HAM Radio Extra Class Test FCC Rules and Regulations Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An Extra class operator establishes a remotely controlled station. Under FCC Part 97, which of the following is a primary responsibility of the control operator?
- To ensure a copy of the station license is posted at the remote transmitter location.
- To be physically present at the control point at all times during transmission.
- To take any necessary action to ensure compliance with FCC rules. (Correct answer)
- To ensure the station automatically transmits its call sign every 5 minutes.
Correct answer: To take any necessary action to ensure compliance with FCC rules.
FCC rule §97.105(a) states that the control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the station, regardless of the type of control. This makes them ultimately responsible for all transmissions and for taking action to maintain compliance. Posting the license at the remote site is not required, being physically present at the control point is only required for local control, and the standard station ID interval is 10 minutes, not 5.
Question 2: Under what specific condition may an amateur station transmit spread spectrum (SS) communications on the 23 cm (1240-1300 MHz) band?
- Only if the transmitter power does not exceed 10 W PEP. (Correct answer)
- Only if the station is also capable of receiving spread spectrum.
- Only if the station is operating north of Line A.
- Only with a transmission protocol that uses encryption.
Correct answer: Only if the transmitter power does not exceed 10 W PEP.
FCC Rule §97.311(c) explicitly states that on the 23 cm band, a station using spread spectrum emissions must not transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 10 W PEP. This is a specific power limitation for this type of emission on this band, different from the general 1500 W PEP limit for Extra class licensees.
Question 3: Which of the following specifies the minimum required suppression of spurious emissions for an amateur transmitter installed after January 1, 2003 and operating below 30 MHz?
- At least 60 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission.
- At least 50 dB below the peak envelope power of the fundamental emission.
- Spurious emissions are not permitted to exceed 1 milliwatt.
- At least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission.
According to FCC rule §97.307(d), for transmitters installed after January 1, 2003, and operating below 30 MHz, the mean power of any spurious emission must be at least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission.
Question 4: An operator is conducting Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications using a very weak digital signal. Which of the following special identification procedures is permissible under FCC rules?
- Omitting station identification if the contact is less than one minute long.
- Transmitting the call sign using Morse code (CW) instead of the digital mode. (Correct answer)
- Identifying only at the beginning and end of a communication sequence, regardless of duration.
- Sending the call sign at a slower speed than the data being transmitted.
Correct answer: Transmitting the call sign using Morse code (CW) instead of the digital mode.
FCC rule §97.119(b)(2) allows for station identification to be transmitted using International Morse code when other emission types are being used. This is a common and permissible practice in weak-signal work like EME to ensure the identification is decodable even if the primary mode is not. Station ID is still required at least every 10 minutes and at the end of the communication.
Question 5: An Extra class licensee in the United States is in contact with an amateur station in a foreign country. When is it permissible to handle third-party traffic on behalf of a non-licensed person?
- At any time, as long as the communication is not for business purposes.
- Only if the third party is a direct family member of the control operator.
- Only if the United States has a specific third-party traffic agreement with that foreign country or in cases of emergency/disaster relief. (Correct answer)
- It is never permissible to handle third-party traffic during international communications.
Correct answer: Only if the United States has a specific third-party traffic agreement with that foreign country or in cases of emergency/disaster relief.
FCC rule §97.115(a)(2) explicitly states that transmitting international third-party traffic is permitted only with countries that have a specific agreement with the United States or when transmitting emergency or disaster relief communications. The content must still be non-commercial and personal in nature.
Question 6: Which of the following is a key FCC requirement for an automatically controlled digital station, such as a packet radio digipeater?
- It must use a proprietary encryption standard to prevent unauthorized access.
- It must be capable of storing all transmitted messages for at least 30 days.
- The station must be limited to a transmitter power output of 100 watts PEP.
- The station must be configured to cease transmissions if the control link is lost. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The station must be configured to cease transmissions if the control link is lost.
FCC rule §97.221(b) requires that an automatically controlled digital station must incorporate a 'fail-safe' mechanism. It must automatically limit transmission duration or cease transmitting altogether if the control link is lost. This prevents the station from transmitting improperly or causing interference indefinitely. Encryption is generally prohibited, message storing is not an FCC requirement, and power limits are determined by the band, not the control method.
HAM Radio Extra Class Test FCC Rules and Regulations Questions and Answers
An Extra class operator establishes a remotely controlled station.
Under FCC Part 97, which of the following is a primary responsibility of the control operator?