Ham Radio General Class Test HF Operating Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the general HF band plan purpose of frequencies near the low end of a phone subband?
- They are typically used for DX and intercontinental contacts (Correct answer)
- They are reserved for digital modes only
- They are designated for emergency communications only
- They are set aside for beacon transmissions
Correct answer: They are typically used for DX and intercontinental contacts
By convention, frequencies near the low end of HF phone subbands are used for DX (long-distance) contacts.
Question 2: What does the term 'lid' refer to in amateur radio slang?
- A poor or inconsiderate operator (Correct answer)
- A type of antenna cap used for top-loading
- A station running excessive power
- A repeater with a malfunctioning squelch
Correct answer: A poor or inconsiderate operator
'Lid' is slang for an inexperienced or discourteous amateur radio operator.
Question 3: When should a General class licensee use the prosign 'AR' in CW operation?
- At the end of a transmission to indicate it is complete (Correct answer)
- To separate the callsigns in a contact
- To indicate a distress situation
- Before giving a signal report
Correct answer: At the end of a transmission to indicate it is complete
The prosign AR (sent as a single character: .-.-.) signifies 'end of message' or end of transmission in CW.
Question 4: What is 'third-party traffic' in amateur radio communications?
- Messages passed on behalf of someone who is not a licensed amateur (Correct answer)
- Conversations involving a third station listening in
- Traffic handled by a third-party relay station
- Any communication on frequencies shared with other services
Correct answer: Messages passed on behalf of someone who is not a licensed amateur
Third-party traffic is a message or communication sent on behalf of someone who is not a licensed amateur operator.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a recommended practice when calling CQ?
- Calling CQ for 5 minutes continuously without a break to listen (Correct answer)
- Identifying with your callsign at the end of the CQ
- Specifying a geographic area if looking for a particular region
- Announcing the frequency you are on
Correct answer: Calling CQ for 5 minutes continuously without a break to listen
Long continuous CQ calls without pausing to listen are inconsiderate and waste spectrum; short CQs followed by listening are proper practice.
Question 6: What is the purpose of using 'UTC' (Coordinated Universal Time) in amateur radio logging?
- To provide a common time reference for operators in different time zones worldwide (Correct answer)
- To synchronize digital mode clocks for accurate decoding
- To comply with FCC requirements for real-time logging
- To calculate propagation delays for accurate timing
Correct answer: To provide a common time reference for operators in different time zones worldwide
UTC gives a universal reference time so amateur logs are consistent regardless of local time zones.
Question 7: What is the meaning of the term 'pileup' in HF DX operating?
- Many stations calling a rare DX station simultaneously (Correct answer)
- A frequency interference problem from multiple carriers
- A stack of antennas used to increase gain toward a DX target
- An accidental transmission from multiple operators at once
Correct answer: Many stations calling a rare DX station simultaneously
A pileup occurs when many amateur stations simultaneously try to contact a rare or sought-after DX station.
Ham Radio General Class Test HF Operating Procedures 3
What is the general HF band plan purpose of frequencies near the low end of a phone subband?