Ham Radio General Class Test General Class Operating Privileges 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which band segment is shared by both General and Extra class for CW, but Extra has an additional exclusive phone segment below General's phone limit?
- 40 meters
- 20 meters (Correct answer)
- 80 meters
- 15 meters
Correct answer: 20 meters
On 20 meters, both classes share CW from 14.025 MHz, but Extra class has an exclusive phone segment from 14.150–14.225 MHz that General class cannot use for phone.
Question 2: A General class operator wishes to contact a station on 160 meters. Which statement is correct?
- General class has no 160-meter privileges
- General class may use CW only on 160 meters
- General class has full phone and CW privileges on 160 meters (Correct answer)
- General class may only operate on 160 meters with a special temporary authorization
Correct answer: General class has full phone and CW privileges on 160 meters
General class operators enjoy full privileges on 160 meters (1.800–2.000 MHz), including phone and CW.
Question 3: What power limit applies to General class HF operation in most circumstances?
- 100 W PEP
- 500 W PEP
- 1500 W PEP (Correct answer)
- 200 W PEP
Correct answer: 1500 W PEP
General class operators are permitted up to 1500 W PEP output on most HF bands, the same as Extra class.
Question 4: On which specific frequencies may General class operators use the 60-meter band?
- Any frequency between 5.330 and 5.406 MHz
- Five specific channels: 5.332, 5.348, 5.358.5, 5.373, and 5.405 MHz (Correct answer)
- USB only on 5.330–5.406 MHz
- CW only on 5.332 and 5.348 MHz
Correct answer: Five specific channels: 5.332, 5.348, 5.358.5, 5.373, and 5.405 MHz
The FCC authorizes operation on five specific channelized center frequencies on 60 meters.
Question 5: Which statement about General class privileges on 10 meters is accurate?
- General class has phone privileges from 28.000 to 28.300 MHz
- General class has phone privileges from 28.300 to 29.700 MHz (Correct answer)
- General class has no 10-meter privileges beyond Technician
- General class may use 10 meters only during contests
Correct answer: General class has phone privileges from 28.300 to 29.700 MHz
General class phone on 10 meters spans 28.300 to 29.700 MHz; the segment 28.000–28.300 MHz is for CW and digital.
Question 6: A General class operator's license has expired. What operating privileges do they retain while the license is in a two-year grace period?
- Full General class privileges
- Technician class privileges only
- No privileges until the license is renewed (Correct answer)
- CW-only privileges on all General class bands
Correct answer: No privileges until the license is renewed
During the grace period an expired license cannot be used; the operator must renew before transmitting.
Question 7: Which HF band did the FCC most recently add operating channels for General class phone operation?
- 30 meters
- 60 meters (Correct answer)
- 17 meters
- 12 meters
Correct answer: 60 meters
60 meters (5 MHz band) was added as a secondary allocation with five channelized frequencies for US amateurs, representing a relatively recent privilege.
Ham Radio General Class Test General Class Operating Privileges 5
Which band segment is shared by both General and Extra class for CW, but Extra has an additional exclusive phone segment below General's phone limit?