Safety, Grounding & RF Exposure Flashcards
6 cards from real Ham Radio Technician 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 Safety, Grounding & RF Exposure flashcards as text
Why is it dangerous to touch an antenna while transmitting?
Answer: RF burns can occur because the antenna carries high-frequency voltage that can heat tissue
Touching a transmitting antenna can cause RF burns because the high-frequency current on the antenna can heat body tissue rapidly at the contact point.
What safety precaution should be taken before climbing a tower?
Answer: Ensure the transmitter is off and tag the power switch to prevent accidental operation
Before climbing a tower, the transmitter must be turned off and the power switch tagged or locked out to prevent anyone from accidentally transmitting while you are near the antenna.
What type of grounding is recommended to protect a station from lightning damage?
Answer: A single-point ground with all equipment bonded together and connected to an earth ground rod
A single-point ground system bonds all equipment to a common bus and connects it to an earth ground rod, minimizing voltage differences during a lightning event.
What is the minimum safe distance a power line should be from an amateur radio tower?
Answer: Far enough that the tower and all attached hardware cannot fall onto the power line
The tower and everything attached to it must be positioned so that if it falls in any direction it cannot contact a power line, preventing deadly electrocution hazards.
What is the purpose of a lightning arrestor on a coaxial feedline?
Answer: To divert lightning-induced surges to ground before they reach the radio equipment
A coax lightning arrestor provides a low-impedance path to ground for lightning-induced voltage surges, protecting the radio equipment connected to the feedline.
Which of the following is a symptom of RF in the shack (RF feedback)?
Answer: Distorted transmitted audio, equipment acting erratically, or operator experiencing tingling sensations
RF feedback causes distorted audio, erratic equipment behavior, and can cause the operator to feel a tingling sensation from RF current flowing through the station.