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Propagation practice questions

19 questions from the amateur radio (technician) practice test.

Propagation practice test

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

What this covers

Sample questions

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
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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

The 70 centimeter amateur band is in which part of the radio spectrum?

  1. UHF
  2. HF
  3. VHF
  4. SHF
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A. UHF

The 70 centimeter band lies near 420 to 450 MHz, inside the UHF range of 300 to 3000 MHz. The 2 meter band just below it is VHF, which is the common mix-up.

Reference: Radio spectrum designations

How do 2 meter FM signals normally get from one station to another a few miles away?

  1. By reflection from the F region
  2. By ground wave along the soil
  3. By a direct line-of-sight path
  4. By ducting in the stratosphere
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C. By a direct line-of-sight path

VHF and UHF signals mostly travel straight from antenna to antenna, which is why height matters so much. Ionospheric reflection is the normal mechanism on HF, not on 2 meters.

Reference: VHF/UHF propagation: line of sight

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