Free Ham Radio General Class Test Amateur Radio Practices Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A General class licensee is the control operator of a friend's station. The friend holds an Amateur Extra class license. Which frequencies are authorized for the General class operator to use?
- Only the frequencies permitted by the Extra class license.
- Any frequency authorized to the Extra class licensee as long as they are present.
- Only the frequencies for which the General class operator is licensed. (Correct answer)
- All amateur frequencies, because the station license is Extra class.
Correct answer: Only the frequencies for which the General class operator is licensed.
According to FCC Part 97.105(b), a station may only be operated in the manner and to the extent permitted by the privileges authorized for the class of operator license held by the control operator. Therefore, even if the station belongs to an Extra class licensee, the General class control operator is restricted to their own frequency privileges.
Question 2: Which of the following constitutes a prohibited transmission on the amateur bands?
- Transmitting music as part of a spacecraft retransmission.
- Broadcasting information intended for the general public. (Correct answer)
- Passing encrypted messages for a public safety agency during a drill.
- Receiving compensation for operating a club station during a contest.
Correct answer: Broadcasting information intended for the general public.
FCC Part 97.113 prohibits broadcasting, which is defined as transmissions intended for reception by the general public. Amateur radio communications are intended for other amateur operators, not the public at large. While transmitting music is generally prohibited, an exception exists for incidental music during authorized retransmissions of space shuttle communications. Compensation is forbidden, but not for operating a club station. Certain encrypted messages for public safety are permissible.
Question 3: Under what condition may a General class operator operating in ITU Region 2 (The Americas) communicate with a station in ITU Region 1 (Europe) on 7.250 MHz using SSB voice?
- During a declared emergency.
- If the European station initiates the contact.
- Under no circumstances. (Correct answer)
- Only if both operators are participating in a contest.
Correct answer: Under no circumstances.
According to the international band plans and FCC rules, the 40-meter band segment from 7.200 MHz to 7.300 MHz is allocated to the Broadcasting service, not the Amateur service, in ITU Region 1. Therefore, an amateur in Region 1 cannot legally transmit on this frequency, making such a contact impermissible.
Question 4: What is the definition of a 'control operator' in the context of an amateur radio station?
- The person who owns the station equipment.
- Any licensed amateur who is present when the station is transmitting.
- The station licensee, unless documentation in the station records indicates otherwise.
- An amateur operator designated by the licensee to be responsible for the station's transmissions. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An amateur operator designated by the licensee to be responsible for the station's transmissions.
FCC Part 97.3(a)(13) defines the control operator as an amateur operator designated by the licensee of a station to be responsible for the transmissions from that station to assure compliance with the FCC Rules. While the FCC presumes the licensee is the control operator, the licensee can formally designate another qualified amateur for that role.
Question 5: A U.S. amateur is asked by a station in a foreign country to pass a message to a non-licensed person in the United States. Which of the following must be true for this to be permissible?
- The message must be related to a life-threatening emergency.
- The message must be less than 25 words.
- The U.S. must have a third-party traffic agreement with the foreign country. (Correct answer)
- The foreign operator must hold a license equivalent to at least a General class.
Correct answer: The U.S. must have a third-party traffic agreement with the foreign country.
FCC Part 97.115 states that an amateur station may transmit messages for a third party to a station within the jurisdiction of a foreign government only if that government's administration has made arrangements with the United States to allow such communications. This is known as a third-party traffic agreement. An exception is made for emergency or disaster relief communications, but for routine messages, the agreement must be in place.
Question 6: When operating a station using remote control via the internet, where is the 'control point' located?
- At the physical location of the station's transmitter and antenna.
- At the location of the internet service provider's main server.
- At the location where the control operator is manipulating the controls. (Correct answer)
- At the physical location of the station's power supply.
Correct answer: At the location where the control operator is manipulating the controls.
FCC regulations in Part 97.3(a)(14) define the control point as the location at which the control operator function is performed. When using remote control, this is the physical location of the operator who is using the control link (like the internet) to manipulate the station, not the location of the radio equipment itself.
Free Ham Radio General Class Test Amateur Radio Practices Questions and Answers
A General class licensee is the control operator of a friend's station.
The friend holds an Amateur Extra class license.
Which frequencies are authorized for the General class operator to use?