HAM General Questions 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which amateur band is sometimes called the 'WARC bands' along with 17 and 12 meters?
- 160 meters
- 30 meters (Correct answer)
- 6 meters
- 2 meters
Correct answer: 30 meters
The 30-meter (10 MHz), 17-meter (18 MHz), and 12-meter (24 MHz) bands are collectively called WARC bands, allocated at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference.
Question 2: What is the maximum symbol rate permitted on the amateur bands between 50 and 222 MHz?
- 300 baud
- 1200 baud
- 19600 baud (Correct answer)
- 56 kbaud
Correct answer: 19600 baud
FCC Part 97.307 sets the maximum symbol rate at 19,600 baud for amateur transmissions in the 50–222 MHz range.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes a 'beacon station' in amateur radio?
- A station used solely for emergency communications
- An automatic station transmitting for propagation study or navigation (Correct answer)
- A repeater with linked autopatch capability
- A club station open for all members to use
Correct answer: An automatic station transmitting for propagation study or navigation
An amateur beacon is an automatic transmission station used to observe propagation or for related experimental purposes.
Question 4: Under Part 97, what must an amateur station do before transmitting on any frequency?
- Announce call sign on a calling frequency
- Ensure the frequency is not in use by listening first (Correct answer)
- Obtain permission from the nearest FCC field office
- Coordinate with ARRL frequency coordinators
Correct answer: Ensure the frequency is not in use by listening first
FCC Part 97.101 requires operators to make sure a frequency is not already in use before beginning a transmission.
Question 5: What is the definition of 'third-party traffic' in amateur radio?
- Any communication involving a relay station
- Messages passed on behalf of a person who is not a licensed amateur (Correct answer)
- Traffic handled for a commercial entity
- Emergency communications with governmental agencies
Correct answer: Messages passed on behalf of a person who is not a licensed amateur
Third-party traffic refers to radiocommunications by or on behalf of a person (the third party) who is not the licensed control operator.
Question 6: On which amateur bands are Technician class licensees permitted to use CW?
- All HF bands below 30 MHz
- 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters with power limits (Correct answer)
- Only 10 meters and all VHF/UHF bands
- No HF CW privileges for Technicians
Correct answer: 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters with power limits
Technician licensees have CW-only privileges on small segments of 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters, with a 200-watt power limit.
Question 7: What does the term 'pileup' describe in amateur radio DXing?
- A malfunction where multiple signals overlay a single frequency
- Many stations calling simultaneously to work a rare DX station (Correct answer)
- A repeater that queues transmissions for orderly relay
- A digital mode that stacks multiple signals in one passband
Correct answer: Many stations calling simultaneously to work a rare DX station
A pileup occurs when a rare or sought-after DX station attracts many callers simultaneously, all competing to make contact.
HAM General Questions 4
Which amateur band is sometimes called the 'WARC bands' along with 17 and 12 meters?