----- part 5 -----
[q] what is a beam antenna?
[a] an antenna that concentrates signals in one direction
[q] what is an antenna that consists of a single element mounted perpendicular to the earth's surface?
[a] a vertical antenna
[q] what type of antenna is a simple dipole mounted so the elements are parallel to the earth's surface?
[a] a horizontal antenna
[q] what is a disadvantage of the "rubber duck" antenna supplied with most hand held radio transceivers?
[a] it does not transmit or receive as effectively as a full sized antenna
[q] how does the physical size of half-wave dipole antenna change with operating frequency?
[a] it becomes shorter as the frequency increases
[q] what is the advantage of 5/8 wavelength over 1/4 wavelength vertical antennas?
[a] their radiation pattern concentrates energy at lower angles
[q] what is the primary purpose of a dummy load?
[a] it does not radiate interfering signals when making tests
[q] what type of antennas are the quad, yagi, and dish?
[a] directional or beam antennas
[q] what is one type of antenna that offers good efficiency when operating mobile and can be easily installed or removed?
[a] a magnet mount vertical antenna
[q] what is a good reason not to use a "rubber duck" antenna inside your car?
[a] signals can be 10 to 20 times weaker than when you are outside of the vehicle
[q] what is the approximate length, in inches, of a quarter-wavelength vertical antenna for 146 mhz?
[a] 19 inches
[q] what is the approximate length, in inches, of a 6-meter 1/2 wavelength wire dipole antenna?
[a] 112 inches
[q] why are vhf/uhf signals not normally heard over long distances?
[a] vhf and uhf signals are usually not reflected by the ionosphere
[q] what might be happening when we hear a vhf signal from long distances?
[a] a possible cause is sporadic e reflection from a layer in the ionosphere
[q] what is the most likely cause of sudden bursts of tones or fragments of different conversations that interfere with vhf or uhf signals?
[a] strong signals are overloading the receiver and causing undesired signals to be heard
[q] what is the radio horizon?
[a] the point where radio signals between two points are blocked by the curvature of the earth
[q] what should you do if a station reports that your signals were strong just a moment ago, but now they are weak or distorted?
[a] try moving a few feet, random reflections may be causing multi- path distortion.
[q] why do uhf signals often work better inside of buildings than vhf signals?
[a] the shorter wavelength of uhf signals allows them to more easily penetrate urban areas and buildings
[q] what is a good thing to remember when using your hand-held vhf or uhf radio to reach a distant repeater?
[a] keep the antenna as close to vertical as you can
[q] what can happen if the antennas at opposite ends of a vhf or uhf line of sight radio link are not using the same polarization?
[a] signals could be as much as 100 times weaker
[q] what might be a way to reach a distant repeater if buildings or obstructions are blocking the direct line of sight path?
[a] try using a directional antenna to find a path that reflects signals to the repeater
[q] what term is commonly used to describe the rapid fluttering sound sometimes heard from mobile stations that are moving while transmitting?
[a] picket fencing
[q] why do vhf and uhf radio signals usually travel about a third farther than the visual line of sight distance between 2 stations?
[a] the earth seems less curved to radio waves than to light
[q] what, in general terms, is standing wave ratio (swr)?
[a] a measure of how well a load is matched to a transmitter
[q] what reading on a swr meter indicates a perfect impedance match between the antenna and the feed line?
[a] 1 to 1
[q] what might be indicated by erratic changes in swr readings?
[a] a loose connection in your antenna or feedline
[q] what is the swr value where the protection circuits in most solid- state transmitters begin to reduce transmitter power?
[a] 2 to 1
[q] what happens to the power lost in a feed line?
[a] it is converted into heat by losses in the line
[q] what instrument other than a swr meter could you use to determine if your feedline and antenna are properly matched?
[a] directional wattmeter
[q] what is the most common reason for failure of coaxial cables?
[a] moisture contamination
[q] why is it important to have a low swr in an antenna system that uses coaxial cable feedline?
[a] to allow the efficient transfer of power and reduce losses
[q] what can happen to older coaxial cables that are exposed to weather and sunlight for several years?
[a] losses can increase dramatically
[q] why is the outer sheath of most coaxial cables black in color?
[a] black provides protection against ultraviolet damage
[q] what is the impedance of the most commonly used coaxial cable in typical amateur radio installations?
[a] 50 ohms
[q] why is coaxial cable used more often than any other feed line for amateur radio antenna systems?
[a] it is easy to use and requires few special installation considerations
[q] what is a commonly accepted value for the lowest voltage that can cause a dangerous electric shock?
[a] 30 volts
[q] what is the lowest amount of electrical current flowing through the human body that is likely to cause death?
[a] 100 milliamperes
[q] what is connected to the green wire in a three-wire electrical plug?
[a] ground
[q] what is the purpose of a fuse in an electrical circuit?
[a] to interrupt power in case of overload
[q] what might happen if you install a 20-ampere fuse in your transceiver in the place of a 5-ampere fuse?
[a] excessive current could cause a fire
[q] what is a good way to guard against electrical shock at your station?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] what is the most important thing to consider when installing an emergency disconnect switch at your station?
[a] everyone should know where it is and how to use it
[q] what precautions should be taken when a lightning storm is expected?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] what is one way to recharge a 12-volt battery if the commercial power is out?
[a] connect the battery to a car's battery and run the engine
[q] what kind of hazard is presented by a conventional 12-volt storage battery?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] what can happen if a storage battery is charged or discharged too quickly?
[a] the battery could overheat and give off dangerous gas or explode
[q] what is the most important reason to have a lightning protection system for your amateur radio station?
[a] fire prevention
[q] what kind of hazard might exist in a power supply when it is turned off and disconnected?
[a] you might receive an electric shock from stored charge in large capacitors
[q] why should you wear a hard hat and safety glasses if you are on the ground helping someone work on an antenna tower?
[a] to protect your head and eyes in case something accidentally falls from the tower
[q] what is a good precaution to observe before climbing an antenna tower?
[a] put on your safety belt and safety glasses
[q] what should you do before you climb a tower?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] what is an important consideration when putting up an antenna?
[a] make sure people cannot accidentally come into contact with it
[q] what must be considered when erecting an antenna near an airport?
[a] the maximum allowed height with regard to nearby airports
[q] what is the most important safety precaution to observe when putting up an antenna tower?
[a] look for and stay clear of any overhead electrical wires
[q] how should the guy wires for an antenna tower be installed?
[a] in accordance with the tower manufacturer's instructions
[q] what is a safe distance from a power line to allow when installing an antenna?
[a] so that if the antenna falls unexpectedly, no part of it can come closer than 10 feet to the power wires
[q] what is the most important safety rule to remember when using a crank-up tower?
[a] a crank-up tower should never be climbed unless it is in the fully lowered position
[q] why is stainless steel hardware used on many antennas instead of other metals?
[a] stainless steel parts are much less likely to corrode
[q] what is considered to be an adequate ground for a tower?
[a] separate 8 foot long ground rods for each tower leg, bonded to the tower and each other
[q] what type of radiation are vhf and uhf radio signals?
[a] non-ionizing radiation
[q] when can radio waves cause injury to the human body?
[a] only if the combination of signal strength and frequency cause excessive power to be absorbed
[q] what is the maximum power level that an amateur radio station may use at frequencies above 30 mhz before an rf exposure evaluation is required?
[a] 50 watts pep at the antenna
[q] what factors affect the rf exposure of people near an amateur transmitter?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] why must the frequency of an rf source be considered when evaluating rf radiation exposure?
[a] the human body absorbs more rf energy at some frequencies than others
[q] how can you determine that your station complies with fcc rf exposure regulations?
[a] all of these choices are correct
[q] what could happen if a person accidentally touched your antenna while you were transmitting?
[a] they might receive a painful rf burn injury
[q] what action might amateur operators take to prevent exposure to rf radiation in excess of fcc supplied limits?
[a] all of these answers are correct
[q] how can you make sure your station stays in compliance with rf safety regulations?
[a] by re-evaluating the station whenever an item of equipment is changed
[q] which of the following units of measurement is used to measure rf radiation exposure?
[a] milliwatts per square centimeter
[q] why is duty cycle one of the factors used to determine safe rf radiation exposure levels?
[a] it takes into account the amount of time the transmitter is operating
(end)