Ham Radio General Class Test Amateur Radio Practices 3

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

To adjust receive frequency independently of transmit frequency

Answer

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

Question 2

What is a 'gray line' and why is it significant to HF operators?

Accepted Answer

The terminator between day and night where propagation is often enhanced

Answer

The gray line is the transition zone between day and night; the ionosphere behaves unusually there, often producing excellent long-distance propagation.

Question 3

What is meant by 'full break-in' (QSK) CW operation?

Accepted Answer

The ability to receive signals between individual dots and dashes while transmitting

Answer

QSK (full break-in) allows you to hear other signals in the gaps between CW characters, enabling instant detection of interference or an emergency call.

Question 4

When must an amateur station identify itself during a QSO?

Accepted Answer

At the end of each transmission and at least every 10 minutes

Answer

FCC Part 97 requires station identification at the end of each transmission and at least every 10 minutes during a contact.

Question 5

What is the function of an 'automatic level control' (ALC) circuit in a transmitter?

Accepted Answer

To prevent overdriving the final amplifier by reducing drive on strong audio peaks

Answer

ALC feeds back a control voltage to reduce driver gain when audio peaks threaten to overdrive the PA, preventing distortion and splatter.

Ham Radio General Class Test Practice Test

Ham Radio General Class Test Practice Test

Ham Radio General Class Test Amateur Radio Practices 3