Amateur Extra Class Practice Test

Select the most correct answer for each question, then submit your practice test to check your score. This practice test randomly pulls one question from each topic in the Amateur Extra pool.

Good Luck!

E5A11:

What is the half-power bandwidth of a parallel resonant circuit that has a resonant frequency of 7.1 MHz and a Q of 150?

157.8 Hz
315.6 Hz
47.3 kHz
23.67 kHz

E9F10:

What impedance does a 1/8 wavelength transmission line present to a generator when the line is shorted at the far end?

A capacitive reactance
The same as the characteristic impedance of the line
An inductive reactance
The same as the input impedance to the final generator stage

E4D10:

What does a third-order intercept level of 40 dBm mean with respect to receiver performance?

Signals less than 40 dBm will not generate audible third-order intermodulation products
The receiver can tolerate signals up to 40 dB above the noise floor without producing third-order intermodulation products
A pair of 40 dBm signals will theoretically generate a third-order intermodulation product with the same level as the input signals
A pair of 1 mW input signals will produce a third-order intermodulation product which is 40 dB stronger than the input signal

E7E10:

How does a diode detector function?

By rectification and filtering of RF signals
By breakdown of the Zener voltage
By mixing signals with noise in the transition region of the diode
By sensing the change of reactance in the diode with respect to frequency

E9E04:

What is the purpose of the series capacitor in a gamma-type antenna matching network?

To provide DC isolation between the feed line and the antenna
To cancel the inductive reactance of the matching network
To provide a rejection notch that prevents the radiation of harmonics
To transform the antenna impedance to a higher value

E4B11:

How should an antenna analyzer be connected when measuring antenna resonance and feed point impedance?

Loosely couple the analyzer near the antenna base
Connect the analyzer via a high-impedance transformer to the antenna
Loosely couple the antenna and a dummy load to the analyzer
Connect the antenna feed line directly to the analyzer's connector

E5B13:

What letter is commonly used to represent susceptance?

G
X
Y
B

E1E10:

What must the administering VEs do after the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license?

They must collect and send the documents to the NCVEC for grading
They must collect and submit the documents to the coordinating VEC for grading
They must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC instructions
They must collect and send the documents to the FCC according to instructions

E6A16:

What are the majority charge carriers in N-type semiconductor material?

Holes
Free electrons
Free protons
Free neutrons

E1B03:

Within what distance must an amateur station protect an FCC monitoring facility from harmful interference?

1 mile
3 miles
10 miles
30 miles

E8D04:

What is the primary effect of extremely short rise or fall time on a CW signal?

More difficult to copy
The generation of RF harmonics
The generation of key clicks
Limits data speed

E2C03:

From which of the following bands is amateur radio contesting generally excluded?

30 m
6 m
2 m
33 cm

E9G06:

On the Smith chart shown in Figure E9-3, what is the name for the large outer circle on which the reactance arcs terminate?

Prime axis
Reactance axis
Impedance axis
Polar axis

E9D11:

Which of the following types of conductors would be best for minimizing losses in a station's RF ground system?

A resistive wire, such as spark plug wire
A wide flat copper strap
A cable with six or seven 18 gauge conductors in parallel
A single 12 gauge or 10 gauge stainless steel wire

E6E07:

Which of the following is typically used to construct a MMIC-based microwave amplifier?

Ground-plane construction
Microstrip construction
Point-to-point construction
Wave-soldering construction

E6D02:

What is the equivalent circuit of a quartz crystal?

Motional capacitance, motional inductance, and loss resistance in series, all in parallel with a shunt capacitor representing electrode and stray capacitance
Motional capacitance, motional inductance, loss resistance, and a capacitor representing electrode and stray capacitance all in parallel
Motional capacitance, motional inductance, loss resistance, and a capacitor representing electrode and stray capacitance all in series
Motional inductance and loss resistance in series, paralleled with motional capacitance and a capacitor representing electrode and stray capacitance

E7D03:

What device is typically used as a stable reference voltage in a linear voltage regulator?

A Zener diode
A tunnel diode
An SCR
A varactor diode

E3C06:

By how much does the VHF/UHF radio horizon distance exceed the geometric horizon?

By approximately 15 percent of the distance
By approximately twice the distance
By approximately 50 percent of the distance
By approximately four times the distance

E4C17:

Which of the following has the largest effect on an SDR receiver's linearity?

CPU register width in bits
Anti-aliasing input filter bandwidth
RAM speed used for data storage
Analog-to-digital converter sample width in bits

E2B05:

Which of the following is an advantage of using vestigial sideband for standard fast- scan TV transmissions?

The vestigial sideband carries the audio information
The vestigial sideband contains chroma information
Vestigial sideband reduces bandwidth while allowing for simple video detector circuitry
Vestigial sideband provides high frequency emphasis to sharpen the picture

E9B04:

What may occur when a directional antenna is operated at different frequencies within the band for which it was designed?

Feed point impedance may become negative
The E-field and H-field patterns may reverse
Element spacing limits could be exceeded
The gain may change depending on frequency

E9H02:

Which is generally true for low band (160 meter and 80 meter) receiving antennas?

Atmospheric noise is so high that gain over a dipole is not important
They must be erected at least 1/2 wavelength above the ground to attain good directivity
Low loss coax transmission line is essential for good performance
All of these choices are correct

E1A08:

If a station in a message forwarding system inadvertently forwards a message that is in violation of FCC rules, who is primarily accountable for the rules violation?

The control operator of the packet bulletin board station
The control operator of the originating station
The control operators of all the stations in the system
The control operators of all the stations in the system not authenticating the source from which they accept communications

E2E03:

How is the timing of JT65 contacts organized?

By exchanging ACK/NAK packets
Stations take turns on alternate days
Alternating transmissions at 1 minute intervals
It depends on the lunar phase

E8A05:

What would be the most accurate way of measuring the RMS voltage of a complex waveform?

By using a grid dip meter
By measuring the voltage with a D'Arsonval meter
By using an absorption wave meter
By measuring the heating effect in a known resistor

E7C07:

What kind of filter would you use to attenuate an interfering carrier signal while receiving an SSB transmission?

A band-pass filter
A notch filter
A Pi-network filter
An all-pass filter

E6C01:

What is the function of hysteresis in a comparator?

To prevent input noise from causing unstable output signals
To allow the comparator to be used with AC input signals
To cause the output to change states continually
To increase the sensitivity

E8B08:

What describes Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing?

A frequency modulation technique which uses non-harmonically related frequencies
A bandwidth compression technique using Fourier transforms
A digital mode for narrow band, slow speed transmissions
A digital modulation technique using subcarriers at frequencies chosen to avoid intersymbol interference

E5C02:

How are impedances described in polar coordinates?

By X and R values
By real and imaginary parts
By phase angle and amplitude
By Y and G values

E9C14:

How does the performance of a horizontally polarized antenna mounted on the side of a hill compare with the same antenna mounted on flat ground?

The main lobe takeoff angle increases in the downhill direction
The main lobe takeoff angle decreases in the downhill direction
The horizontal beam width decreases in the downhill direction
The horizontal beam width increases in the uphill direction

E7G06:

Which of the following is the most appropriate use of an op-amp active filter?

As a high-pass filter used to block RFI at the input to receivers
As a low-pass filter used between a transmitter and a transmission line
For smoothing power supply output
As an audio filter in a receiver

E1D05:

What class of licensee is authorized to be the control operator of a space station?

All except Technician Class
Only General, Advanced or Amateur Extra Class
Any class with appropriate operator privileges
Only Amateur Extra Class

E7A08:

What logical operation does an OR gate perform?

It produces logic "1" at its output if any or all inputs are logic "1"
It produces logic "0" at its output if all inputs are logic "1"
It only produces logic "0" at its output when all inputs are logic "1"
It produces logic "1" at its output if all inputs are logic "0"

E2A07:

Which of the following types of signals can be relayed through a linear transponder?

FM and CW
SSB and SSTV
PSK and Packet
All of these choices are correct

E7B04:

Where on the load line of a Class A common emitter amplifier would bias normally be set?

Approximately half-way between saturation and cutoff
Where the load line intersects the voltage axis
At a point where the bias resistor equals the load resistor
At a point where the load line intersects the zero bias current curve

E5D01:

What is the result of skin effect?

As frequency increases, RF current flows in a thinner layer of the conductor, closer to the surface
As frequency decreases, RF current flows in a thinner layer of the conductor, closer to the surface
Thermal effects on the surface of the conductor increase the impedance
Thermal effects on the surface of the conductor decrease the impedance

E9A12:

How much gain does an antenna have compared to a 1/2-wavelength dipole when it has 6 dB gain over an isotropic antenna?

3.85 dB
6.0 dB
8.15 dB
2.79 dB

E4A14:

What is the purpose of the prescaler function on a frequency counter?

It amplifies low level signals for more accurate counting
It multiplies a higher frequency signal so a low-frequency counter can display the operating frequency
It prevents oscillation in a low-frequency counter circuit
It divides a higher frequency signal so a low-frequency counter can display the input frequency

E1F02:

What privileges are authorized in the U.S. to persons holding an amateur service license granted by the Government of Canada?

None, they must obtain a U.S. license
All privileges of the Extra Class license
The operating terms and conditions of the Canadian amateur service license, not to exceed U.S. Extra Class privileges
Full privileges, up to and including those of the Extra Class License, on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands

E4E06:

What is a major cause of atmospheric static?

Solar radio frequency emissions
Thunderstorms
Geomagnetic storms
Meteor showers

E2D13:

What type of modulation is used for JT65 contacts?

Multi-tone AFSK
PSK
RTTY
IEEE 802.11

E7F11:

What sets the minimum detectable signal level for an SDR in the absence of atmospheric or thermal noise?

Sample clock phase noise
Reference voltage level and sample width in bits
Data storage transfer rate
Missing codes and jitter

E6F07:

What is a solid state relay?

A relay using transistors to drive the relay coil
A device that uses semiconductors to implement the functions of an electromechanical relay
A mechanical relay that latches in the on or off state each time it is pulsed
A passive delay line

E0A11:

Which of the following injuries can result from using high-power UHF or microwave transmitters?

Hearing loss caused by high voltage corona discharge
Blood clotting from the intense magnetic field
Localized heating of the body from RF exposure in excess of the MPE limits
Ingestion of ozone gas from the cooling system

E3A15:

What is an electromagnetic wave?

A wave of alternating current, in the core of an electromagnet
A wave consisting of two electric fields at parallel right angles to each other
A wave consisting of an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating at right angles to each other
A wave consisting of two magnetic fields at right angles to each other

E8C08:

How does ARQ accomplish error correction?

Special binary codes provide automatic correction
Special polynomial codes provide automatic correction
If errors are detected, redundant data is substituted
If errors are detected, a retransmission is requested

E6B13:

What type of bias is required for an LED to emit light?

Reverse bias
Forward bias
Zero bias
Inductive bias

E3B07:

Which of the following could account for hearing an echo on the received signal of a distant station?

High D layer absorption
Meteor scatter
Transmit frequency is higher than the MUF
Receipt of a signal by more than one path

E1C11:

Which of the following operating arrangements allows an FCC-licensed U.S. citizen to operate in many European countries, and alien amateurs from many European countries to operate in the U.S.?

CEPT agreement
IARP agreement
ITU reciprocal license
All of these choices are correct

E7H01:

What are three oscillator circuits used in Amateur Radio equipment?

Taft, Pierce and negative feedback
Pierce, Fenner and Beane
Taft, Hartley and Pierce
Colpitts, Hartley and Pierce