Amateur_Radio_Flashcards
(148 cards)
1
Q
What is the CEPT agreement in amateur radio?
A
It allows Canadian amateurs to operate in countries that are part of the CEPT agreement without needing additional licenses.
2
Q
What class of license is required for CEPT operation?
A
Basic with Honours (80% or higher) or Advanced certification.
3
Q
What is the IARP?
A
International Amateur Radio Permit – allows licensed amateurs from the Americas to operate in other signatory countries.
4
Q
Which US license classes are recognized under CEPT by Canada?
A
Technician and higher classes.
5
Q
What prefix must Canadian operators use when operating in the U.S. under CEPT?
A
Prefix ‘W’ followed by the district number and their Canadian call sign (e.g., W2/VA3XYZ).
6
Q
How must a Canadian identify themselves when travelling in the U.S. as an amateur operator?
A
By using the U.S. prefix and their Canadian call sign (e.g., W3/VE3ABC).
7
Q
What is the frequency range of the HF band on the Canadian spectrum chart?
A
3 MHz to 30 MHz.
8
Q
What are the VHF frequency ranges used in amateur radio in Canada?
A
30 MHz to 300 MHz.
9
Q
What is the frequency range of the UHF band in the Canadian radio spectrum?
A
300 MHz to 3 GHz.
10
Q
What identification format is used by a US amateur operating in Canada?
A
Call sign is prefixed with ‘VE’ or ‘VA’ (depending on the area), followed by the suffix (e.g., VA3/W1AW).
11
Q
What does the Canadian Spectrum Chart illustrate?
A
The allocation of radio frequencies across different services in Canada.
12
Q
Who is responsible for regulating the radio spectrum in Canada?
A
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
13
Q
What does ISED stand for?
A
Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
14
Q
What must Canadian amateurs carry when operating under CEPT abroad?
A
Proof of license and proof of nationality.
15
Q
What is required for IARP operation in participating countries?
A
Valid amateur radio license and IARP certificate.
16
Q
Which countries recognize the IARP agreement?
A
Most countries in the Americas including the USA and Canada.
17
Q
Can CEPT or IARP be used for permanent amateur operations abroad?
A
No, they are only for temporary operations.
18
Q
What is the frequency range of the SHF band in the Canadian spectrum?
A
3 GHz to 30 GHz.
19
Q
How are frequency bands generally categorized in the spectrum chart?
A
By service type, frequency range, and usage.
20
Q
What document should accompany Canadian operators when travelling?
A
A government-issued photo ID and the original operator certificate.
21
Q
A
22
Q
What is Ohm’s Law?
A
V = I × R
23
Q
How do you calculate current using Ohm’s Law?
A
I = V / R
24
Q
How do you calculate resistance using Ohm’s Law?
A
R = V / I
25
What is the formula for electrical power?
P = V × I
26
What are two alternate formulas for power using Ohm's Law?
P = I² × R and P = V² / R
27
What is a conductor?
A material that allows the flow of electric current (e.g., copper).
28
What is an insulator?
A material that resists the flow of electric current (e.g., rubber).
29
In a series circuit, how does current behave?
Current is the same through all components.
30
In a series circuit, how does voltage behave?
Voltage divides across components.
31
In a parallel circuit, how does voltage behave?
Voltage is the same across all branches.
32
In a parallel circuit, how does current behave?
Current divides among the branches.
33
What does a battery supply?
A DC voltage.
34
How is a battery rated?
In volts and amp-hours (Ah).
35
What direction does conventional current flow?
From positive to negative.
36
How does resistance add in a series circuit?
Resistances add together.
37
How does resistance behave in a parallel circuit?
Total resistance decreases.
38
What unit is used to measure voltage?
Volt (V)
39
What unit is used to measure current?
Ampere (A)
40
What unit is used to measure resistance?
Ohm (Ω)
41
What unit is used to measure power?
Watt (W)
42
What happens to current when resistance increases (with constant voltage)?
Current decreases.
43
What happens to power when current increases (with constant voltage)?
Power increases.
44
What happens to power when resistance increases (with constant voltage)?
Power decreases.
45
What is the function of an inductor?
It stores energy in a magnetic field.
46
What is the function of a capacitor?
It stores energy in an electric field.
47
What happens in a DC circuit when a capacitor is fully charged?
It blocks current.
48
What happens when an inductor is first energized?
It resists changes in current.
49
What is the symbol for inductance?
L
50
What is the symbol for capacitance?
C
51
What is the unit for inductance?
Henry (H)
52
What is the unit for capacitance?
Farad (F)
53
What is reactance?
The opposition to AC by inductors and capacitors.
54
Does a capacitor pass DC after charging?
No, it blocks DC.
55
Does an inductor pass DC?
Yes, once steady current is established.
56
What is frequency?
The number of cycles per unit of time, measured in Hertz (Hz).
57
What is the human hearing range for young people?
Approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
58
What is the human hearing range for a 60-year-old?
May hear a maximum of 16,000 Hz.
59
What are audio frequencies?
Signals in the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
60
What is wavelength?
The distance a radio wave travels in one cycle.
61
What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
As frequency increases, wavelength decreases.
62
What are voice frequencies?
Low-frequency sound waves between 300 and 3000 Hertz.
63
What are radio waves?
Electromagnetic waves that oscillate more than 20,000 times per second.
64
How is wavelength calculated from frequency?
Wavelength (m) = 300 / Frequency (MHz).
65
At what speed do radio waves travel in space?
Approximately 300,000,000 m/s.
66
What is the frequency range of the 2-meter band in Canada?
144 to 148 MHz.
67
What is the frequency range of the 6-meter band in Canada?
50 to 54 MHz.
68
What is the frequency range of the 70-centimeter band in Canada?
420 to 450 MHz.
69
What is the frequency range of the 160-meter band in Canada?
1.8 to 2.0 MHz.
70
What is the VLF range and its characteristic?
3 kHz to 30 kHz, very long waves over 10 km.
71
What is the LF range and its characteristic?
30 kHz to 300 kHz, long waves 10 km to 1 km.
72
What is the MF range and its characteristic?
300 kHz to 3 MHz, medium waves 1000 m to 100 m.
73
What is the HF range and its characteristic?
3 MHz to 30 MHz, short waves 100 m to 10 m.
74
What is the VHF range and its characteristic?
30 MHz to 300 MHz, metre waves 10 m to 1 m.
75
What is the UHF range and its characteristic?
300 MHz to 3 GHz, decimeter waves 100 cm to 10 cm.
76
What is the SHF range and its characteristic?
3 GHz to 30 GHz, centimeter waves 10 cm to 1 cm.
77
What is the EHF range and its characteristic?
30 GHz to 300 GHz, millimeter waves 10 mm to 1 mm.
78
Who establishes spectrum allocations for Amateur Radio in Canada?
ISED through ITU regulations.
79
Who publishes recommended band plans for Amateur Radio in Canada?
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC).
80
What frequency range does not require a license for operation in Canada?
Operations above 400 GHz (0.75 mm wavelength).
81
What is radio wave propagation?
The behavior of radio waves as they travel from one point to another.
82
What are ground waves?
Radio waves that follow the contour of the Earth and can travel beyond the horizon.
83
What are sky waves?
Radio waves that are reflected back to Earth by the ionosphere.
84
What is the ionosphere?
A region of the Earth's upper atmosphere that contains charged particles and reflects certain radio waves.
85
What affects radio wave propagation?
Factors such as frequency, terrain, time of day, and solar activity.
86
What is the D layer of the ionosphere?
The lowest layer, which absorbs lower frequency signals during the day.
87
What is the F layer of the ionosphere?
The highest layer, most responsible for long-distance HF propagation.
88
What is line-of-sight propagation?
Direct transmission between antennas without obstruction.
89
What is tropospheric ducting?
Propagation that occurs when temperature inversions trap signals in the troposphere.
90
What is a transmission line?
A specialized cable or other structure designed to conduct radio frequency signals.
91
What is impedance?
The resistance of the transmission line to the flow of alternating current, measured in ohms.
92
What is standing wave ratio (SWR)?
A measure of how efficiently RF power is transmitted from a power source into the load.
93
What causes high SWR?
A mismatch between the antenna and the transmission line.
94
What is coaxial cable?
A type of transmission line with a central conductor, insulating layer, metallic shield, and outer cover.
95
What is the typical impedance of amateur radio coaxial cable?
Usually 50 ohms.
96
What happens with an impedance mismatch?
Part of the signal is reflected back towards the source, causing power loss.
97
What is velocity factor?
The speed at which a signal travels through a transmission line, expressed as a fraction of the speed of light.
98
What is a balun?
A device that converts between balanced and unbalanced signals.
99
What is the purpose of Q Codes in amateur radio?
They are standardized 3-letter codes used to simplify communication, especially in CW, often used with or without a question mark.
100
What does CTCSS stand for and what is it used for?
Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System; used to prevent unwanted signals from opening a receiver’s squelch.
101
What is the difference between Simplex and Duplex communication?
Simplex uses one frequency for both transmitting and receiving; Duplex uses two separate frequencies, often involving a repeater.
102
What is Safety Code 6?
A Health Canada guideline that sets limits for human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields between 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
103
What are harmonics in radio transmissions?
Unwanted signals that are multiples of the transmitter’s fundamental frequency.
104
How can cross-modulation be identified in a receiver?
As the undesired signal being heard in the background of the desired signal.
105
What should be used on TV receivers to prevent RF overload?
A high-pass filter should be connected to the antenna input.
106
What is Peak Envelope Power (PEP)?
The average power during one RF cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope.
107
What is modulation in radio transmission?
The process of imparting information onto a carrier wave by altering its properties such as amplitude or frequency.
108
What is the most efficient voice mode on HF bands and why?
Single Sideband (SSB); it is spectrally efficient and concentrates power into one sideband.
109
What is meant by 'Capture Effect' in FM reception?
The receiver only demodulates the strongest of multiple signals on the same frequency.
110
What antenna polarization is optimal for VHF mobile stations?
Vertical polarization.
111
What does the SWR Bridge measure and why is it useful?
Measures VSWR and gives immediate indication of mismatch or problems in the antenna system.
112
What is a dummy load used for?
To safely dissipate transmitter power during testing without radiating a signal.
113
What is the difference between AM and SSB?
AM transmits both sidebands and a carrier; SSB transmits only one sideband with the carrier suppressed.
114
What kind of damage can overmodulation in AM cause?
It can result in distorted audio and spurious emissions.
115
What safety distance should be maintained from power lines?
At least 10 feet (3 meters).
116
Why is grounding important in amateur stations?
To protect equipment and operators from electric shock and reduce RFI/EMI.
117
What is meant by receiver desensitization?
A nearby strong signal reduces the receiver's ability to pick up weak signals.
118
What is the purpose of a low-pass filter in a station?
To attenuate harmonics and spurious emissions above 30 MHz.
119
What is UTC and why is it important in logging contacts?
UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) standardizes time across time zones for consistent logging in amateur radio.
120
How is 1500 hours in 24-hour time expressed in 12-hour time?
3 PM.
121
What is the phonetic alphabet used for in radio communication?
To clarify spoken words, especially difficult or ambiguous ones.
122
What is the purpose of a Net in amateur radio?
A Net is a group communication on a frequency managed by a Net Control Station for coordination.
123
What is the function of a repeater in radio communication?
It receives a weak signal and retransmits it to extend communication range.
124
What is the standard repeater offset on the 2 meter band?
600 kHz.
125
What is an IRLP?
Internet Radio Linking Project; links radio repeaters globally using VoIP.
126
What is the main purpose of an SWR Bridge?
To measure standing wave ratio and indicate mismatches.
127
What is a low pass filter used for?
To block high-frequency noise and harmonics.
128
What is a linear amplifier?
A device that increases the output power of a transmitter without distorting the signal.
129
What safety equipment is recommended when installing antennas?
Safety belt, safety rope, hard-soled boots, gloves.
130
What is RF energy’s main health hazard?
It can cause thermal effects such as body heating, blindness, or sterility.
131
What is the Safe E-field limit for 30–300 MHz under Safety Code 6?
28 V/m.
132
What is the function of a dipole antenna?
It radiates and receives RF energy and serves as a reference for gain measurements.
133
What is the typical gain of a dipole antenna over an isotropic antenna?
2.15 dBi.
134
What does the term dBd mean?
Decibels over a dipole.
135
What is VSWR and why does it matter?
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio; measures efficiency of power transfer from transmitter to antenna.
136
What does a dummy load do in a transmitter setup?
It absorbs RF energy for testing without radiating signals.
137
What is the cause of 'splatter' on SSB?
Overdriving the microphone gain or amplifier.
138
What is the danger of parasitic oscillations?
They can cause unwanted transmission outside the intended frequency.
139
What is the function of bypass capacitors in audio systems?
To block RF and prevent audio rectification.
140
How does a ferrite core help in reducing interference?
It acts as a choke to block high frequency RF in audio or data lines.
141
Why are bandplans important for HF operation?
They help operators use frequencies responsibly and avoid interference.
142
What is the capture effect in FM?
When only the strongest signal is heard, weaker signals are suppressed.
143
What is a typical deviation in Narrow Band FM?
5 kHz.
144
How are unwanted harmonics reduced in transmitters?
Using low pass filters and ensuring proper transmitter operation.
145
What is the modulation type used in CW?
On-off keying (telegraphy).
146
What is the main advantage of SSB over AM?
More efficient use of power and bandwidth.
147
How does increasing the length of an antenna affect frequency?
It lowers the resonant frequency.
148
What kind of modulation varies the phase of the carrier?
Phase modulation.
