Amateur Radio Practices Flashcards
7 cards from real Ham Radio General Class Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Amateur Radio Practices flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a 'dummy load' (dummy antenna)?
Answer: To allow transmitter testing without radiating a signal
A dummy load is a non-radiating resistive load that absorbs transmitter output, allowing testing and adjustment without on-air transmission.
Which practice best reduces the chance of RF interference to consumer electronics in your home?
Answer: Using a low-pass filter on the transmitter output
A low-pass filter suppresses harmonics and spurious emissions that are the most common cause of TVI and other consumer electronics interference.
What is the meaning of 'de' in a CW contact (e.g., 'W1AW de K4XYZ')?
Answer: From — it identifies the sending station
'De' is a CW abbreviation from French/Latin meaning 'from,' used to identify which station is calling which.
What is the primary reason to keep a station log?
Answer: To maintain a record of operating activity useful for verification and award credit
While logging is not mandated for most contacts, records help confirm QSOs for awards (DXCC, WAS) and can document interference complaints.
What is 'IMD' (intermodulation distortion) in a receiver?
Answer: Spurious signals generated when two or more strong signals mix in nonlinear receiver stages
IMD occurs when strong signals overload a nonlinear stage (like a front-end amplifier), creating new spurious mixing products at other frequencies.
What does the Q-code 'QSB' indicate during a contact?
Answer: The signal strength is fading
QSB means signal fading; the other operator is alerting you that your signal (or theirs) is varying in strength.
What is the advantage of operating an SSB transceiver in 'split' mode during a DX pileup?
Answer: It allows the DX station to transmit on one frequency while listening on another to manage the pileup
In split operation, the rare DX station transmits on its frequency but listens on a separate frequency or range, spreading out callers and making the pileup more manageable.