Ham Radio General License Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   How is a full-wave rectifier different from a half-wave rectifier?

   • AIt uses both halves of the AC cycle
   • BIt uses only the positive half of the cycle
   • CIt produces AC instead of DC
   • DIt needs no diodes
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It uses both halves of the AC cycle

   A full-wave rectifier converts both halves of each AC cycle, giving output that is easier to filter.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Why is a class C amplifier a poor choice for SSB?

   • AIt cannot be used on HF
   • BIt works only on DC
   • CIt is the least efficient class
   • DIt is not linear, so it distorts SSB signals
   Show answer

   Answer: D. It is not linear, so it distorts SSB signals

   Class C amplifiers are efficient but not linear. They work for CW and FM, but SSB needs a linear amplifier.

3. Question 3 of 25

   How many stable states does a flip-flop circuit have?

   • AThree
   • BFour
   • COne
   • DTwo
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Two

   A flip-flop is bistable: it stays in one of two states until a signal changes it. It can store one bit.

4. Question 4 of 25

   In a superheterodyne receiver, what does the mixer stage do?

   • AIt amplifies the audio for the speaker
   • BIt converts incoming signals to a fixed intermediate frequency
   • CIt produces the DC supply voltage
   • DIt removes the carrier from the signal before it reaches the speaker
   Show answer

   Answer: B. It converts incoming signals to a fixed intermediate frequency

   The mixer combines the received signal with a local oscillator signal. Filtering and gain are then done at one intermediate frequency.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is one benefit of DSP filtering in a modern transceiver?

   • AIt increases transmit power
   • BIt works only on FM
   • CIt removes the need for an antenna
   • DFilter width and shape can be adjusted easily
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Filter width and shape can be adjusted easily

   Digital signal processing lets you change filter bandwidth and shape in software to suit the mode and conditions.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What is removed from a single sideband signal compared to AM?

   • AOnly the audio
   • BNothing; they are the same
   • CBoth sidebands
   • DThe carrier and one sideband
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The carrier and one sideband

   SSB suppresses the carrier and one sideband, so it needs less bandwidth and puts all its power into the information.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What is deviation in an FM signal?

   • AThe change in the antenna's SWR
   • BHow far the carrier frequency shifts with modulation
   • CThe drift of the receiver with heat
   • DThe change in output power with voice
   Show answer

   Answer: B. How far the carrier frequency shifts with modulation

   In FM, the audio moves the carrier frequency up and down. The size of that shift is the deviation.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What frequencies come out of a mixer that combines two signals?

   • AOnly the lower of the two
   • BOnly twice the higher frequency and twice the lower one
   • CTheir sum and their difference, plus the originals
   • DOnly the higher of the two
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Their sum and their difference, plus the originals

   A mixer produces sum and difference frequencies. A filter then selects the one that is wanted.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What is intermodulation?

   • ASwitching between two microphones
   • BTwo operators taking turns on a repeater
   • CUnwanted signals made when two or more signals mix in a non-linear circuit
   • DChanging from SSB to FM
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Unwanted signals made when two or more signals mix in a non-linear circuit

   Non-linear stages can mix strong signals and create new ones on other frequencies. These products can cause interference.

10. Question 10 of 25

    What is a link budget?

    • AThe cost of building a radio link
    • BThe number of contacts a station is allowed to log in a single day
    • CThe time limit for a digital contact
    • DThe total of all gains and losses between transmitter and receiver
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The total of all gains and losses between transmitter and receiver

    A link budget adds transmitter power, antenna gains and path losses to predict the received signal. Link margin is what is left above the minimum needed.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What kind of modulation does FT8 use?

    • AFast-scan television
    • BMultiple-tone frequency shift keying
    • CSingle sideband voice
    • DAmplitude modulation with full carrier
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Multiple-tone frequency shift keying

    FT8 sends data by shifting among 8 audio tones. This lets it decode signals that are far below the noise.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What is the SWR when a 50-ohm feed line is connected to a 200-ohm load?

    • A1 to 1
    • B10 to 1
    • C2 to 1
    • D4 to 1
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 4 to 1

    For a resistive load, SWR is the larger impedance divided by the smaller. 200 divided by 50 is 4, so the SWR is 4:1.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What happens to feed line loss when SWR is high?

    • ALoss in the feed line drops to zero
    • BLoss in the feed line increases
    • CLoss stays exactly the same
    • DThe feed line gains power
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Loss in the feed line increases

    Reflected power travels up and down the line, so more energy is lost as heat, especially in lossy coax.

14. Question 14 of 25

    About how long is a half-wave dipole for 14.2 MHz?

    • AAbout 16 feet
    • BAbout 33 feet
    • CAbout 66 feet
    • DAbout 132 feet
    Show answer

    Answer: B. About 33 feet

    A common formula is 468 divided by the frequency in MHz, in feet. 468 divided by 14.2 is about 33 feet.

15. Question 15 of 25

    In a Yagi antenna, how does the director compare to the driven element?

    • AThey are always the same length
    • BThe director has no fixed length
    • CThe director is shorter
    • DThe director is longer
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The director is shorter

    Directors are a little shorter than the driven element and reflectors are a little longer. This shapes the beam forward.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What does front-to-back ratio describe in a beam antenna?

    • AThe weight of the front and back elements
    • BPower sent forward compared to power sent in the opposite direction
    • CThe length of the boom compared to the elements
    • DThe SWR at each end of the band
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Power sent forward compared to power sent in the opposite direction

    A high front-to-back ratio means the antenna sends and hears much more toward the front than the back.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is a main feature of a log-periodic antenna?

    • AIt is always vertical
    • BIt works only on one channel
    • CIt works over a wide range of frequencies
    • DIt needs no feed line
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It works over a wide range of frequencies

    A log-periodic antenna uses elements of changing length, so it keeps good gain and SWR over a wide frequency range.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What is the feed point impedance of a folded half-wave dipole in free space?

    • AAbout 8 ohms
    • BAbout 1,000 ohms
    • CAbout 300 ohms
    • DAbout 50 ohms
    Show answer

    Answer: C. About 300 ohms

    Folding a dipole raises its feed point impedance to about four times that of a simple dipole, or about 300 ohms.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Which antenna setup is best for NVIS on 40 or 80 meters?

    • AA horizontal dipole mounted fairly low
    • BA dish antenna
    • CA tall vertical with no radials
    • DA tall Yagi pointed at the horizon at full height
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A horizontal dipole mounted fairly low

    A low horizontal dipole sends most of its signal upward, which is what NVIS needs for short-range HF contacts.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What happens to a horizontal dipole's feed point impedance as it is lowered below a quarter wavelength above ground?

    • AIt becomes infinite
    • BIt steadily increases
    • CIt steadily decreases
    • DIt stays at 50 ohms
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It steadily decreases

    Close to the ground, the ground's effect pulls a dipole's feed point impedance down below its free-space value of about 72 ohms.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Who is in an uncontrolled environment for RF exposure purposes?

    • APeople inside a shielded room
    • BWorkers trained in RF safety
    • CMembers of the public, such as neighbors, who may not know about the exposure
    • DOnly the station licensee
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Members of the public, such as neighbors, who may not know about the exposure

    Uncontrolled environment limits apply to the general public. They are stricter than limits for people who know about and can control their exposure.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Why are RF exposure limits averaged over time?

    • ATotal exposure depends on how long and how often you transmit
    • BBecause the limits change every hour
    • CTo allow unlimited exposure at night
    • DBecause RF energy builds up in the body permanently and never fades
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Total exposure depends on how long and how often you transmit

    Time averaging takes duty cycle and on-air time into account, so short transmissions add less exposure than long ones.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Why must a gasoline generator never be run inside a building or garage?

    • AIt will overcharge the batteries
    • BIt needs to be grounded to a water pipe
    • CIt makes too much RF noise
    • DIt gives off deadly carbon monoxide
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It gives off deadly carbon monoxide

    Carbon monoxide has no smell and can kill. Run generators outdoors, away from windows and doors.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What does a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) do?

    • AIt raises the voltage during a fault
    • BIt filters RF from the power line
    • CIt stores power during an outage
    • DIt cuts power when current is leaking to ground, such as through a person
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It cuts power when current is leaking to ground, such as through a person

    A GFCI senses an imbalance between the hot and neutral wires and switches off quickly to prevent shock.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What is the purpose of a safety interlock on an amplifier or power supply?

    • ATo cut power when the cabinet is opened
    • BTo stop the antenna from turning
    • CTo keep the fan running after shutdown
    • DTo lock the frequency dial
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To cut power when the cabinet is opened

    High-voltage equipment can kill. An interlock removes power automatically if someone opens the case.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 26 of 35 correct