Ham Radio General 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real Ham Radio General Class Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Ham Radio General 1 flashcards as text
Which layer of the ionosphere is primarily responsible for long-distance HF communication during daylight hours?
Answer: F layer
The F layer (particularly F2 during the day) is the highest and most stable ionospheric layer, capable of refracting HF signals back to Earth over very long distances. The D layer absorbs signals at lower frequencies, and the E layer supports only shorter skip distances.
What is the correct procedure before transmitting on an HF frequency to avoid causing interference?
Answer: Listen for several seconds and ask 'Is this frequency in use?'
Best operating practice requires listening first and then asking 'Is this frequency in use?' (or sending 'QRL?' on CW) before transmitting. This prevents interference with contacts that may not be audible from your location due to skip propagation.
What is the primary advantage of using a directional antenna such as a Yagi over an omnidirectional dipole?
Answer: It provides gain in a specific direction, increasing effective radiated power toward the target
A Yagi focuses RF energy in one direction, producing gain (measured in dBd or dBi) compared to a dipole reference. This increases effective radiated power toward the desired station without raising the transmitter's actual output.
What is the maximum PEP output power permitted for a General class licensee operating on the 80-meter amateur band?
Answer: 1,500 watts
General class licensees are authorized up to 1,500 watts PEP on most HF bands including 80 meters, the same ceiling as Extra class on those frequencies. Lower limits apply only in specific circumstances defined by FCC rules.
What does 'PSK31' describe in amateur radio digital communications?
Answer: A phase shift keying mode running at approximately 31 baud
PSK31 stands for Phase Shift Keying at 31 baud. It is an extremely narrow-bandwidth digital mode (roughly 31 Hz wide) popular on HF bands for real-time keyboard-to-keyboard contacts, particularly effective under weak-signal or crowded band conditions.
Approximately how long should a half-wave dipole antenna be cut for operation at a center frequency of 7.15 MHz (40-meter band)?
Answer: 65 feet
The standard formula for a half-wave dipole is 468 ÷ frequency (MHz). At 7.15 MHz: 468 ÷ 7.15 ≈ 65.5 feet. A quarter-wave would be roughly 33 feet, and a full-wave about 130 feet.