HAM ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS A+
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
✔✔Which of the following is a guideline when choosing an operating frequency for
calling CQ? - ✔✔All of these choices are correct - listen to make sure that one else is
using the frequency; ask if the frequency is in use, make sure you are in your assigned
band.
✔✔What should you do if another operator reports that your station's 2 meter signals
were strong just a moment ago, but now they are weak or distorted - ✔✔Try moving a
few feet or changing the direction of your antenna if possible, as reflections may e
causing multi-path distortion
✔✔Why might the range of VHF and UHF signals be greater in the winter? - ✔✔Less
absorption by vegetation
✔✔What antenna polarization is normally used for long-distance weak-signal CW and
SSB contacts using the VHF and UHF bands - ✔✔Horizontal
✔✔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 - ✔✔signals could be significantly weaker
✔✔When sing a directional antenna, how might your station be able to access a distant
repeater if buildings or obstructions are blocking the direct line of sight path? - ✔✔Try to
find a path that reflects signals to the repeater
✔✔What term is commonly used to describe the rapid fluttering sound sometimes heard
from mobile stations that are moving while transmitting - ✔✔picket fencing
✔✔What type of wave carries radio signals between transmitting and receiving
stations? - ✔✔electromagnetic
✔✔Which of the following is a likely cause of irregular fading of signals received by
ionospheric reflection - ✔✔Random combining of signals arriving via different paths
✔✔Which of the following results from the fact that skip signals retracted from the
ionosphere are elliptically polarized? - ✔✔Either vertically or horizontally polarized
antennas may be used for transmission or reception.
✔✔What may occur if data signals arrive via multiple paths? - ✔✔Error rates are likely
to increase
,✔✔Which part of the atmosphere enables the propagation of radio signals around the
world? - ✔✔the ionosphere
✔✔How might fog and light rain affect radio range on 10 meter and 6 meter bands -
✔✔Fog and light rain will have little effect on these bands
✔✔What weather condition would decrease range at microwave frequencies? -
✔✔Precipitation
✔✔What must be considered to determine the minimum current capacity needed for a
transceiver's power supply? - ✔✔All of these choices are correct - efficiency of the
transmitter at full power output; receiver and control circuit power; power supply
regulation and heat dissipation
✔✔How might a computer be used as part of an amateur radio station? - ✔✔All of these
choices are correct - for logging contacts, for sending/receiving CW, and
generating/decoding digital signals
✔✔Why should wiring between the power source and radio be heavy-gauge wire and
kept as short as possible - ✔✔To avoid voltage failing below that needed for proper
operation
✔✔Which computer sound card port is connected to a transceiver's headphone or
speaker output for operating digital modes - ✔✔Microphone or line input
✔✔What is he proper location for an external SWR meter - ✔✔In series with the feed
line, between the transmitter and antenna
✔✔Which of the following connections might be used between a foice transceiver and a
computer for digital operation - ✔✔Receive audio, transmit, audio, and push-to-talk
(PTT)
✔✔How is a computer's sound card used when conducting digital communications? -
✔✔The sound card provides audio to the radio's microphone input and converts
received audio to digital form
✔✔Which of the following conductors provides the lowest impedance to RF signals? -
✔✔Flat strap
✔✔Which of the following could you use to cure distorted audio caused by RF current
on the shield of a microphone cable? - ✔✔Ferrite choke
, ✔✔What is the source of a high-pitched whine that varies with engine speed in a mobile
transceiver's receive audio? - ✔✔The alternator
✔✔Where should the negative return connection of a mobile transceiver's power cable
be connected? - ✔✔At the battery or engine block ground strap
✔✔Electrical current is measured in which of the following units? - ✔✔Amperes
✔✔Electrical power is measured in which of the following units? - ✔✔Watts
✔✔What is the name for the flow of electrons in an electric circuit? - ✔✔Current
✔✔What is the name for a current that flows only in one direction? - ✔✔Direct current
✔✔What is the electrical term for the electromotive force (EMF) that causes electron
flow - ✔✔Voltage
✔✔How much voltage does a mobile transceiver typically require? - ✔✔About 12 volts
✔✔Which of the following is a good electrical conductor - ✔✔Copper
✔✔Which of the following is a good electrical insulator? - ✔✔Glass
✔✔What is the name for a current that reverses direction on a regular basis? -
✔✔Alternating current
✔✔Which term describes the rate at which electrical energy is used? - ✔✔power
✔✔What is the unit of electromotive force? - ✔✔the volt
✔✔What describes the number of times per second that an alternating current makes a
complete cycle? - ✔✔frequency
✔✔In which type of circuit is current the same through all components? - ✔✔series
✔✔In which type of circuit is voltage the same across all components - ✔✔parallel
✔✔What electrical component opposes the flow of current in a DC circuit - ✔✔resistor
✔✔What type of component is often used as an adjustable volume control? -
✔✔potentiometer
✔✔What electrical parameter is controlled by a potentiometer? - ✔✔Resistance
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
✔✔Which of the following is a guideline when choosing an operating frequency for
calling CQ? - ✔✔All of these choices are correct - listen to make sure that one else is
using the frequency; ask if the frequency is in use, make sure you are in your assigned
band.
✔✔What should you do if another operator reports that your station's 2 meter signals
were strong just a moment ago, but now they are weak or distorted - ✔✔Try moving a
few feet or changing the direction of your antenna if possible, as reflections may e
causing multi-path distortion
✔✔Why might the range of VHF and UHF signals be greater in the winter? - ✔✔Less
absorption by vegetation
✔✔What antenna polarization is normally used for long-distance weak-signal CW and
SSB contacts using the VHF and UHF bands - ✔✔Horizontal
✔✔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 - ✔✔signals could be significantly weaker
✔✔When sing a directional antenna, how might your station be able to access a distant
repeater if buildings or obstructions are blocking the direct line of sight path? - ✔✔Try to
find a path that reflects signals to the repeater
✔✔What term is commonly used to describe the rapid fluttering sound sometimes heard
from mobile stations that are moving while transmitting - ✔✔picket fencing
✔✔What type of wave carries radio signals between transmitting and receiving
stations? - ✔✔electromagnetic
✔✔Which of the following is a likely cause of irregular fading of signals received by
ionospheric reflection - ✔✔Random combining of signals arriving via different paths
✔✔Which of the following results from the fact that skip signals retracted from the
ionosphere are elliptically polarized? - ✔✔Either vertically or horizontally polarized
antennas may be used for transmission or reception.
✔✔What may occur if data signals arrive via multiple paths? - ✔✔Error rates are likely
to increase
,✔✔Which part of the atmosphere enables the propagation of radio signals around the
world? - ✔✔the ionosphere
✔✔How might fog and light rain affect radio range on 10 meter and 6 meter bands -
✔✔Fog and light rain will have little effect on these bands
✔✔What weather condition would decrease range at microwave frequencies? -
✔✔Precipitation
✔✔What must be considered to determine the minimum current capacity needed for a
transceiver's power supply? - ✔✔All of these choices are correct - efficiency of the
transmitter at full power output; receiver and control circuit power; power supply
regulation and heat dissipation
✔✔How might a computer be used as part of an amateur radio station? - ✔✔All of these
choices are correct - for logging contacts, for sending/receiving CW, and
generating/decoding digital signals
✔✔Why should wiring between the power source and radio be heavy-gauge wire and
kept as short as possible - ✔✔To avoid voltage failing below that needed for proper
operation
✔✔Which computer sound card port is connected to a transceiver's headphone or
speaker output for operating digital modes - ✔✔Microphone or line input
✔✔What is he proper location for an external SWR meter - ✔✔In series with the feed
line, between the transmitter and antenna
✔✔Which of the following connections might be used between a foice transceiver and a
computer for digital operation - ✔✔Receive audio, transmit, audio, and push-to-talk
(PTT)
✔✔How is a computer's sound card used when conducting digital communications? -
✔✔The sound card provides audio to the radio's microphone input and converts
received audio to digital form
✔✔Which of the following conductors provides the lowest impedance to RF signals? -
✔✔Flat strap
✔✔Which of the following could you use to cure distorted audio caused by RF current
on the shield of a microphone cable? - ✔✔Ferrite choke
, ✔✔What is the source of a high-pitched whine that varies with engine speed in a mobile
transceiver's receive audio? - ✔✔The alternator
✔✔Where should the negative return connection of a mobile transceiver's power cable
be connected? - ✔✔At the battery or engine block ground strap
✔✔Electrical current is measured in which of the following units? - ✔✔Amperes
✔✔Electrical power is measured in which of the following units? - ✔✔Watts
✔✔What is the name for the flow of electrons in an electric circuit? - ✔✔Current
✔✔What is the name for a current that flows only in one direction? - ✔✔Direct current
✔✔What is the electrical term for the electromotive force (EMF) that causes electron
flow - ✔✔Voltage
✔✔How much voltage does a mobile transceiver typically require? - ✔✔About 12 volts
✔✔Which of the following is a good electrical conductor - ✔✔Copper
✔✔Which of the following is a good electrical insulator? - ✔✔Glass
✔✔What is the name for a current that reverses direction on a regular basis? -
✔✔Alternating current
✔✔Which term describes the rate at which electrical energy is used? - ✔✔power
✔✔What is the unit of electromotive force? - ✔✔the volt
✔✔What describes the number of times per second that an alternating current makes a
complete cycle? - ✔✔frequency
✔✔In which type of circuit is current the same through all components? - ✔✔series
✔✔In which type of circuit is voltage the same across all components - ✔✔parallel
✔✔What electrical component opposes the flow of current in a DC circuit - ✔✔resistor
✔✔What type of component is often used as an adjustable volume control? -
✔✔potentiometer
✔✔What electrical parameter is controlled by a potentiometer? - ✔✔Resistance
