G2 Operating Procedures

A. Upper sideband

By long-standing amateur convention, SSB voice on 20 meters (14 MHz) and every higher band uses upper sideband, while 160, 75 and 40 meters use lower sideband. This is a practice rather than an FCC rule, but following it lets other stations tune you in correctly.

• B. Lower sideband is the convention on 160, 75 and 40 meters, below 14 MHz.
• C. “Suppressed sideband” is not a mode name; SSB suppresses the carrier and one sideband, and the sideband that remains is either upper or lower.
• D. Double sideband, as in AM, takes about twice the bandwidth of SSB and is far less common for voice on these bands.

B. Lower sideband

By amateur convention, SSB voice on 160, 75 and 40 meters uses lower sideband, while 20 meters and higher use upper sideband. No FCC rule requires it; it is common practice that lets stations tune each other in.

• A. Upper sideband is the convention on 20 meters and higher, not on 160, 75 and 40 meters.
• C. “Suppressed sideband” is not a mode name; SSB suppresses the carrier and one sideband, and the sideband that remains is either upper or lower.
• D. Double sideband, as in AM, takes about twice the bandwidth of SSB and is not the usual voice mode on these bands.

A. Upper sideband

SSB voice on 6 meters, 2 meters, 70 cm and higher bands uses upper sideband, the same convention as on HF bands of 14 MHz and up. The common SSB calling frequencies 50.125 MHz and 144.200 MHz, for example, are operated on USB.

• B. Lower sideband is the convention only on 160, 75 and 40 meters.
• C. “Suppressed sideband” is not a mode name; the sideband that remains after suppression is either upper or lower.
• D. Double sideband is not used for weak-signal VHF and UHF voice work.

A. Upper sideband

17 meters (18 MHz) and 12 meters (24 MHz) are above 14 MHz, where the amateur convention for SSB voice is upper sideband.

• B. Lower sideband is the convention only on 160, 75 and 40 meters, below 14 MHz.
• C. “Suppressed sideband” is not a mode name; SSB suppresses the carrier and one sideband.
• D. Double sideband takes about twice the bandwidth of SSB and is not the usual voice mode on these bands.

C. Single sideband

Single sideband is the usual HF voice mode because it needs about half the bandwidth of AM and puts all of the transmitter's power into one sideband, with no carrier. That efficiency suits long-distance contacts in crowded HF bands.

• A. FM uses more bandwidth, and on HF it is found mainly on 10 meters above 29 MHz.
• B. Double sideband, as in AM, takes about twice the bandwidth of SSB and is much less common on HF.
• D. “Single phase modulation” is not a standard voice mode; phase modulation is a form of angle modulation related to FM.

D. Less bandwidth used and greater power efficiency

An SSB transmitter suppresses the carrier and one sideband, so its signal is about half as wide as AM and all of its power goes into the sideband that carries the voice. In AM, at least two-thirds of the transmitted power is in the carrier, which carries no information.

• A. SSB voice is limited to a narrow audio range for communications, so it is not high fidelity.
• B. SSB is an amplitude-based mode, so static crashes affect it; it does not reject them.
• C. SSB must be tuned precisely or voices sound high- or low-pitched, and it has no immunity to impulse noise.

B. Only one sideband is transmitted; the other sideband and carrier are suppressed

A single sideband signal is AM with the carrier and one sideband removed, so only the upper or lower sideband is transmitted. The receiver reinserts a carrier locally to recover the audio.

• A. Sending the carrier along with one sideband describes a different emission (full or reduced carrier single sideband), not the suppressed-carrier SSB amateurs use.
• C. Other voice modes, such as AM, and FM on part of 10 meters, are also authorized; Part 97 authorizes phone emissions, not SSB only.
• D. AM and other phone emissions are also legal on 160, 75 and 40 meters; SSB is common there by practice, not by rule.

B. Say your call sign once

To break into a phone conversation, wait for a pause between transmissions and say your call sign once. The stations in contact can then acknowledge you without having their conversation disrupted.

• A. “QRZ” means “who is calling me?” and is used by a station looking for callers, not by someone breaking in.
• C. “Breaker breaker” is Citizens Band slang, not amateur practice.
• D. “CQ” is a general call to any station; it is not used to join an existing conversation.

D. It is commonly accepted amateur practice

Neither sideband works better at low frequencies; LSB on 160, 75 and 40 meters is a convention amateurs follow so that stations can find and tune each other. No FCC rule requires it.

• A. Upper and lower sideband are equally efficient at any frequency.
• B. Part 97 authorizes phone emissions without specifying a sideband, so upper sideband is equally legal on these bands.
• C. Neither sideband is fully compatible with an AM envelope detector; SSB needs a product detector with a locally generated carrier.

B. It allows “hands free” operation

VOX (voice-operated transmit) switches the transmitter on automatically when you speak, so you do not need to hold a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. That allows hands-free operation, which is convenient while logging or adjusting equipment.

• A. VOX controls when the transmitter keys; it has no effect on how received signals sound.
• C. Bandwidth depends on the mode and modulation, not on how the transmitter is keyed.
• D. Output power is the same whether the transmitter is keyed by VOX or by PTT.

C. Any stations outside the lower 48 states

“CQ DX” means the caller wants contacts with distant stations; from the contiguous 48 states, that means stations outside the lower 48, such as those in Alaska, Hawaii or other countries. Stations inside the lower 48 should not answer, so the DX stations can get through.

• A. A CQ DX call is not an open call; stations in the contiguous 48 states should not answer it.
• B. Germany is one possible DX location, but the call invites any station outside the lower 48 states.
• D. CQ DX is not limited to contest stations; contest calls are usually “CQ contest” or “CQ test”.

B. Transmit audio or microphone gain

ALC (automatic level control) reduces transmitter drive when the input becomes too strong, to prevent overdriving and distortion. On SSB the drive comes from your voice, so you adjust the microphone or transmit audio gain until the ALC meter stays within the range the manufacturer recommends while you speak.

• A. RF clipping (speech processing) changes the ratio of average to peak power, but the routine ALC adjustment is made with the microphone gain.
• C. Antenna inductance and capacitance adjustments match the antenna system and affect SWR, not ALC.
• D. An attenuator reduces received signal strength and does not affect transmit drive.

C. Except during emergencies, no amateur station has priority access to any frequency

Under 47 CFR 97.101(b), no frequency is assigned for the exclusive use of any station, and operators must cooperate in sharing frequencies. The only priority in the rules is in 97.101(c): stations providing emergency communications have priority at all times on all frequencies.

• A. Nets have no legal priority; they share frequencies like everyone else.
• B. A contact in progress is respected as a courtesy, but it has no legal priority to a frequency.
• D. Contest and non-contest operations have equal standing; no rule requires either to yield.

Pool citation: 97.101(b), (c)

B. Acknowledge the station in distress and determine what assistance may be needed

A station in distress takes precedence over a routine contact, so acknowledge it right away and find out what help it needs. 47 CFR 97.101(c) gives priority to emergency communications, and 97.405(b) allows any station to use any means at its disposal to assist a station in distress.

• A. Contacting an emergency coordinator may help later, but first acknowledge the station in distress and learn what it needs.
• C. Lowering power does nothing for the station in distress, which needs to be acknowledged and helped.
• D. Ceasing all transmissions leaves the station in distress without a response.

C. Attempt to resolve the interference problem with the other stations in a mutually acceptable manner

When propagation changes and other stations become audible on your frequency, neither group has priority, since 47 CFR 97.101(b) requires cooperation in sharing frequencies. Good practice is to work it out with the other stations, for example by agreeing that one group moves to another frequency.

• A. No contact has priority to a frequency, so claiming priority is not a valid approach.
• B. Lowering power and continuing ignores the problem and may still cause interference.
• D. Switching to the opposite sideband goes against band conventions and does not resolve the shared use of the frequency.

B. 150 Hz to 500 Hz

A CW signal is narrow, so a separation of 150 to 500 Hz is enough to keep stations on adjacent frequencies from interfering with each other while making efficient use of the band.

• A. 5 to 50 Hz is so close that the signals overlap and a receiver filter cannot separate them.
• C. 1 to 3 kHz is the spacing used for SSB signals; for CW it wastes space.
• D. 3 to 6 kHz is wider than even SSB spacing and far more than CW needs.

C. 2 kHz to 3 kHz

An SSB voice signal is roughly 2 to 3 kHz wide, so a minimum separation of 2 to 3 kHz between stations limits overlap with signals on adjacent frequencies.

• A. 5 to 50 Hz would put SSB signals almost on top of each other.
• B. 150 to 500 Hz is the spacing used for narrow CW signals; SSB signals are several times wider.
• D. About 6 kHz is more than SSB needs; it is roughly the width of an AM signal.

A. Send “QRL?” on CW, followed by your call sign; or, if using phone, ask if the frequency is in use, followed by your call sign

Listening alone can miss a station that you cannot hear but that can hear the other party in its contact. Sending “QRL?” on CW, or asking “Is the frequency in use?” on phone, followed by your call sign as 47 CFR 97.119(a) requires, gives anyone using the frequency a chance to answer.

• B. Listening first is good, but it can miss stations you cannot hear, and a fixed two-minute wait is not the accepted procedure.
• C. Sending “V” or saying “test” does not ask whether the frequency is busy and adds unnecessary transmissions.
• D. “QSY” means “change frequency”, and announcing that the frequency is in use makes a statement instead of asking.

C. Follow the voluntary band plan

Voluntary band plans, such as the ARRL band plan, divide each band into areas for particular modes and activities. Following the band plan when choosing a calling frequency reduces interference between incompatible modes.

• A. Listening first is wise, but a fixed two-minute period is not the accepted standard.
• B. Sending your call sign three times is not a requirement for starting a call.
• D. Only following the voluntary band plan reflects commonly accepted practice; the other two are not standard requirements.

A. Only contacts with stations not within the 48 contiguous states

In the US 6 meter band plan, 50.100 to 50.125 MHz is the DX window. Stations in the contiguous 48 states should use it only for contacts with stations outside the 48 states, keeping it clear so weak DX signals can be heard.

• B. Contacts within the 48 states belong outside the DX window, for example on the 50.125 MHz SSB calling frequency.
• C. Digital modes have their own areas higher in the band, for example FT8 near 50.313 MHz.
• D. The DX window is not reserved for slow-scan TV.

A. Only a person holding an FCC-issued amateur operator license

Under 47 CFR 97.407(a), no one may be the control operator of a station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds an FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in it.

• B. Net control is a role within a net; any licensed operator enrolled with the civil defense organization may be a RACES control operator.
• C. A government official without an FCC-issued amateur license cannot be a control operator.
• D. Eligibility does not depend on whether normal systems are working; every RACES control operator must be licensed and enrolled.

Pool citation: 97.407(a)

B. Have a backup frequency in case of interference or poor conditions

A backup frequency lets a net move quickly when interference or poor conditions make the main frequency unusable, and participants already know where to go.

• A. Mixing several sets of phonetics causes confusion; one standard set is clearer.
• C. Reading the full roster every session takes time and is not standard practice.
• D. Only having a backup frequency is good net practice; the other two choices are not.

C. No more than 1 hour per week

Under 47 CFR 97.407(d)(4), RACES training drills and tests may not exceed a total of 1 hour per week. With approval of the state's chief emergency planning officer, they may run for up to 72 hours, no more than twice in a calendar year.

• A. 1 hour per month is less than the 1 hour per week the rule allows.
• B. 2 hours per month is not the limit; the rule allows 1 hour per week.
• D. 2 hours per week is double the 1 hour per week limit.

Pool citation: 97.407(d)(4)

D. Transmitting stations can receive between code characters and elements

In full break-in (QSK) operation, the station switches between transmit and receive so quickly that the operator hears signals in the gaps between dots, dashes and characters. The other station can interrupt at any time, as in a face-to-face conversation.

• A. “BK” is a prosign used to invite a quick reply; it does not describe the transmit-receive switching of QSK.
• B. Keyers form dots and dashes automatically, but they do not switch the station between transmit and receive.
• C. Flipping a manual send/receive switch for each transmission is the opposite of break-in operation.

A. Send slower

QRS is the Q signal for “send more slowly” (with a question mark, it asks about slower sending). When a station sends it to you, slow your sending so the other operator can copy.

• B. Changing frequency is QSY.
• C. Increasing power is QRO.
• D. Repeating each word twice is a different request (QSZ), not QRS.

C. Listening only for a specific station or stations

“KN” at the end of a CW transmission means “go ahead, only the station I am working.” It invites a reply from the specific station or stations in the contact and tells others not to break in, while a plain “K” invites any station.

• A. KN says nothing about US stations; it limits replies to the stations already in contact.
• B. Full break-in is indicated by QSK, not KN.
• D. Closing the station is indicated by “CL”; the end of a contact is “SK”.

D. “Are you busy?” or “Is this frequency in use?”

“QRL?” asks “Are you busy?” or “Is this frequency in use?” CW operators send it, followed by their call sign, before calling on a frequency that sounds clear.

• A. QRL? asks whether the frequency is busy; it does not ask anyone to keep the frequency clear.
• B. Questions about full break-in use QSK.
• C. Listening only for specific stations is indicated by the prosign KN, not by QRL?.

B. The fastest speed at which you are comfortable copying, but no faster than the CQ

Answer a CQ at a speed you can copy comfortably, but no faster than the calling station is sending. The CQ speed shows what the other operator can handle, and staying at or below it keeps the contact easy for both.

• A. Answering faster than the CQ risks sending faster than the other operator can copy.
• C. There is no standard calling speed of 10 wpm; match the calling station's speed or slower.
• D. There is no standard calling speed of 5 wpm; match the calling station's speed or slower.

D. Matching the transmit frequency to the frequency of a received signal

When two signals on the same frequency mix in a receiver, the beat note between them drops to zero hertz. Zero beating means adjusting your transmit frequency to match the station you hear, so you transmit on its frequency.

• A. Zero beat refers to frequency, not to matching sending speed.
• B. Operating split means transmitting and receiving on different frequencies, the opposite of zero beat.
• C. Sending without errors is not what zero beat means.

A. Chirpy or unstable signal

In the RST system, a “C” added to the report means the signal is chirpy, with its frequency shifting as the transmitter keys. It tells the other operator that the transmitter's frequency is not stable.

• B. There is no RST suffix meaning the report was read from an S meter.
• C. Perfect copy is given by the readability number R5, not by a suffix.
• D. Key clicks are noted with a “K” suffix, not “C”.

C. AR

In CW, the prosign AR marks the end of a formal message, such as a radiogram.

• A. SK marks the end of a contact, not the end of a formal message.
• B. BK means “break” and invites a quick reply.
• D. KN means “go ahead, only the station I am working.”

C. I have received and understood

“QSL” means “I have received and understood” (as a question, it asks for acknowledgment of receipt). QSL cards, which confirm contacts, are named after this Q signal.

• A. Sending slower is QRS.
• B. Contacts are confirmed by exchanging QSL cards or electronic records, but QSL itself only acknowledges receipt.
• D. QSL does not refer to earlier contacts; it acknowledges the transmission that was received.

D. I am troubled by static

“QRN” means “I am troubled by static,” natural noise such as lightning crashes. It is different from QRM, which means interference from other stations.

• A. Sending more slowly is QRS.
• B. Stopping sending is QRT.
• C. Zero beating is a tuning action, not the meaning of QRN.

D. I am ready to receive

“QRV” means “I am ready” (to receive or to operate). As a question, “QRV?” asks “Are you ready?”

• A. Telling a station it is sending too fast is done with QRS (send more slowly).
• B. Interference from other stations is QRM.
• C. Stopping transmission, often to quit for the day, is QRT.

A. Amateur volunteers who are formally enlisted to monitor the airwaves for rules violations

The Volunteer Monitor Program is run by the ARRL under an agreement with the FCC. Formally enlisted amateur volunteers monitor the bands for rule violations, notify operators of problems, and document serious cases that can be referred to the FCC for enforcement.

• B. Licensing exams are given by Volunteer Examiners, a separate program.
• C. Repeater frequency coordination is done by frequency coordinators, not Volunteer Monitors.
• D. Supporting civil defense organizations in emergencies is the role of RACES and similar emergency groups.

D. To encourage amateur radio operators to self-regulate and comply with the rules

The Volunteer Monitor Program aims to encourage amateurs to self-regulate and comply with the rules, by observing operation, notifying operators of problems and documenting serious violations for the FCC.

• A. Exam administration is the job of Volunteer Examiners and their coordinators (VECs).
• B. Emergency and public safety communications are provided by groups such as ARES and RACES.
• C. Repeater coordination is done by frequency coordinators.

B. Compare beam headings on the repeater input from their home locations with that of other Volunteer Monitors

A station holding a repeater on is transmitting on the repeater's input frequency. Monitors at different locations take beam headings on that input, and the point where their bearings cross is the likely location of the transmitter (triangulation).

• A. Comparing vertical and horizontal signal strengths shows polarization, not direction.
• C. The repeater output comes from the repeater itself, so comparing input and output strengths does not locate the offending station.
• D. Only comparing beam headings from several locations localizes the station.

B. A map that shows true bearings and distances from a specific location

An azimuthal (azimuthal equidistant) projection map is centered on one location and shows the true bearing and distance from that point to anywhere in the world. Amateurs use one centered on their station to aim directional antennas.

• A. An azimuthal map distorts the shapes and sizes of land masses, especially far from its center.
• C. The angle at which a satellite crosses the equator is its orbital inclination, not something a map projection shows.
• D. The westward shift of a satellite's ground track on each orbit is an orbital parameter, not a type of map.

C. Repeat “CQ” a few times, followed by “this is,” then your call sign a few times, then pause to listen, repeat as necessary

The general call for any station on HF is a CQ: say “CQ” a few times, then “this is” and your call sign a few times, then pause and listen. Repeat as needed, listening for replies between calls.

• A. Giving your call sign once with “listening for a call” is not the recognized general call; “CQ” is.
• B. “QTC” refers to messages a station has to send, not a general call for contacts.
• D. An unmodulated carrier carries no information and is an unnecessary transmission that can interfere with others.

C. 180 degrees from the station’s short-path heading

Signals between two stations can travel either way around the great circle that connects them. The short path is the shorter way; the long path goes the other way around the Earth, so the antenna is pointed 180 degrees from the short-path heading.

• A. The direction of the rising sun has no fixed relation to the long-path heading.
• B. The gray line is the day/night boundary, which can enhance propagation, but the long-path heading is set by the short-path bearing.
• D. North is not generally the long-path direction.

D. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta

The NATO phonetic alphabet, also adopted by the ITU, begins Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta. Its standard words are understood worldwide, so amateurs use them to spell call signs and words clearly.

• A. Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog is an older US military alphabet that the NATO alphabet replaced.
• B. Adam, Boy, Charles, David resembles alphabets used by some US police agencies, not the NATO alphabet.
• C. Place names such as America and Boston are sometimes used informally, but they are not the NATO alphabet.

D. To help with a reply if the FCC requests information about your station

FCC rules do not require amateurs to keep a general station log, but a log is a useful record. If the FCC asks about your station's operation, for example during an interference investigation, your log helps you answer accurately.

• A. No FCC rule requires a log of international contacts.
• B. No FCC rule requires a log of international third-party traffic.
• C. Renewal does not depend on evidence of operation; a license can be renewed without a log or a retest.

C. Identify your station according to normal FCC regulations

Contests do not change FCC rules, so every station must still identify as 47 CFR 97.119(a) requires: at the end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during it.

• A. Submitting a log is needed only to be scored by the sponsor; it is not an FCC requirement.
• B. QSL cards and Logbook of The World confirmations are optional.
• D. Only proper identification is required; logs and QSLs are optional.

B. Low-power transmit operation

QRP is the Q signal for reducing power, and amateurs use the term for low-power operation, commonly 5 watts output or less for CW.

• A. Radio control of model craft is telecommand (97.215), not QRP.
• C. There is no “Quick Response Protocol” in amateur radio.
• D. Traffic relay and net procedures are not called QRP.

A. To allow each station to operate according to conditions

Signal reports at the start of a contact tell each station how well it is being received, so operators can adjust to conditions, for example by slowing down, repeating information or changing power.

• B. Award programs do not require a signal report to count a contact.
• C. A radiogram has its own structure (preamble, address, text and signature) that does not include signal reports.
• D. Signal reports have nothing to do with calibrating a frequency display.

D. LSB

By convention, amateur RTTY sent as AFSK (audio tones fed into an SSB transmitter) uses lower sideband. With LSB, the standard audio tones place mark and space in their conventional positions on the air, so other stations decode the signal without reversing it.

• A. USB is the norm for most other digital modes, such as FT8, but AFSK RTTY on USB comes out with mark and space reversed unless the software inverts them.
• B. DSB transmits both sidebands and is not used for AFSK RTTY.
• C. CW mode keys a carrier on and off and is not used to transmit audio tones.

B. A digital protocol used with Winlink

VARA is a software modem protocol used for Winlink radio email, with versions for HF and for VHF/UHF FM. It adjusts its speed to conditions and resends data blocks received with errors.

• A. Weak-signal modes used for EME (moonbounce) include JT65 and Q65, not VARA.
• C. VARA is not a direction finding system.
• D. DX spotting with a network of software defined radio receivers describes the Reverse Beacon Network, not VARA.

D. All these choices are correct

PACTOR and VARA are ARQ protocols: the receiving station acknowledges each data block and requests a repeat when a block has errors. Interference causes errors, which show up as repeated retries, pauses in the transfer and sometimes a failure to connect at all.

• A. True: errors from interference force repeated retries and can cause timeouts, but there are other symptoms too.
• B. True: retries slow the data flow and cause pauses, but this is only one symptom.
• C. True: strong interference can prevent the link from being established at all, but this is only one symptom.

D. Find a clear frequency during the alternate time slot to the calling station

FT8 stations alternate 15-second transmit periods, and the calling station listens during the opposite time slot. Reply in that alternate slot, on a clear audio frequency, so your signal does not collide with other callers.

• A. Many stations replying on the caller's frequency overlap each other, and none may be decoded.
• B. Any frequency other than the caller's may still be occupied, and this choice ignores the time slot.
• C. Transmitting in the same time slot means the calling station is also transmitting and cannot hear you.

B. USB

JT65, JT9, FT4 and FT8 are sent as audio tones fed into an SSB transmitter set to upper sideband. Using USB keeps the tones in the expected order on the air, so all stations can decode each other.

• A. LSB would invert the order of the tones and is not the standard for these modes.
• C. DSB is not used for these modes.
• D. SSB is the general term for both upper and lower sideband; it does not say which sideband to use.

B. 170 Hz

Amateur HF RTTY normally uses a 170 Hz shift between the mark and space frequencies, typically at 45.45 baud with the Baudot code.

• A. 85 Hz is narrower than the standard amateur shift.
• C. 425 Hz is wider than the standard 170 Hz amateur shift.
• D. 850 Hz is a wide shift found in some older systems; amateur HF RTTY normally uses 170 Hz.

B. Computer time accurate to within approximately 1 second

FT8 transmissions start on fixed 15-second boundaries, and decoding depends on knowing when each one begins. Your computer clock must be within about 1 second of the correct time (UTC), usually maintained with an internet or GPS time source.

• A. FT8 runs through the computer's sound card and an audio interface; no special hardware modem is needed.
• C. FT8 requires no particular attenuator setting.
• D. Any antenna polarization works; FT8 has no antenna requirement.

D. Between 14.070 MHz and 14.100 MHz

On 20 meters, most digital mode activity is between 14.070 and 14.100 MHz, near the top of the CW and data segment. For example, PSK31 is near 14.070 MHz and FT8 is at 14.074 MHz.

• A. 14.230 MHz is the slow-scan TV calling frequency in the phone segment, not a digital-mode area.
• B. 14.325 MHz is in the phone segment and is used by the Hurricane Watch Net.
• C. 14.100 MHz is a propagation beacon frequency that operators keep clear.

C. Joining an existing contact is not possible, PACTOR connections are limited to two stations

PACTOR is a point-to-point ARQ protocol: two stations exchange data and acknowledgments only with each other. A third station cannot join an established PACTOR link.

• A. Broadcast packets and monitor mode are packet radio features; they do not let you join a PACTOR link.
• B. A steady carrier interferes with the stations in contact, and 97.101(d) prohibits willful interference.
• D. A NAK is a signal within an ARQ link meaning a block was not received correctly; it is not a way to join a contact.

D. Transmit a connect message on the station’s published frequency

A digital messaging gateway, such as a Winlink RMS, waits for users to connect. You establish contact by tuning to its published frequency and transmitting a connect request addressed to its call sign.

• A. Emailing the control operator does not create a radio connection to the gateway.
• B. “QRL” asks whether a frequency is busy; it does not connect to a digital system.
• C. You start the connection instead of waiting for a broadcast; in packet radio an SSID is a number suffix on a call sign, not an invitation to connect.

C. To provide high-speed data services during an emergency or community event

AREDN (Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network) uses commercial Wi-Fi equipment with special firmware, operating under amateur rules on microwave frequencies, to build mesh networks. These carry high-speed data, such as email, video and voice over IP, during emergencies and community events.

• A. AREDN carries data, not FM repeater audio.
• B. Propagation monitoring is done by networks such as PSK Reporter and WSPRnet, not AREDN.
• D. DX spotting is done by DX clusters and the Reverse Beacon Network, not AREDN.

D. All these choices are correct

Winlink is a worldwide amateur radio email system. It exchanges email with the internet through gateway stations, uses packet radio on VHF and UHF, and runs on both VHF and HF with modes such as PACTOR, VARA and ARDOP.

• A. True: Winlink sends and receives internet email over radio, but it also fits the other descriptions.
• B. True: Winlink commonly uses packet radio on VHF and UHF, but it also uses other modes on HF and VHF.
• C. True: Winlink works on both VHF and HF, but this is only part of the description.

B. Gateway

A Winlink Remote Message Server (RMS) is commonly called a gateway, because it connects radio users to the Winlink email system on the internet.

• A. A terminal node controller (TNC) is a modem at a user's station, not the server.
• C. RJ-45 is a network cable connector.
• D. “Printer/Server” is not a Winlink term.

D. All these choices are correct

An FSK signal can appear properly tuned yet fail to decode for several reasons: mark and space may be reversed, the baud rate setting may not match the signal, or the receiver may be on the wrong sideband, which also swaps mark and space.

• A. True: reversed mark and space prevents decoding, but other causes are possible.
• B. True: a baud rate that does not match the signal prevents decoding, but other causes are possible.
• C. True: receiving on the wrong sideband inverts the tones and prevents decoding, but other causes are possible.

C. Approximately 14.074 MHz to 14.077 MHz

FT8 uses standard dial frequencies on each band. On 20 meters the dial is set to 14.074 MHz USB, and signals spread across about 3 kHz of audio, so they occupy roughly 14.074 to 14.077 MHz.

• A. FT8 operates in the data portion of the band, not the voice portion.
• B. FT8 activity is concentrated on standard frequencies such as 14.074 MHz, not spread anywhere in the CW portion.
• D. 14.110 to 14.113 MHz is not a standard FT8 frequency.