Operating Procedures Flashcards
What is a common repeater frequency offset in the 2 meter band?
A. Plus or minus 5 MHz
B. Plus or minus 600 kHz
C. Plus or minus 500 kHz
D. Plus or minus 1 MHz
B. Plus or minus 600 kHz
This is a really important one to know because most amateur radio operators (particularly technician class licensees) operate most on the 2 meter band. There are three modes of operation that handheld radios generally have relative to frequency offset: Positive offset, Negative offset, and Simplex.
Positive offset means that when you transmit you will transmit at a frequency that is above the one you are listening on (and the repeater listens on that frequency and retransmits on the one you listen to). Negative offset means that you will use the frequency below the one you’re listening on. Simplex means you will listen and transmit on the same frequency.
The frequencies used are not arbitrary; there are conventions. Generally in the 2 meter band the convention is +/- 600 kHz. Therefore if you are listening to 147.340 MHz and you transmit with a positive offset you will transmit 600 kHz (.6 MHz) above the frequency on 147.940 MHz. Similarly when listening to 146.620 MHz and transmitting with a negative offset you would transmit on 146.020 MHz.
One neat way to remember the answer to this question is “Bigger is smaller and/or smaller is bigger”. A 2m wavelength is bigger than a 70cm wavelength. 600 kHz is a lot smaller than 5 MHz. So bigger (2m) is smaller (600 kHz) and smaller (70cm) is bigger (5 MHz).
What is the national calling frequency for FM simplex operations in the 2 meter band?
A. 146.520 MHz
B. 145.000 MHz
C. 432.100 MHz
D. 446.000 MHz
A. 146.520 MHz
See the ARRL Band Plan for 2m. Note that 146.520MHz is the “National Simplex Calling Frequency” and there is another frequency referred to as simply the “National Calling Frequency”. Don’t get those two confused. The exam wants the simplex calling frequency.
Simplex means that you’re transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, so by calling on the simplex frequency you’re indicating that you’re expecting a response on the same frequency.
Note that the band plan is not determined by the FCC so you won’t see it in the Part 97 regulations.
Remember, if the exam asks you for a “national calling frequency,” you only need to remember one answer: 146.520MHz. All you need to remember is 146 and you’ll be okay.
Another way to look at this is looking at which answers are close to the band it’s looking for. In this case, it asked for the 2m band and given 300MHz is the 1m band, we divide 300 by 2 and get 150MHz. 146.520MHz is closest to this.
What is a common repeater frequency offset in the 70 cm band?
A. Plus or minus 5 MHz
B. Plus or minus 600 kHz
C. Plus or minus 500 kHz
D. Plus or minus 1 MHz
A. Plus or minus 5 MHz
When using a repeater, duplex mode is used. Duplex uses two frequencies. One to listen (receive) on and the other to talk (transmit) on. The offset refers to how far apart these two frequencies are. The one you dial into your radio is the listen frequency; the offset frequency is the transmit one.
On 70 cm, typically 5 MHz is used, while 600 KHz is used on the 2 M band
For these two bands, just remember Higher Frequency, Higher Offset.
What is an appropriate way to call another station on a repeater if you know the other station’s call sign?
A. Say “break, break,” then say the station’s call sign
B. Say the station’s call sign, then identify with your call sign
C. Say “CQ” three times, then the other station’s call sign
D. Wait for the station to call CQ, then answer
B. Say the station’s call sign, then identify with your call sign
How should you respond to a station calling CQ?
A. Transmit “CQ” followed by the other station’s call sign
B. Transmit your call sign followed by the other station’s call sign
C. Transmit the other station’s call sign followed by your call sign
D. Transmit a signal report followed by your call sign
C. Transmit the other station’s call sign followed by your call sign
Which of the following is required when making on-the-air test transmissions?
A. Identify the transmitting station
B. Conduct tests only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time
C. Notify the FCC of the transmissions
D. All these choices are correct
A. Identify the transmitting station
What is meant by “repeater offset”?
A. The difference between a repeater’s transmit and receive frequencies
B. The repeater has a time delay to prevent interference
C. The repeater station identification is done on a separate frequency
D. The number of simultaneous transmit frequencies used by a repeater
A. The difference between a repeater’s transmit and receive frequencies
What is the meaning of the procedural signal “CQ”?
A. Call on the quarter hour
B. Test transmission, no reply expected
C. Only the called station should transmit
D. Calling any station
D. Calling any station
Which of the following indicates that a station is listening on a repeater and looking for a contact?
A. “CQ CQ” followed by the repeater’s call sign
B. The station’s call sign followed by the word “monitoring”
C. The repeater call sign followed by the station’s call sign
D. “QSY” followed by your call sign
B. The station’s call sign followed by the word “monitoring”
What is a band plan, beyond the privileges established by the FCC?
A. A voluntary guideline for using different modes or activities within an amateur band
B. A list of operating schedules
C. A list of available net frequencies
D. A plan devised by a club to indicate frequency band usage
A. A voluntary guideline for using different modes or activities within an amateur band
What term describes an amateur station that is transmitting and receiving on the same frequency?
A. Full duplex
B. Diplex
C. Simplex
D. Multiplex
C. Simplex
What should you do before calling CQ?
A. Listen first to be sure that no one else is using the frequency
B. Ask if the frequency is in use
C. Make sure you are authorized to use that frequency
D. All these choices are correct
D. All these choices are correct
How is a VHF/UHF transceiver’s “reverse” function used?
A. To reduce power output
B. To increase power output
C. To listen on a repeater’s input frequency
D. To listen on a repeater’s output frequency
C. To listen on a repeater’s input frequency
Quick way to remember: normally you listen to repeater output. Listening to theinputof a repeater is thereverseof normal!
Long Explanation
UHF/VHF repeaters receive on one frequency (input frequency) and then re-transmit on another frequency (output frequency), usually with this “split” in input/output (also called RX/TX) frequencies being 600kHz apart (for 2m) either + or -. This is called operatingDuplex(vs Simplex where only one frequency is used for both TX and RX). Radios must be configured properly for duplex communication to use a repeater.
“Reverse Split”means operating duplex on a reverse frequency split compared to what is considered “normal” for the situation. (Source) In other words, the usual RX and TX frequencies are swapped (reversed).
Normally everyone using a repeater transmits on the repeater’s input (RX) frequency, and receives on the repeater’s output (TX) frequency, so when configured correctly your radio willonly be listening to the repeater’s output (TX) frequencyand not listening to other radios’ transmissions directly since they will be transmitting on the repeater’s input (RX) frequency.
But what if you do want to listen to their transmissions directly? In this case you’ll want to listen on the repeater’s input (RX) frequency like the repeater does. This might help you determine if a signal is strong enough for both of you to switch to a simplex frequency without using the repeater, or tell you if you can receive a weak signal from where you are even if the repeater can’t because it’s too far away.
Another situation is if you think someone will be trying to call you on a repeater that you know is broken, powered down, or otherwise not operating, you may wish to reverse the transmit/receive frequencies on your radio so that you are now receiving and transmitting on the frequencies the repeater would if it were working. This would allow you to hear someone who is trying to transmit to a repeater, as well as allowing you to respond on the frequency they will most likely be listening to (the repeater output frequency).
What term describes the use of a sub-audible tone transmitted along with normal voice audio to open the squelch of a receiver?
A. Carrier squelch
B. Tone burst
C. DTMF
D. CTCSS
D. CTCSS
CTCSS- Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System
Originally invented by Motorola and called Private Line (PL), the repeater access tones ‘open’ the squelch of the receiver. This allows different users to share a repeater without hearing other conversations, as the other tones will not ‘open’ their receiver. This technique is also known as subaudible and privacy codes/tones.
The use of CTCSS tones also prevents people from accidentally using a repeater unless they’ve properly programmed their radio specifically for a particular repeater. Yes, it makes the programming a little more complex, but it also ensures that repeaters remain as quiet as possible, since common radio noise and interference can’t activate the repeater (remember, the repeater won’t activate unless that CTCSS tone is present). This makes life much easier for all who might be monitoring a repeater, since it will remain quiet unless a human really does want to use it.
Which of the following describes a linked repeater network?
A. A network of repeaters in which signals received by one repeater are transmitted by all the repeaters in the network
B. A single repeater with more than one receiver
C. Multiple repeaters with the same control operator
D. A system of repeaters linked by APRS
A. A network of repeaters in which signals received by one repeater are transmitted by all the repeaters in the network
Alinked repeater networkis a general term fora network of repeaters where signals received by one repeater are repeated by all the repeatersin the network.
Digital repeaters in particular are often linked together in a network, though they may not always repeat all signals received by one repeater because they tend to be smart enough to do so only as needed. But they are capable of repeating all signals as required such that to the user it will appear as though this is what’s happening.
