Practice Test Geeks(MST) Marine Service Technician Practice Test
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MST Marine Electronics & Navigation Systems Flashcards

6 cards from real MST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 MST Marine Electronics & Navigation Systems flashcards as text

  1. When installing a chartplotter/MFD on a vessel, what is the most important consideration for placement?

    Answer: Visibility from the helm with minimal sun glare and within arm's reach of the operator

    The chartplotter must be readable in direct sunlight and operable without the helmsman leaning away from the wheel, per safe navigation practice.

  2. What does a depth sounder's transducer actually measure to calculate water depth?

    Answer: The time for a sonar pulse to travel to the bottom and return, converted to depth using the speed of sound in water

    The transducer emits a high-frequency sound pulse and measures the time for the echo to return; depth = (time × speed of sound) ÷ 2.

  3. What is the correct way to terminate an NMEA 2000 backbone cable to prevent signal reflections?

    Answer: Install 120-ohm terminator caps at both ends of the backbone

    NMEA 2000 CAN bus networks require 120-ohm terminators at each end of the backbone to match impedance and prevent data signal reflections.

  4. A marine GPS chartplotter shows a 'No GPS Signal' warning. After confirming the antenna is connected, what is the next diagnostic step?

    Answer: Check the antenna cable connection at the chartplotter and test with a known-good antenna

    The antenna cable connection at the chartplotter head is a common failure point; swapping to a known-good antenna isolates whether the issue is the antenna or the chartplotter.

  5. What USCG-required channel must all recreational vessels monitor when operating in US waters?

    Answer: VHF Channel 16

    VHF Channel 16 is the international distress, safety, and calling channel; all recreational vessels are required to monitor it while underway.

  6. A NMEA 0183 sentence that begins with '$GPRMC' contains what information?

    Answer: Recommended minimum specific GPS/transit data including time, position, speed, and course

    The GPRMC sentence is one of the most common NMEA 0183 sentences and contains position, speed over ground, course, date, and magnetic variation.