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!

T1F03:

When is an amateur station required to transmit its assigned call sign?

At the beginning of each contact, and every 10 minutes thereafter
At least once during each transmission
At least every 15 minutes during and at the end of a communication
At least every 10 minutes during and at the end of a communication

T7A01:

Which term describes the ability of a receiver to detect the presence of a signal?

Linearity
Sensitivity
Selectivity
Total Harmonic Distortion

T0A07:

Which of these precautions should be taken when installing devices for lightning protection in a coaxial cable feed line?

Include a parallel bypass switch for each protector so that it can be switched out of the circuit when running high power
Include a series switch in the ground line of each protector to prevent RF overload from inadvertently damaging the protector
Keep the ground wires from each protector separate and connected to station ground
Mount all of the protectors on a metal plate that is in turn connected to an external ground rod

T1D02:

Under which of the following circumstances may an amateur radio station make one-way transmissions?

Under no circumstances
When transmitting code practice, information bulletins, or transmissions necessary to provide emergency communications
At any time, as long as no music is transmitted
At any time, as long as the material being transmitted did not originate from a commercial broadcast station

T7B08:

What should you do if something in a neighbor's home is causing harmful interference to your amateur station?

Work with your neighbor to identify the offending device
Politely inform your neighbor about the rules that prohibit the use of devices that cause interference
Check your station and make sure it meets the standards of good amateur practice
All of these choices are correct

T4B03:

What is the purpose of the squelch control on a transceiver?

To set the highest level of volume desired
To set the transmitter power level
To adjust the automatic gain control
To mute receiver output noise when no signal is being received

T2C05:

What does the term "traffic" refer to in net operation?

Formal messages exchanged by net stations
The number of stations checking in and out of a net
Operation by mobile or portable stations
Requests to activate the net by a served agency

T4A02:

How might a computer be used as part of an amateur radio station?

For logging contacts and contact information
For sending and/or receiving CW
For generating and decoding digital signals
All of these choices are correct

T9A07:

What is a disadvantage of using a handheld VHF transceiver, with its integral antenna, inside a vehicle?

Signals might not propagate well due to the shielding effect of the vehicle
It might cause the transceiver to overheat
The SWR might decrease, decreasing the signal strength
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

T2A08:

What is the meaning of the procedural signal "CQ"?

Call on the quarter hour
A new antenna is being tested (no station should answer)
Only the called station should transmit
Calling any station

T9B08:

Why should coax connectors exposed to the weather be sealed against water intrusion?

To prevent an increase in feed line loss
To prevent interference to telephones
To keep the jacket from becoming loose
All of these choices are correct

T5B07:

If a frequency display calibrated in megahertz shows a reading of 3.525 MHz, what would it show if it were calibrated in kilohertz?

0.003525 kHz
35.25 kHz
3525 kHz
3,525,000 kHz

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

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

T3B03:

What are the two components of a radio wave?

AC and DC
Voltage and current
Electric and magnetic fields
Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

T6A11:

Which of the following battery types is not rechargeable?

Nickel-cadmium
Carbon-zinc
Lead-acid
Lithium-ion

T8A07:

What is an advantage of single sideband (SSB) over FM for voice transmissions?

SSB signals are easier to tune
SSB signals are less susceptible to interference
SSB signals have narrower bandwidth
All of these choices are correct

T1B08:

Which of the following is a result of the fact that the Amateur Radio Service is secondary in all or portions of some amateur bands (such as portions of the 70 cm band)?

U.S. amateurs may find non-amateur stations in those portions, and must avoid interfering with them
U.S. amateurs must give foreign amateur stations priority in those portions
International communications are not permitted in those portions
Digital transmissions are not permitted in those portions

T2B01:

What is the most common use of the "reverse split" function of a VHF/UHF transceiver?

Reduce power output
Increase power output
Listen on a repeater's input frequency
Listen on a repeater's output frequency

T1E05:

What is an amateur station control point?

The location of the station's transmitting antenna
The location of the station transmitting apparatus
The location at which the control operator function is performed
The mailing address of the station licensee

T6D06:

What component is commonly used to change 120V AC house current to a lower AC voltage for other uses?

Variable capacitor
Transformer
Transistor
Diode

T3C01:

Why are direct (not via a repeater) UHF signals rarely heard from stations outside your local coverage area?

They are too weak to go very far
FCC regulations prohibit them from going more than 50 miles
UHF signals are usually not reflected by the ionosphere
UHF signals are absorbed by the ionospheric D layer

T7D03:

How is a simple ammeter connected to a circuit?

In series with the circuit
In parallel with the circuit
In quadrature with the circuit
In phase with the circuit

T8B09:

What causes spin fading of satellite signals?

Circular polarized noise interference radiated from the sun
Rotation of the satellite and its antennas
Doppler shift of the received signal
Interfering signals within the satellite uplink band

T5C10:

How much power is being used in a circuit when the applied voltage is 12 volts DC and the current is 2.5 amperes?

4.8 watts
30 watts
14.5 watts
0.208 watts

T8D11:

What is an ARQ transmission system?

A special transmission format limited to video signals
A system used to encrypt command signals to an amateur radio satellite
A digital scheme whereby the receiving station detects errors and sends a request to the sending station to retransmit the information
A method of compressing the data in a message so more information can be sent in a shorter time

T7C10:

Why should the outer jacket of coaxial cable be resistant to ultraviolet light?

Ultraviolet resistant jackets prevent harmonic radiation
Ultraviolet light can increase losses in the cable's jacket
Ultraviolet and RF signals can mix, causing interference
Ultraviolet light can damage the jacket and allow water to enter the cable

T3A06:

What term is commonly used to describe the rapid fluttering sound sometimes heard from mobile stations that are moving while transmitting?

Flip-flopping
Picket fencing
Frequency shifting
Pulsing

T5D02:

What formula is used to calculate voltage in a circuit?

Voltage (E) equals current (I) multiplied by resistance (R)
Voltage (E) equals current (I) divided by resistance (R)
Voltage (E) equals current (I) added to resistance (R)
Voltage (E) equals current (I) minus resistance (R)

T1C09:

What is the grace period following the expiration of an amateur license within which the license may be renewed?

Two years
Three years
Five years
Ten years

T0C09:

How can you make sure your station stays in compliance with RF safety regulations?

By informing the FCC of any changes made in your station
By re-evaluating the station whenever an item of equipment is changed
By making sure your antennas have low SWR
All of these choices are correct

T6B04:

Which of the following components can consist of three layers of semiconductor material?

Alternator
Transistor
Triode
Pentagrid converter

T6C06:

What is component 6 in figure T2?

Resistor
Capacitor
Regulator IC
Transistor

T5A14:

In which type of circuit is voltage the same across all components?

Series
Parallel
Resonant
Branch