and explanations; it points you to the official pool.
- Sources namedBand plans and rules change. It names the ARRL, RAC, RSGB or regulator to confirm.
Up and running in two minutes
No app to learn and nothing to install on your computer. It lives inside Claude.
Buy once
Pay $19 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download link arrives by email in about a minute.
Add it to Claude
Upload the ZIP in Claude under Customize, then Skills. It takes about 30 seconds. No setup, no accounts.
Just ask
"Explain this exam question." "How long is a 40 m dipole?" "My FT8 isn't decoding."
Start with the free Antenna Calculator
A small skill that works out starting lengths for dipoles and verticals in feet and meters, explains how to trim for low SWR, and checks the frequency against your license.
- Dipoles, verticals and radials
- Trim-for-SWR steps
- Privilege and safety check
Get Shack Book Ham Companion
Pay once, use it from exam day on. Includes the free Antenna Calculator too.
How to add it
- Claude on the web or desktop: don't unzip it. Open Customize, then Skills, click +, choose Upload a skill and pick the ZIP. It works on any Claude plan, including the free one: just turn on code execution in Settings, Capabilities.
- Claude Code:
unzip shack-book-ham-companion.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/ - Start a new chat and try: "I'm studying for my Technician license. Build me a two-week study plan and quiz me on the hardest topic."
Shack Book Ham Companion
Study, set up, operate and log.
$19 one time
- Exam study and practice drills
- Privileges and band plans
- Antenna, SWR and feedline math
- Station planning
- FT8 and digital mode setup
- UTC logs with ADIF fields
- POTA, SOTA, contests and nets
- Updates for a year
Secure checkout by Stripe. Taxes calculated at checkout. 14-day refund.
Prefer to buy on Etsy? Get it on Etsy
New to Claude?
Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic, like ChatGPT. Shack Book is a skill: a set of expert instructions you add to your own Claude account, so Claude answers like a Elmer who checks your license class first who knows the craft.
- Make a Claude account at claude.ai. Skills work on every plan, including the free one; paid plans give more usage.
- Turn on code execution in Settings, Capabilities (skills need it).
- Try the free Antenna Calculator skill first. If you like it, the full skill is one purchase.
Not ready for Claude? The free dipole calculator on this site works in any browser, no account needed.
Questions
Does it include the official question pool?
It writes original practice questions in the exam's style and explains the concepts. For the official pool and full practice exams, it points you to the published pool and free practice sites.
Which countries?
It knows the US (Technician, General, Extra), Canada (Basic, Basic with Honors, Advanced) and the UK (Foundation, Intermediate, Full) best, and adapts to other countries if you tell it the rules.
Can it program my radio?
It lays out the channel settings (frequency, offset, tone) for you to enter by hand or in programming software like CHIRP.
I'm not licensed yet. Can I use it?
Yes. Listening is fine anywhere, and it will help you study. It won't help you transmit until you're licensed.
What do I need to use it?
A Claude account on any plan, including the free one, with code execution turned on (Settings, Capabilities). Free accounts have lower usage limits, so long planning sessions go further on a paid plan. It works in Claude on the web, the desktop app and Claude Code.
What if it doesn't work for me?
Email hello@whatiflabs.ai within 14 days of buying and we'll refund you in full. No forms, no questions.