Technician 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 Technician pool.

Good Luck!

T8D12:

Which of the following best describes Broadband-Hamnet (TM), also referred to as a high-speed multi-media network?

An amateur-radio-based data network using commercial Wi-Fi gear with modified firmware
A wide-bandwidth digital voice mode employing DRM protocols
A satellite communications network using modified commercial satellite TV hardware
An internet linking protocol used to network repeaters

T1F09:

What type of amateur station simultaneously retransmits the signal of another amateur station on a different channel or channels?

Beacon station
Earth station
Repeater station
Message forwarding station

T3A13:

What weather condition would decrease range at microwave frequencies?

High winds
Low barometric pressure
Precipitation
Colder temperatures

T6B05:

Which of the following electronic components can amplify signals?

Transistor
Variable resistor
Electrolytic capacitor
Multi-cell battery

T2A07:

What is meant by "repeater offset?"

The difference between a repeater's transmit frequency and its receive frequency
The repeater has a time delay to prevent interference
The repeater station identification is done on a separate frequency
The number of simultaneous transmit frequencies used by a repeater

T1D08:

In which of the following circumstances may the control operator of an amateur station receive compensation for operating that station?

When the communication is related to the sale of amateur equipment by the control operator's employer
When the communication is incidental to classroom instruction at an educational institution
When the communication is made to obtain emergency information for a local broadcast station
All of these choices are correct

T0A06:

What is a good way to guard against electrical shock at your station?

Use three-wire cords and plugs for all AC powered equipment
Connect all AC powered station equipment to a common safety ground
Use a circuit protected by a ground-fault interrupter
All of these choices are correct

T6D04:

Which of the following displays an electrical quantity as a numeric value?

Potentiometer
Transistor
Meter
Relay

T1B04:

Which amateur band are you using when your station is transmitting on 146.52 MHz?

2 meter band
20 meter band
14 meter band
6 meter band

T1E11:

Who does the FCC presume to be the control operator of an amateur station, unless documentation to the contrary is in the station records?

The station custodian
The third-party participant
The person operating the station equipment
The station licensee

T4B02:

Which of the following can be used to enter the operating frequency on a modern transceiver?

The keypad or VFO knob
The CTCSS or DTMF encoder
The Automatic Frequency Control
All of these choices are correct

T7C09:

Which of the following is the most common cause for failure of coaxial cables?

Moisture contamination
Gamma rays
The velocity factor exceeds 1.0
Overloading

T6C11:

What is component 4 in figure T3?

Antenna
Transmitter
Dummy load
Ground

T3C09:

What is generally the best time for long-distance 10 meter band propagation via the F layer?

From dawn to shortly after sunset during periods of high sunspot activity
From shortly after sunset to dawn during periods of high sunspot activity
From dawn to shortly after sunset during periods of low sunspot activity
From shortly after sunset to dawn during periods of low sunspot activity

T5A06:

How much voltage does a mobile transceiver typically require?

About 12 volts
About 30 volts
About 120 volts
About 240 volts

T1C10:

How soon after passing the examination for your first amateur radio license may you operate a transmitter on an Amateur Radio Service frequency?

Immediately
30 days after the test date
As soon as your operator/station license grant appears in the FCC's license database
You must wait until you receive your license in the mail from the FCC

T7B09:

What is a Part 15 device?

An unlicensed device that may emit low-powered radio signals on frequencies used by a licensed service
An amplifier that has been type-certified for amateur radio
A device for long-distance communications using special codes sanctioned by the International Amateur Radio Union
A type of test set used to determine whether a transmitter complies with FCC regulation 91.15

T0C05:

Why do exposure limits vary with frequency?

Lower frequency RF fields have more energy than higher frequency fields
Lower frequency RF fields do not penetrate the human body
Higher frequency RF fields are transient in nature
The human body absorbs more RF energy at some frequencies than at others

T7D06:

Which of the following might damage a multimeter?

Measuring a voltage too small for the chosen scale
Leaving the meter in the milliamps position overnight
Attempting to measure voltage when using the resistance setting
Not allowing it to warm up properly

T5D06:

What is the resistance of a circuit that draws 4 amperes from a 12-volt source?

3 ohms
16 ohms
48 ohms
8 ohms

T2C06:

Which of the following is an accepted practice to get the immediate attention of a net control station when reporting an emergency?

Repeat "SOS" three times followed by the call sign of the reporting station
Press the push-to-talk button three times
Begin your transmission by saying "Priority" or "Emergency" followed by your call sign
Play a pre-recorded emergency alert tone followed by your call sign

T7A10:

What device increases the low-power output from a handheld transceiver?

A voltage divider
An RF power amplifier
An impedance network
All of these choices are correct

T1A06:

What is the FCC Part 97 definition of a "beacon"?

A government transmitter marking the amateur radio band edges
A bulletin sent by the FCC to announce a national emergency
An amateur station transmitting communications for the purposes of observing propagation or related experimental activities
A continuous transmission of weather information authorized in the amateur bands by the National Weather Service

T8B03:

Which of the following are provided by satellite tracking programs?

Maps showing the real-time position of the satellite track over the earth
The time, azimuth, and elevation of the start, maximum altitude, and end of a pass
The apparent frequency of the satellite transmission, including effects of Doppler shift
All of these choices are correct

T0B06:

What is the minimum safe distance from a power line to allow when installing an antenna?

Half the width of your property
The height of the power line above ground
1/2 wavelength at the operating frequency
Enough so that if the antenna falls unexpectedly, no part of it can come closer than 10 feet to the power wires

T5C13:

What is a unit of impedance?

Volts
Amperes
Coulombs
Ohms

T6A03:

What electrical parameter is controlled by a potentiometer?

Inductance
Resistance
Capacitance
Field strength

T9A02:

Which of the following describes a type of antenna loading?

Inserting an inductor in the radiating portion of the antenna to make it electrically longer
Inserting a resistor in the radiating portion of the antenna to make it resonant
Installing a spring in the base of a mobile vertical antenna to make it more flexible
Strengthening the radiating elements of a beam antenna to better resist wind damage

T3B11:

What is the approximate velocity of a radio wave as it travels through free space?

150,000 kilometers per second
300,000,000 meters per second
300,000,000 miles per hour
150,000 miles per hour

T8C06:

How is access to some IRLP nodes accomplished?

By obtaining a password that is sent via voice to the node
By using DTMF signals
By entering the proper internet password
By using CTCSS tone codes

T5B12:

Which of the following frequencies is equal to 28,400 kHz?

28.400 MHz
2.800 MHz
284.00 MHz
28.400 kHz

T8A05:

Which of the following types of emission has the narrowest bandwidth?

FM voice
SSB voice
CW
Slow-scan TV

T9B06:

Which of the following connectors is most suitable for frequencies above 400 MHz?

A UHF (PL-259/SO-239) connector
A Type N connector
An RS-213 connector
A DB-25 connector

T2B08:

Which of the following applies when two stations transmitting on the same frequency interfere with each other?

Common courtesy should prevail, but no one has absolute right to an amateur frequency
Whoever has the strongest signal has priority on the frequency
Whoever has been on the frequency the longest has priority on the frequency
The station that has the weakest signal has priority on the frequency

T4A08:

Which of the following conductors provides the lowest impedance to RF signals?

Round stranded wire
Round copper-clad steel wire
Twisted-pair cable
Flat strap