FCC Amateur Radio General License

What is the maximum transmitter power output allowed for General class licensees on most HF bands?

• A100 watts PEP
• B500 watts PEP
• C1000 watts PEP
• D1500 watts PEP

Which of the following frequency bands is available to General class licensees but NOT to Technician class licensees for phone (voice) operation?

• A2 meters (144-148 MHz)
• B70 centimeters (420-450 MHz)
• C20 meters (14.225-14.350 MHz)
• D6 meters (50-54 MHz)

How long is an amateur radio license valid before it must be renewed?

• A5 years
• B7 years
• C10 years
• DLifetime

What is the FCC application fee for a new amateur radio license as of 2024?

• A$15
• B$25
• C$35
• D$50

Which ITU region applies to amateur radio operators in North and South America?

• ARegion 1
• BRegion 2
• CRegion 3
• DRegion 4

Under FCC rules, what types of one-way transmissions are permitted for amateur stations?

• ABroadcasting news and music
• BTransmitting encrypted messages for privacy
• CBeacon operation, telecommand of model craft, and brief transmissions for propagation tes…
• DCommercial advertisements during contests

What is the purpose of the Volunteer Monitor Program?

• ATo collect license fees on behalf of the FCC
• BTo encourage amateur radio operators to self-regulate and comply with FCC rules
• CTo provide emergency communication training
• DTo grade amateur radio license exams

Under what circumstances may an amateur station transmit messages for hire or material compensation?

• ADuring contest operations
• BWhen relaying third-party traffic internationally
• CUnder no circumstances
• DWhen operating under RACES activation

Which of the following is required when a General class control operator permits a non-licensed person to transmit on their station?

• AThe non-licensed person must first pass a written exam
• BThe control operator must continuously monitor and control the station
• CThe non-licensed person may only transmit on VHF/UHF frequencies
• DThird-party communications are not permitted under any circumstances

What is the maximum height above ground at which an amateur antenna structure does not require FAA notification?

• A100 feet (30.5 meters)
• B150 feet (45.7 meters)
• C200 feet (61 meters)
• D300 feet (91.4 meters)

What is the proper way to indicate you are looking for a contact on the HF phone bands?

• ATransmit 'Mayday' followed by your call sign
• BTransmit 'CQ' a few times, followed by 'this is' and your call sign, then pause to listen
• CTransmit your call sign repeatedly for at least 60 seconds
• DTransmit 'Breaker, breaker' followed by your call sign

Which sideband is conventionally used for voice (phone) operation on HF frequencies below 10 MHz?

• AUpper sideband (USB)
• BLower sideband (LSB)
• CDouble sideband (DSB)
• DVestigial sideband (VSB)

What does the Q signal 'QRL?' mean when sent in CW?

• AWhat is your frequency?
• BAre you busy? / Is this frequency in use?
• CWill you relay my message?
• DWhat is your signal strength?

When is an amateur station allowed to use any means at its disposal to assist another station in distress?

• AOnly during a declared RACES emergency
• BAt any time during an actual emergency
• COnly when authorized by the FCC
• DOnly during scheduled drills

What is the correct procedure for breaking into an ongoing conversation on an HF frequency?

• ATransmit 'Break, break' repeatedly until acknowledged
• BWait for a pause between transmissions and say your call sign
• CTransmit on a slightly different frequency to get their attention
• DKey your transmitter for 5 seconds to signal you want to talk

What frequency should be used to send a distress call on HF?

• A14.300 MHz only
• BThe national calling frequency of 146.520 MHz
• CWhichever frequency has the best chance of communicating the distress message
• DThe nearest repeater input frequency

Which of the following is a common frequency for the digital mode FT8 on the 20-meter band?

• A14.070 MHz
• B14.074 MHz
• C14.100 MHz
• D14.230 MHz

What does RACES stand for and when can it be activated?

• ARadio Amateur Civil Emergency Service; activated by a civil defense organization during a…
• BRapid Amateur Communication Emergency System; activated anytime by any amateur operator
• CRadio Amateur Contest Emergency Service; activated during major contests
• DRegional Amateur Communications Emergency Service; activated by the ARRL

What is an azimuthal projection map used for in amateur radio?

• ATo determine the SWR of an antenna system
• BTo show true bearings and distances from a specific location
• CTo calculate the maximum usable frequency
• DTo identify repeater locations in a region

What is the purpose of Winlink in amateur radio?

• AA real-time voice communication network
• BAn amateur radio wireless network to send and receive email
• CA satellite tracking system for amateur stations
• DA digital contest logging system

Which layer of the ionosphere is primarily responsible for long-distance HF propagation during the daytime?

• AD layer
• BE layer
• CF1 layer
• DF2 layer

What effect does a higher sunspot number generally have on HF propagation?

• AIt decreases the maximum usable frequency
• BIt increases the maximum usable frequency
• CIt eliminates skip zone effects
• DIt only affects VHF propagation

What is the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF)?

• AThe highest frequency at which a transmitter can operate
• BThe highest frequency that will be refracted back to Earth by the ionosphere for a given…
• CThe maximum frequency allowed by FCC regulations for a given license class
• DThe frequency at which maximum power output is achieved

What is the approximate height of the F2 layer of the ionosphere?

• A60-90 km (37-56 miles)
• B100-150 km (62-93 miles)
• C150-200 km (93-124 miles)
• D250-400 km (155-249 miles)

What is Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation used for?

• ALong-distance international communication above 14 MHz
• BShort-distance communication (up to ~300 miles) using high-angle radiation on lower HF ba…
• CEarth-Moon-Earth bouncing for VHF contacts
• DTropospheric ducting on UHF frequencies

What is the K index used to indicate?

• AThe power output of a transmitter
• BThe short-term stability of the Earth's geomagnetic field
• CThe frequency of solar flares
• DThe ionospheric absorption rate on 160 meters

What happens to HF propagation when the D layer of the ionosphere is heavily ionized?

• ALong-distance propagation improves dramatically
• BLower HF frequencies experience increased absorption
• CThe MUF increases significantly
• DVHF signals are refracted back to Earth

What is long-path propagation?

• AA propagation mode using ground wave signals over long distances
• BCommunication by bouncing signals off the long side of a mountain
• CCommunication via the longer great circle path around the Earth rather than the shortest…
• DPropagation that uses multiple ionospheric hops only during nighttime

What type of propagation allows VHF signals to travel beyond the normal line-of-sight range by bending through the troposphere?

• AIonospheric refraction
• BTropospheric ducting
• CMeteor scatter
• DSporadic E propagation

What is HF scatter propagation?

• ASignals reflected off buildings in urban areas
• BSignals scattered by irregularities in the ionosphere, allowing weak communication beyond…
• CSignals bounced off the surface of the ocean
• DSignals reflected by rain clouds during storms

What is the purpose of the notch filter found on many HF transceivers?

• ATo restrict the transmitter voice bandwidth
• BTo reduce interference from carriers in the receiver passband
• CTo eliminate receiver interference from impulse noise sources
• DTo filter out harmonics from the transmitted signal

What is the benefit of using the opposite or 'reverse' sideband when receiving CW?

• AInterference from impulse noise will be eliminated
• BMore stations can be accommodated in the passband
• CIt may be possible to reduce or eliminate interference from other signals
• DIt increases the received signal strength

What instrument is used to check the keying waveform of a CW transmitter?

• ASWR meter
• BFrequency counter
• CDummy load
• DOscilloscope

What is the purpose of a speech processor in a transmitter?

• ATo reduce background noise in the transmitted signal
• BTo increase the average power of a voice signal without increasing peak power
• CTo convert speech to digital data for transmission
• DTo encrypt voice communications

Why is high input impedance desirable for a voltmeter?

• AIt allows the meter to withstand higher voltages
• BIt decreases the loading on circuits being measured
• CIt increases the accuracy of frequency measurements
• DIt reduces the cost of the meter

What precaution should be taken when using a dummy load for transmitter testing?

• AOnly use it on frequencies below 30 MHz
• BEnsure it can handle the transmitter's power output and duty cycle
• CNever use it for more than 10 seconds at a time
• DConnect it through an antenna tuner