Oversimplified Ham Exam for Technician Class License (2022-2026)

By Josip Medved

A handy guide to cramming for the Technician class ham exam (2022-2026). It contains all the questions with the correct answer marked and helpful comments sprinkled around.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Josip Medved
• Release date: May 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201123932

Book preview

Oversimplified Ham Exam for Technician Class License

Comments by:

Josip Medved

Edited by:

Ana Medved

Exam questions by:

NCVEC

2022-2026 Technician Question Pool

Revised 03/07/2022

This book is full of oversimplifications and is probably not the one you want to use to learn about the radio amateur world. That said, this was not the goal to start with. The only goal is to help you pass the exam.

For my exam, I found that going over all the questions, combined with a short (oversimplified) explanation, was more than enough. So I took all those explanations, rationalizations, and opinions I used to remember the correct answers and wrote them down so that you can view them too.

Each section will contain what I consider to be the most important knowledge that will help you with learning. And each answer will have an additional explanation, witty comment, or just a sigh if it goes too deep.

Of course, just going over it once probably will not suffice. You'll want to have a few test exams too. For this you can use one of the many online sites allowing for practice or, if you prefer an offline application, you can also use my HamCheck at www.medo64.com/hamcheck. Select whatever works for you.

For both practice and the real exam, get into the habit of having paper and using it for calculations and for writing down formulas. It really helps with memory. A calculator itself is optional as most calculations you need to do become trivial once you understand the concept.

With a few practice runs under the belt, the test should be a breeze. The real learning can start then.

Good luck!

Josip Medved, AF7RG

T1

COMMISSION'S RULES

T1A

Purpose and permissible use of the Amateur Radio Service; Operator/primary station license grant; Meanings of basic terms used in FCC rules; Interference; RACES rules; Phonetics; Frequency Coordinator

The most important thing you need to know is that while FCC is the top dog when it comes to setting the rules, they are usually quite hands off with amateurs.

T1A01

Which of the following is part of the Basis and Purpose of the Amateur Radio Service?

A: Providing personal radio communications for as many citizens as possible

B: Providing communications for international non-profit organizations

C: Advancing skills in the technical and communication phases of the radio art

D: All these choices are correct

It's all about the sweet skills.

FCC Part 97.1

T1A02

Which agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States?

A: FEMA

B: Homeland Security

C: The FCC

D: All these choices are correct

FCC is thy Lord and thou shalt have no other.

FCC Part 97.1

T1A03

What do the FCC rules state regarding the use of a phonetic alphabet for station identification in the Amateur Radio Service?

A: It is required when transmitting emergency messages

B: It is encouraged

C: It is required when in contact with foreign stations

D: All these choices are correct

The phonetic alphabet is a handy-dandy thing so prohibition of it would make no sense. What also makes no sense is having stricter requirements for emergencies than for normal messaging. There are no different rules for foreign and domestic communication. Thus, the only remaining choice has to be the correct one.

FCC Part 97.119(b)(2)

T1A04

How many operator/primary station license grants may be held by any one person?

A: One

B: No more than two

C: One for each band on which the person plans to operate

D: One for each permanent station location from which the person plans to operate

Only one primary station license can ever be held by one person. Even if you're a split personality.

FCC Part 97.5(b)(1)

T1A05

What proves that the FCC has issued an operator/primary license grant?

A: A printed copy of the certificate of successful completion of examination

B: An email notification from the NCVEC granting the license

C: The license appears in the FCC ULS database

D: All these choices are correct

In a surprising moment of wisdom, FCC decided one doesn't need to have any paperwork with them. As long as you have your license visible online, you're good. Yes, you can have a paper copy sent to you by FCC but that's not the default anymore. Even better, if you decide to upgrade to general or extra, you don't even need to wait after the (successful) exam. You can start using those sweet frequencies immediately, after adding the magic /AG or /AE to your Technician designation.

FCC Part 97.7

T1A06

What is the FCC Part 97 definition of a beacon?

A: A government transmitter marking the amateur radio band edges

B: A bulletin sent by the FCC to announce a national emergency

C: A continuous transmission of weather information authorized in the amateur bands by the National Weather Service

D: An amateur station transmitting communications for the purposes of observing propagation or related experimental activities

A beacon is most definitely a station. As the name suggests, it's sending a signal of some kind. It's not continuous (a big no-no in amateur bands) and definitely not a bulletin.

FCC Part 97.3(a)(9)

T1A07

What is the FCC Part 97 definition of a space station?

A: Any satellite orbiting Earth

B: A manned satellite orbiting Earth

C: An amateur station located more than 50 km above Earth's surface

D: An amateur station using amateur radio satellites for relay of signals

Well, a space station has to be a station high up in the sky. 50 km is as good a limit as any other. And no, just putting a person on top of a satellite won't do.

FCC Part 97.3(a)(41)

T1A08

Which of the following entities recommends transmit/receive channels and other parameters for auxiliary and repeater stations?

A: Frequency Spectrum Manager appointed by the FCC

B: Volunteer Frequency Coordinator recognized by local amateurs

C: FCC Regional Field Office

D: International Telecommunication Union

FCC is quite hands off so it's definitely not going to bother with low-level details. Also, ITU has no say on US soil. Amateurs sort most things between and by themselves.

FCC Part 97.3(a)(22)

T1A09

Who selects a Frequency Coordinator?

A: The FCC Office of Spectrum Management and Coordination Policy

B: The local chapter of the Office of National Council of Independent Frequency Coordinators

C: Amateur operators in a local or regional area whose stations are eligible to be repeater or auxiliary stations

D: FCC Regional Field Office

Again, amateurs are mostly self organized and the selection of a Frequency Coordinator is not an exception.

FCC Part 97.3(a)(22)

T1A10

What is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)?

A: A radio service using amateur frequencies for emergency management or civil defense communications

B: A radio service using amateur stations for emergency management or civil defense communications

C: An emergency service using amateur operators certified by a civil defense organization as being enrolled in that organization

D: All these choices are correct

During an emergency, ham operators always offer a helping hand. And yes, all these answers are subtly different but you can get away by just remembering that we love preparing for emergencies in any way we can.

FCC Part 97.3(a)(38), 97.407

T1A11

When is willful interference to other amateur radio stations permitted?

A: To stop another amateur station that is breaking the FCC rules

B: At no time

C: When making short test transmissions

D: At any time, stations in the Amateur Radio Service are not protected from willful interference

Amateur radio is all about cooperation. Intentionally messing with transmissions made by someone else is a big no-no.

FCC Part 97.101 (d)

T1B

Frequency allocations; Emission modes; Spectrum sharing; Transmissions near band edges; Contacting the International Space Station; Power output

The main formula to remember is

wavelength = speed-of-light / frequency

. If you simplify it a bit by using the most common units, this becomes

wavelength (meters) = 300 / frequency (MHz)

. All exam questions give you enough buffer in calculations that you can get away with rounding numbers and not bothering with a calculator.

T1B01

Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?

A: 28.050 MHz to