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Ham Radio Technician Licence Practice Test

FCC rules, operating procedures, radio waves, electronics, antennas and safety on the syllabus of the amateur radio Technician exam.

161 questions · 7 topics · free, no sign-up

Mixed practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

Timed mock exam

50 questions in 60 minutes, drawn from every topic. No answers shown until the end, then a score, your weakest topics and a review of what you missed.

Practise by topic

Sample questions

A half-wave dipole is strung parallel to the ground. What is the polarization of its signal?

  1. Vertical
  2. Circular
  3. Horizontal
  4. Elliptical
Show the answer

C. Horizontal

Polarization follows the orientation of the radiating element's electric field, so a horizontal wire radiates a horizontally polarized wave. Turning the same dipole upright would make it vertical.

Reference: Antenna fundamentals: polarization

What are the two leads of a semiconductor diode called, and how is one of them often marked?

  1. Anode and cathode; a stripe marks the anode
  2. Anode and cathode; a stripe marks the cathode
  3. Emitter and collector; a dot marks the emitter
  4. Source and drain; a tab marks the source
Show the answer

B. Anode and cathode; a stripe marks the cathode

A diode has an anode and a cathode, and the band printed on the body identifies the cathode end. Emitter, collector, source and drain are transistor terminals.

Reference: Electronic components: diodes

The henry is the unit of which electrical property?

  1. Inductance
  2. Capacitance
  3. Impedance
  4. Frequency
Show the answer

A. Inductance

Inductance is measured in henrys. Capacitance, the property most often swapped with it, is measured in farads.

Reference: Basic electrical units

What is the usual difference between the transmit and receive frequencies of a repeater on the 2 meter band?

  1. 100 kHz
  2. 1.6 MHz
  3. 5 MHz
  4. 600 kHz
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D. 600 kHz

The standard 2 meter repeater offset is plus or minus 600 kHz. 5 MHz is the usual offset on 70 centimeters and 1.6 MHz is used on the 1.25 meter band.

Reference: Band plan conventions: repeater offsets

Which property of a radio wave defines its polarization?

  1. The orientation of its magnetic field
  2. The direction in which it travels
  3. The ratio of its two field strengths
  4. The orientation of its electric field
Show the answer

D. The orientation of its electric field

Polarization is named for the direction of the electric field, so a vertical antenna produces a vertically polarized wave. The magnetic field is at right angles to it and is not the reference.

Reference: Radio wave fundamentals: polarization

Exams this helps with

ExamWho runs itWhere
Amateur radio Technician, General and Extra readyFCC, volunteer examinersUnited States
General Radiotelephone Operator License (Elements 1 and 3) readyFCCUnited States

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