Ham Radio Technician Test Amateur 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the ITU phonetic alphabet word for the letter 'M'?
- Mexico
- Mike (Correct answer)
- Major
- Metro
Correct answer: Mike
In the ITU/NATO phonetic alphabet, 'M' is represented by 'Mike' to ensure clear voice communication.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'simplex' operation?
- Using a repeater to extend communication range
- Transmitting and receiving on the same frequency without a repeater (Correct answer)
- Using two separate frequencies for transmit and receive
- Operating on multiple bands simultaneously
Correct answer: Transmitting and receiving on the same frequency without a repeater
Simplex operation means both stations transmit and receive on the same single frequency with no repeater involved.
Question 3: What is the Technician class license privilege regarding 60-meter (5 MHz) channels?
- Full phone and CW privileges on all five channels
- No operating privileges (Correct answer)
- CW only on the 5.332 MHz channel
- USB phone on 15 watts PEP
Correct answer: No operating privileges
Technician class licensees have no operating privileges on the 60-meter band; those channels require at minimum a General class license.
Question 4: What RF safety hazard is specifically associated with operating a hand-held transceiver (HT) at close range to the body?
- The antenna may cause electrical shock
- The RF energy may cause localized tissue heating near the body (Correct answer)
- The battery may explode due to RF feedback
- The radio may re-transmit received signals without operator control
Correct answer: The RF energy may cause localized tissue heating near the body
Holding an HT close to the body means RF energy is absorbed by nearby tissue, potentially exceeding safe exposure limits at higher power levels.
Question 5: What is the correct procedure when two amateur stations want to have a private conversation on a repeater?
- Use CTCSS tones to lock out other users
- Ask the repeater trustee for a private timeslot
- Move to a simplex frequency if possible to free the repeater (Correct answer)
- Encrypt the transmission using an approved digital mode
Correct answer: Move to a simplex frequency if possible to free the repeater
The recommended practice is to move to a simplex frequency so the repeater remains available to others who may need it.
Question 6: Which of the following modes may Technician licensees use on the 6-meter band (50–54 MHz)?
- CW only
- Phone and CW only
- All amateur modes (Correct answer)
- Digital modes only
Correct answer: All amateur modes
Technician class licensees have all amateur privileges — phone, CW, and digital — on the 6-meter band from 50 to 54 MHz.
Question 7: What does it mean when an amateur operator says a contact was made 'via EME'?
- Communication was made through an emergency mesh network
- The signal was reflected off the Moon to reach the other station (Correct answer)
- The contact used an Ethernet Modulation Encoder
- The transmission was relayed via a geostationary satellite
Correct answer: The signal was reflected off the Moon to reach the other station
EME (Earth-Moon-Earth), also called 'moonbounce,' is a propagation technique where signals are reflected off the lunar surface to communicate over extreme distances.
Ham Radio Technician Test Amateur 5
What is the ITU phonetic alphabet word for the letter 'M'?