Ham Radio General Class Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which digital mode is designed for propagation testing using extremely low power and automatically uploads reception reports to an internet database?

WSPR (Correct answer)
PSK63
FT8
RTTY

Correct answer: WSPR

WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) transmits very low power beacons and reports reception spots to wsprnet.org, enabling global propagation analysis.

Question 2: What is the correct way to indicate you are listening after a CQ call?

Send 'QRZ?' to indicate you are ready for replies
Simply wait silently for 30 seconds
Say your callsign followed by 'listening' or 'standing by' (Correct answer)
Key down for 3 seconds to indicate readiness

Correct answer: Say your callsign followed by 'listening' or 'standing by'

After a CQ, operators say their callsign and 'listening' or 'standing by' to indicate they await a response.

Question 3: What is the primary purpose of connecting a dummy load to a transmitter during testing?

To tune the antenna to resonance before operating
To measure the transmitter's operating frequency
To increase the transmitter's output efficiency
To absorb RF power without radiating a signal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To absorb RF power without radiating a signal

A dummy load is a non-radiating resistive device that dissipates RF energy as heat. It allows operators to test and adjust transmitter output without causing interference by transmitting over the air.

Question 4: What is the approximate bandwidth occupied by a PSK31 signal?

31 Hz (Correct answer)
6 kHz
500 Hz
2.4 kHz

Correct answer: 31 Hz

PSK31 uses a symbol rate of 31.25 baud, resulting in a signal bandwidth of approximately 31 Hz — extremely narrow for HF digital communication.

Question 5: What does the term 'standing wave ratio' (SWR) indicate in an antenna system?

The gain of the antenna in dBi
The bandwidth of the antenna
The resonant frequency of the antenna
The impedance match between the feed line and antenna (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The impedance match between the feed line and antenna

SWR measures how well the antenna impedance is matched to the feed line, with 1:1 being a perfect match.

Question 6: When participating in an HF net, what should you do if the net control station does not acknowledge your check-in?

Increase power and transmit continuously until acknowledged
Wait for the next opportunity and try checking in again without disrupting net operations (Correct answer)
Contact the net control station on a different band to complain
Assume you have been checked in and begin making calls

Correct answer: Wait for the next opportunity and try checking in again without disrupting net operations

If not acknowledged, you should wait patiently for the next check-in opportunity and try again without causing interference to net operations.

Question 7: What is an electronic keyer used for?

To allow time for switching the antenna from the receiver to the transmitter
Automatic transmit/receive switching
Computer interface for PSK and RTTY operation
Automatic generation of dots and dashes for CW operation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Automatic generation of dots and dashes for CW operation

The automatic creation of dots and dashes for CW operation is the function of an electronic keyer.

Question 8: How does the 11-year solar cycle affect HF propagation on the higher bands (15, 10 meters)?

Solar minimum is the best time for 10-meter worldwide propagation
Near solar maximum, higher ionization raises the MUF, making 15 and 10 meters highly active for DX (Correct answer)
Solar maximum degrades 15 and 10 meter propagation due to increased D-layer absorption
The solar cycle only affects propagation below 7 MHz

Correct answer: Near solar maximum, higher ionization raises the MUF, making 15 and 10 meters highly active for DX

Near solar maximum, increased F-layer ionization raises the MUF above 28 MHz, opening the 10-meter band to worldwide propagation that may be absent at solar minimum.

Question 9: What is the recommended way to break into an ongoing QSO on HF frequencies?

Send a series of dits on CW to get attention
Transmit 'break break' repeatedly until acknowledged
Transmit your full callsign during a pause between transmissions (Correct answer)
Key up immediately and start talking over the existing conversation

Correct answer: Transmit your full callsign during a pause between transmissions

The proper procedure is to wait for a pause and then transmit your callsign once to request entry into the conversation.

Question 10: What is Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation, and for what purpose is it most useful?

Using a vertical antenna aimed at the horizon for maximum DX
Reflecting signals off the D layer for local ground-wave coverage
Radiating HF signals nearly straight up so they reflect back down within roughly 300–500 km — ideal for regional communication with no dead zone (Correct answer)
Bouncing VHF signals off the troposphere for inter-continental contacts

Correct answer: Radiating HF signals nearly straight up so they reflect back down within roughly 300–500 km — ideal for regional communication with no dead zone

NVIS involves angling the antenna to radiate most energy at very high angles (near 90°), causing the signal to reflect from the ionosphere and land close to the transmitter — typically within 300–500 km. This eliminates the skip zone that plagues lower-angle HF signals, making NVIS ideal for emergency and regional nets where local and mid-distance coverage is needed simultaneously.

Question 11: Which frequency range generally poses the greatest RF absorption risk to the human body?

10 to 100 GHz
30 to 300 MHz (Correct answer)
1 to 3 MHz
900 MHz to 2 GHz

Correct answer: 30 to 300 MHz

The human body absorbs RF energy most efficiently in the 30 to 300 MHz range because body dimensions are resonant at those frequencies, making VHF particularly concerning.

Question 12: What is the lowest frequency on which General class licensees may operate phone on 15 meters?

21.300 MHz
21.225 MHz (Correct answer)
21.000 MHz
21.200 MHz

Correct answer: 21.225 MHz

General class phone privileges on 15 meters begin at 21.225 MHz and extend to 21.450 MHz.

Question 13: What is Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation used for?

VHF repeater linking over mountainous terrain
Achieving the longest possible skip distance
Reliable communication within a radius of approximately 0 to 300 miles (Correct answer)
Communicating with stations on the opposite side of the Earth

Correct answer: Reliable communication within a radius of approximately 0 to 300 miles

NVIS uses high-angle radiation to bounce signals off the ionosphere nearly straight down, providing reliable regional coverage out to roughly 300 miles with no skip zone.

Question 14: What action should a General class licensee take if they discover they are causing harmful interference to another station?

Continue operating because amateurs have equal frequency rights
Immediately cease transmitting and resolve the interference issue (Correct answer)
Move to a frequency 5 kHz away and continue
Reduce power by at least 50% and continue

Correct answer: Immediately cease transmitting and resolve the interference issue

Part 97 requires amateur operators to take immediate action to eliminate harmful interference they are causing to other stations.

Question 15: What is 'gray line' propagation?

Enhanced propagation along the terminator between daylight and darkness (Correct answer)
Weak signal propagation through urban areas
Propagation caused by industrial interference zones
Propagation through stratified clouds

Correct answer: Enhanced propagation along the terminator between daylight and darkness

The gray line (terminator) is the boundary between day and night where the D layer is absent but F layer ionization remains, enabling enhanced propagation.

Question 16: If a ham operator lives in an apartment and their neighbor's bedroom is 15 feet from the antenna, what additional concern applies?

No concern since neighbors are not licensees
Neighbors represent uncontrolled exposure and must not exceed general public MPE limits (Correct answer)
Only the operator's own exposure matters legally
The 15-foot rule automatically satisfies all FCC requirements

Correct answer: Neighbors represent uncontrolled exposure and must not exceed general public MPE limits

Neighbors are members of the general public subject to uncontrolled MPE limits, and operators must ensure their station does not expose others above those stricter limits.

Question 17: Which of the following best describes the 'net control station' (NCS) role?

The station responsible for directing and maintaining orderly net operations (Correct answer)
The station that provides the repeater for the net
The station with the strongest signal on the net frequency
The station that logs all net contacts for the FCC

Correct answer: The station responsible for directing and maintaining orderly net operations

The net control station manages check-ins, directs traffic flow, and keeps the net running in an orderly manner.

Question 18: What is the time constant of a circuit consisting of a 100-microfarad capacitor in series with a 10-kilohm resistor?

10 seconds
0.1 seconds
1 second (Correct answer)
0.01 seconds

Correct answer: 1 second

The time constant equals R times C: 10,000 ohms multiplied by 0.0001 farads equals 1 second.

Question 19: What is the recommended minimum safe distance approach when working near an energized amateur antenna?

Limit work to 30-minute intervals
De-energize the antenna before climbing the tower or working nearby (Correct answer)
Work only on the side opposite the main lobe
Wear rubber gloves for protection

Correct answer: De-energize the antenna before climbing the tower or working nearby

The safest practice is to completely de-energize the antenna system before anyone works near it to eliminate all RF exposure risk.

Question 20: What type of feed line loss increases significantly when the line is operated with high SWR?

Waveguide
Hardline
Coaxial cable (Correct answer)
Open-wire ladder line

Correct answer: Coaxial cable

Coaxial cable losses increase dramatically under high SWR conditions compared to open-wire feed lines.

Question 21: What is the maximum transmitting power permitted on the 20-meter band for a General class licensee?

500 watts PEP
200 watts PEP
100 watts PEP
1500 watts PEP (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1500 watts PEP

General class operators may use up to 1500 watts PEP output on the 20-meter band.

Question 22: What is the purpose of the RIT (Receiver Incremental Tuning) control on a transceiver?

To adjust transmit frequency independently of receive frequency
To tune the antenna without affecting the receiver
To adjust receive frequency independently of transmit frequency (Correct answer)
To increase receiver sensitivity

Correct answer: To adjust receive frequency independently of transmit frequency

RIT allows you to shift the receive frequency slightly without moving the transmit frequency, useful when the other station is slightly off frequency.

Question 23: What is the primary advantage of a MOSFET over a bipolar junction transistor in RF amplifier applications?

Very high input impedance (Correct answer)
Lower cost
Simpler biasing requirements
Higher current gain

Correct answer: Very high input impedance

MOSFETs have extremely high input impedance due to their insulated gate, which minimizes loading on the driving circuit.

Question 24: What is the purpose of a 'net control station' in an HF net?

To provide a reference frequency for all operators in the net
To relay all messages between stations that cannot hear each other
To record contacts and submit them to the FCC
To direct stations to check in and maintain order in the net (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To direct stations to check in and maintain order in the net

Net control directs check-ins, assigns turn to speak, and maintains orderly communication in the net.

Question 25: Which antenna type consists of a driven element and one or more parasitic elements to provide directional gain?

An isotropic radiator
A random wire antenna
A Yagi-Uda antenna (Correct answer)
A folded dipole

Correct answer: A Yagi-Uda antenna

A Yagi-Uda antenna uses a driven element along with parasitic directors and reflectors to create a directional radiation pattern with gain.

Question 26: Which of the following operating practices would most effectively reduce RF exposure to a family member in an adjacent room?

Locating the antenna as far from occupied areas as possible and using a directional antenna pointed away (Correct answer)
Using a longer coaxial cable feedline
Switching to a higher frequency only
Increasing antenna gain toward the house

Correct answer: Locating the antenna as far from occupied areas as possible and using a directional antenna pointed away

Maximizing antenna distance from occupied spaces and directing the main lobe away from the house are the most effective ways to reduce exposure to family members.

Question 27: What type of modulation does PSK31 use?

Phase shift keying (Correct answer)
Amplitude shift keying
Frequency shift keying
Single sideband suppressed carrier

Correct answer: Phase shift keying

PSK stands for Phase Shift Keying — PSK31 shifts the phase of the carrier to encode data, making it highly efficient in narrow bandwidth.

Question 28: Which type of antenna polarization is generally considered safer for minimizing RF exposure to nearby people?

Horizontal polarization (Correct answer)
Circular polarization
All polarizations produce identical exposure
Vertical polarization

Correct answer: Horizontal polarization

Horizontal polarization tends to direct RF energy skyward rather than at ground level, reducing exposure to people near the antenna.

Question 29: What is the maximum distance on Earth's surface that can typically be traversed in one hop while using the E region?

1,200 miles (Correct answer)
12,000 miles
2,500 miles
180 miles

Correct answer: 1,200 miles

The maximum distance that may often be traversed in one hop using the E area is 1,200 miles along the surface of the Earth. The portion of the ionosphere between 90 and 150 kilometers above the surface of the Earth is referred to as the E area or Kennelly-Heaviside layer. This layer has the ability to reflect medium-frequency radio signals, especially at night when the solar wind is pulling the ionosphere farther from the Earth. The time of year and the amount of sunspot activity also have an impact on how far the E layer can send messages.

Question 30: Under FCC RF exposure regulations, when must the more restrictive 'general population/uncontrolled' MPE limits be applied?

In any location where the general public might be exposed and cannot control their exposure. (Correct answer)
Only when operating with more than 500 watts of power.
In areas where the station licensee's immediate family members are present.
Only for stations operating on frequencies above 50 MHz.

Correct answer: In any location where the general public might be exposed and cannot control their exposure.

The 'general population/uncontrolled' limits apply to situations where people may be exposed without being aware of the potential for exposure or cannot exercise control over it. This includes neighbors' properties, public sidewalks, or any other accessible area. The 'occupational/controlled' limits, which are less restrictive, can be applied to the licensee and their immediate household, provided they have been trained on RF safety.

Question 31: What is the function of an antenna tuner (transmatch)?

To match the impedance of the antenna system to the transceiver output (Correct answer)
To increase the gain of the antenna
To eliminate all harmonics from the transmitted signal
To convert between horizontal and vertical polarization

Correct answer: To match the impedance of the antenna system to the transceiver output

An antenna tuner adjusts the impedance seen by the transmitter to provide an acceptable match for efficient power transfer.

Question 32: Which of the following is an example of an 'unidentified transmission' prohibited by FCC Part 97?

Transmitting your call sign in phonetics instead of CW
Using a tactical call sign during an emergency net without your FCC call sign (Correct answer)
Keying your transmitter briefly to check for a busy frequency without identifying
Sending a test tone on a repeater while giving your call sign

Correct answer: Using a tactical call sign during an emergency net without your FCC call sign

Using only a tactical call without ever transmitting the FCC-assigned call sign constitutes an unidentified transmission, which is prohibited by Part 97.

Question 33: Which emission type is FT8, a popular digital mode used on HF bands?

A spread-spectrum transmission mode
A weak-signal digital mode using 8-tone frequency shift keying (Correct answer)
An analog FM voice mode
A high-speed data mode exceeding 19.2 kbaud

Correct answer: A weak-signal digital mode using 8-tone frequency shift keying

FT8 is a weak-signal digital protocol that uses 8-tone frequency shift keying in 15-second transmission cycles.

Question 34: What is the recommended minimum distance from a typical 100-watt HF dipole antenna to protect people in an uncontrolled environment?

Exactly 50 feet regardless of frequency
Varies by frequency but typically several feet to tens of feet depending on frequency (Correct answer)
Distance does not matter if using an ATU
At least 1 foot

Correct answer: Varies by frequency but typically several feet to tens of feet depending on frequency

The safe distance from an HF dipole varies with frequency and power; FCC online calculators and the station evaluation tool help determine the specific distance required.

Question 35: When receiving a weak CW (Morse code) signal, an operator might use a very narrow audio filter. What is the primary purpose of such a filter?

To shift the pitch of the CW tone to a more pleasing frequency.
To improve the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing interfering signals and noise on nearby frequencies. (Correct answer)
To increase the overall volume of the received audio.
To automatically decode the Morse code into text.

Correct answer: To improve the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing interfering signals and noise on nearby frequencies.

A narrow audio filter, often a band-pass filter centered around a specific tone (e.g., 750 Hz), allows the desired CW signal to pass while attenuating signals and noise outside this narrow passband. This significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, making it much easier to copy a weak signal that might otherwise be unreadable.

Question 36: Which statement best describes General class privileges on the 30-meter band?

CW and RTTY only, no phone (Correct answer)
Full phone and CW privileges
Full privileges identical to Extra class
Limited CW only, same as Technician

Correct answer: CW and RTTY only, no phone

On 30 meters (10.100–10.150 MHz), the ITU allocates this as a secondary band where phone is not permitted; only CW and digital are allowed.

Ham Radio General Class Exam

The FCC General Class exam expands on Technician privileges with additional HF band access.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

74%

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