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Amateur Extra exam E2: Operating Procedures

All 60 questions in subelement E2. The exam asks 5 of them, one from each group (E2A, E2B, E2C, E2D, E2E). Answers are hidden until you open them.

Drill these 60 questions Full practice exam

E2A

  1. E2A01 What is the direction of an ascending pass for an amateur satellite?

    1. From west to east
    2. From east to west
    3. From south to north
    4. From north to south
    Show answer

    C. From south to north

  2. E2A02 Which of the following is characteristic of an inverting linear transponder?

    1. Doppler shift is reduced because the uplink and downlink shifts are in opposite directions
    2. Signal position in the band is reversed
    3. Upper sideband on the uplink becomes lower sideband on the downlink, and vice versa
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    D. All these choices are correct

  3. E2A03 How is an upload signal processed by an inverting linear transponder?

    1. The signal is detected and remodulated on the reverse sideband
    2. The signal is passed through a nonlinear filter
    3. The signal is reduced to I and Q components, and the Q component is filtered out
    4. The signal is mixed with a local oscillator signal and the difference product is transmitted
    Show answer

    D. The signal is mixed with a local oscillator signal and the difference product is transmitted

  4. E2A04 What is meant by the “mode” of an amateur radio satellite?

    1. Whether the satellite is in a low earth or geostationary orbit
    2. The satellite’s uplink and downlink frequency bands
    3. The satellite’s orientation with respect to the Earth
    4. Whether the satellite is in a polar or equatorial orbit
    Show answer

    B. The satellite’s uplink and downlink frequency bands

  5. E2A05 What do the letters in a satellite’s mode designator specify?

    1. Power limits for uplink and downlink transmissions
    2. The location of the ground control station
    3. The polarization of uplink and downlink signals
    4. The uplink and downlink frequency ranges
    Show answer

    D. The uplink and downlink frequency ranges

  6. E2A06 What are Keplerian elements?

    1. Parameters that define the orbit of a satellite
    2. Phase reversing elements in a Yagi antenna
    3. High-emission heater filaments used in magnetron tubes
    4. Encrypting codes used for spread spectrum modulation
    Show answer

    A. Parameters that define the orbit of a satellite

  7. E2A07 Which of the following types of signals can be relayed through a linear transponder?

    1. FM and CW
    2. SSB and SSTV
    3. PSK and packet
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    D. All these choices are correct

  8. E2A08 Why should effective radiated power (ERP) be limited to a satellite that uses a linear transponder?

    1. To prevent creating errors in the satellite telemetry
    2. To avoid reducing the downlink power to all other users
    3. To prevent the satellite from emitting out-of-band signals
    4. To avoid interfering with terrestrial QSOs
    Show answer

    B. To avoid reducing the downlink power to all other users

  9. E2A09 What do the terms “L band” and “S band” specify?

    1. The 23- and 13-centimeter bands
    2. The 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands
    3. FM and digital store-and-forward systems
    4. Which sideband to use
    Show answer

    A. The 23- and 13-centimeter bands

  10. E2A10 What type of satellite appears to stay in one position in the sky?

    1. HEO
    2. Geostationary
    3. Geomagnetic
    4. LEO
    Show answer

    B. Geostationary

  11. E2A11 What type of antenna can be used to minimize the effects of spin modulation and Faraday rotation?

    1. A linearly polarized antenna
    2. A circularly polarized antenna
    3. An isotropic antenna
    4. A log-periodic dipole array
    Show answer

    B. A circularly polarized antenna

  12. E2A12 What is the purpose of digital store-and-forward functions on an amateur radio satellite?

    1. To upload operational software for the transponder
    2. To delay download of telemetry between satellites
    3. To hold digital messages in the satellite for later download
    4. To relay messages between satellites
    Show answer

    C. To hold digital messages in the satellite for later download

E2B

  1. E2B01 In digital television, what does a coding rate of 3/4 mean?

    1. 25% of the data sent is forward error correction data
    2. Data compression reduces data rate by 3/4
    3. 1/4 of the time interval is used as a guard interval
    4. Three, four-bit words are used to transmit each pixel
    Show answer

    A. 25% of the data sent is forward error correction data

  2. E2B02 How many horizontal lines make up a fast-scan (NTSC) television frame?

    1. 30
    2. 60
    3. 525
    4. 1080
    Show answer

    C. 525

  3. E2B03 How is an interlaced scanning pattern generated in a fast-scan (NTSC) television system?

    1. By scanning two fields simultaneously
    2. By scanning each field from bottom-to-top
    3. By scanning lines from left-to-right in one field and right-to-left in the next
    4. By scanning odd-numbered lines in one field and even-numbered lines in the next
    Show answer

    D. By scanning odd-numbered lines in one field and even-numbered lines in the next

  4. E2B04 How is color information sent in analog SSTV?

    1. Color lines are sent sequentially
    2. Color information is sent on a 2.8 kHz subcarrier
    3. Color is sent in a color burst at the end of each line
    4. Color is amplitude modulated on the frequency modulated intensity signal
    Show answer

    A. Color lines are sent sequentially

  5. E2B05 Which of the following describes the use of vestigial sideband in analog fast-scan TV transmissions?

    1. The vestigial sideband carries the audio information
    2. The vestigial sideband contains chroma information
    3. Vestigial sideband reduces the bandwidth while increasing the fidelity of low frequency video components
    4. Vestigial sideband provides high frequency emphasis to sharpen the picture
    Show answer

    C. Vestigial sideband reduces the bandwidth while increasing the fidelity of low frequency video components

  6. E2B06 What is vestigial sideband modulation?

    1. Amplitude modulation in which one complete sideband and a portion of the other are transmitted
    2. A type of modulation in which one sideband is inverted
    3. Narrow-band FM modulation achieved by filtering one sideband from the audio before frequency modulating the carrier
    4. Spread spectrum modulation achieved by applying FM modulation following single sideband amplitude modulation
    Show answer

    A. Amplitude modulation in which one complete sideband and a portion of the other are transmitted

  7. E2B07 Which types of modulation are used for amateur television DVB-T signals?

    1. FM and FSK
    2. QAM and QPSK
    3. AM and OOK
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    B. QAM and QPSK

  8. E2B08 What technique allows commercial analog TV receivers to be used for fast-scan TV operations on the 70-centimeter band?

    1. Transmitting on channels shared with cable TV
    2. Using converted satellite TV dishes
    3. Transmitting on the abandoned TV channel 2
    4. Using USB and demodulating the signal with a computer sound card
    Show answer

    A. Transmitting on channels shared with cable TV

  9. E2B09 What kind of receiver can be used to receive and decode SSTV using the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) protocol?

    1. CDMA
    2. AREDN
    3. AM
    4. SSB
    Show answer

    D. SSB

  10. E2B10 What aspect of an analog slow-scan television signal encodes the brightness of the picture?

    1. Tone frequency
    2. Tone amplitude
    3. Sync amplitude
    4. Sync frequency
    Show answer

    A. Tone frequency

  11. E2B11 What is the function of the vertical interval signaling (VIS) code sent as part of an SSTV transmission?

    1. To lock the color burst oscillator in color SSTV images
    2. To identify the SSTV mode being used
    3. To provide vertical synchronization
    4. To identify the call sign of the station transmitting
    Show answer

    B. To identify the SSTV mode being used

  12. E2B12 What signals SSTV receiving software to begin a new picture line?

    1. Specific tone frequencies
    2. Elapsed time
    3. Specific tone amplitudes
    4. A two-tone signal
    Show answer

    A. Specific tone frequencies

E2C

  1. E2C01 What indicator is required to be used by US-licensed operators when operating a station via remote control and the remote transmitter is located in the US?

    1. / followed by the USPS two-letter abbreviation for the state in which the remote station is located
    2. /R# where # is the district of the remote station
    3. / followed by the ARRL Section of the remote station
    4. No additional indicator is required
    Show answer

    D. No additional indicator is required

  2. E2C02 Which of the following file formats is used for exchanging amateur radio log data?

    1. NEC
    2. ARLD
    3. ADIF
    4. OCF
    Show answer

    C. ADIF

  3. E2C03 From which of the following bands is amateur radio contesting generally excluded?

    1. 30 meters
    2. 6 meters
    3. 70 centimeters
    4. 33 centimeters
    Show answer

    A. 30 meters

  4. E2C04 Which of the following frequencies can be used for amateur radio mesh networks?

    1. HF frequencies where digital communications are permitted
    2. Frequencies shared with various unlicensed wireless data services
    3. Cable TV channels 41-43
    4. The 60-meter band channel centered on 5373 kHz
    Show answer

    B. Frequencies shared with various unlicensed wireless data services

  5. E2C05 What is the function of a DX QSL Manager?

    1. Allocate frequencies for DXpeditions
    2. Handle the receiving and sending of confirmations for a DX station
    3. Run a net to allow many stations to contact a rare DX station
    4. Communicate to a DXpedition about propagation, band openings, pileup conditions, etc.
    Show answer

    B. Handle the receiving and sending of confirmations for a DX station

  6. E2C06 During a VHF/UHF contest, in which band segment would you expect to find the highest level of SSB or CW activity?

    1. At the top of each band, usually in a segment reserved for contests
    2. In the middle of each band, usually on the national calling frequency
    3. In the weak signal segment of the band, with most of the activity near the calling frequency
    4. In the middle of the band, usually 25 kHz above the national calling frequency
    Show answer

    C. In the weak signal segment of the band, with most of the activity near the calling frequency

  7. E2C07 What is the Cabrillo format?

    1. A standard for submission of electronic contest logs
    2. A method of exchanging information during a contest QSO
    3. The most common set of contest rules
    4. A digital protocol specifically designed for rapid contest exchanges
    Show answer

    A. A standard for submission of electronic contest logs

  8. E2C08 Which of the following contacts may be confirmed through the Logbook of The World (LoTW)?

    1. Special event contacts between stations in the US
    2. Contacts between a US station and a non-US station
    3. Contacts for Worked All States credit
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    D. All these choices are correct

  9. E2C09 What type of equipment is commonly used to implement an amateur radio mesh network?

    1. A 2-meter VHF transceiver with a 1,200-baud modem
    2. A computer running EchoLink to provide interface from the radio to the internet
    3. A wireless router running custom firmware
    4. A 440 MHz transceiver with a 9,600-baud modem
    Show answer

    C. A wireless router running custom firmware

  10. E2C10 Why do DX stations often transmit and receive on different frequencies?

    1. Because the DX station may be transmitting on a frequency that is prohibited to some responding stations
    2. To separate the calling stations from the DX station
    3. To improve operating efficiency by reducing interference
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    D. All these choices are correct

  11. E2C11 How should you generally identify your station when attempting to contact a DX station during a contest or in a pileup?

    1. Send your full call sign once or twice
    2. Send only the last two letters of your call sign until you make contact
    3. Send your full call sign and grid square
    4. Send the call sign of the DX station three times, the words “this is,” then your call sign three times
    Show answer

    A. Send your full call sign once or twice

  12. E2C12 What indicates the delay between a control operator action and the corresponding change in the transmitted signal?

    1. Jitter
    2. Hang time
    3. Latency
    4. Anti-VOX
    Show answer

    C. Latency

E2D

  1. E2D01 Which of the following digital modes is designed for meteor scatter communications?

    1. WSPR
    2. MSK144
    3. Hellschreiber
    4. APRS
    Show answer

    B. MSK144

  2. E2D02 What information replaces signal-to-noise ratio when using the FT8 or FT4 modes in a VHF contest?

    1. RST report
    2. State abbreviation
    3. Serial number
    4. Grid square
    Show answer

    D. Grid square

  3. E2D03 Which of the following digital modes is designed for EME communications?

    1. MSK144
    2. PACTOR III
    3. WSPR
    4. Q65
    Show answer

    D. Q65

  4. E2D04 What technology is used for real-time tracking of balloons carrying amateur radio transmitters?

    1. FT8
    2. Bandwidth compressed LORAN
    3. APRS
    4. PACTOR III
    Show answer

    C. APRS

  5. E2D05 What is the characteristic of the JT65 mode?

    1. Uses only a 65 Hz bandwidth
    2. Decodes signals with a very low signal-to-noise ratio
    3. Symbol rate is 65 baud
    4. Permits fast-scan TV transmissions over narrow bandwidth
    Show answer

    B. Decodes signals with a very low signal-to-noise ratio

  6. E2D06 Which of the following is a method for establishing EME contacts?

    1. Time-synchronous transmissions alternating between stations
    2. Storing and forwarding digital messages
    3. Judging optimum transmission times by monitoring beacons reflected from the moon
    4. High-speed CW identification to avoid fading
    Show answer

    A. Time-synchronous transmissions alternating between stations

  7. E2D07 What digital protocol is used by APRS?

    1. PACTOR
    2. QAM
    3. AX.25
    4. AMTOR
    Show answer

    C. AX.25

  8. E2D08 What type of packet frame is used to transmit APRS beacon data?

    1. Acknowledgement
    2. Burst
    3. Unnumbered Information
    4. Connect
    Show answer

    C. Unnumbered Information

  9. E2D09 What type of modulation is used by JT65?

    1. Multitone AFSK
    2. PSK
    3. RTTY
    4. QAM
    Show answer

    A. Multitone AFSK

  10. E2D10 What does the packet path WIDE3-1 designate?

    1. Three stations are allowed on frequency, one transmitting at a time
    2. Three subcarriers are permitted, subcarrier one is being used
    3. Three digipeater hops are requested with one remaining
    4. Three internet gateway stations may receive one transmission
    Show answer

    C. Three digipeater hops are requested with one remaining

  11. E2D11 How do APRS stations relay data?

    1. By packet ACK/NAK relay
    2. By C4FM repeaters
    3. By DMR repeaters
    4. By packet digipeaters
    Show answer

    D. By packet digipeaters

E2E

  1. E2E01 Which of the following types of modulation is used for data emissions below 30 MHz?

    1. DTMF tones modulating an FM signal
    2. FSK
    3. Pulse modulation
    4. Spread spectrum
    Show answer

    B. FSK

  2. E2E02 Which of the following synchronizes WSJT-X digital mode transmit/receive timing?

    1. Alignment of frequency shifts
    2. Synchronization of computer clocks
    3. Sync-field transmission
    4. Sync-pulse timing
    Show answer

    B. Synchronization of computer clocks

  3. E2E03 To what does the "4" in FT4 refer?

    1. Multiples of 4 bits of user information
    2. Four-tone continuous-phase frequency shift keying
    3. Four transmit/receive cycles per minute
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    B. Four-tone continuous-phase frequency shift keying

  4. E2E04 Which of the following is characteristic of the FST4 mode?

    1. Four-tone Gaussian frequency shift keying
    2. Variable transmit/receive periods
    3. Seven different tone spacings
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    D. All these choices are correct

  5. E2E05 Which of these digital modes does not support keyboard-to-keyboard operation?

    1. WSPR
    2. RTTY
    3. PSK31
    4. MFSK16
    Show answer

    A. WSPR

  6. E2E06 What is the length of an FT8 transmission cycle?

    1. It varies with the amount of data
    2. 8 seconds
    3. 15 seconds
    4. 30 seconds
    Show answer

    C. 15 seconds

  7. E2E07 How does Q65 differ from JT65?

    1. Keyboard-to keyboard operation is supported
    2. Quadrature modulation is used
    3. Multiple receive cycles are averaged
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    C. Multiple receive cycles are averaged

  8. E2E08 Which of the following HF digital modes can be used to transfer binary files?

    1. PSK31
    2. PACTOR
    3. RTTY
    4. AMTOR
    Show answer

    B. PACTOR

  9. E2E09 Which of the following HF digital modes uses variable-length character coding?

    1. RTTY
    2. PACTOR
    3. MT63
    4. PSK31
    Show answer

    D. PSK31

  10. E2E10 Which of these digital modes has the narrowest bandwidth?

    1. MFSK16
    2. 170 Hz shift, 45-baud RTTY
    3. FT8
    4. PACTOR IV
    Show answer

    C. FT8

  11. E2E11 What is the difference between direct FSK and audio FSK?

    1. Direct FSK modulates the transmitter VFO
    2. Direct FSK occupies less bandwidth
    3. Direct FSK can transmit higher baud rates
    4. All these choices are correct
    Show answer

    A. Direct FSK modulates the transmitter VFO

  12. E2E12 How do ALE stations establish contact?

    1. ALE constantly scans a list of frequencies, activating the radio when the designated call sign is received
    2. ALE radios monitor an internet site for the frequency they are being paged on
    3. ALE radios send a constant tone code to establish a frequency for future use
    4. ALE radios activate when they hear their signal echoed by back scatter
    Show answer

    A. ALE constantly scans a list of frequencies, activating the radio when the designated call sign is received

  13. E2E13 Which of these digital modes has the highest data throughput under clear communication conditions?

    1. MFSK16
    2. 170 Hz shift, 45 baud RTTY
    3. FT8
    4. PACTOR IV
    Show answer

    D. PACTOR IV

Questions: NCVEC Question Pool Committee (public domain). Pool valid July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2028.