Ham Radio Technician License Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   On which part of the 10-meter band may a Technician use single sideband voice?

   • A28.300 to 28.500 MHz
   • B28.500 to 29.700 MHz
   • C28.000 to 28.300 MHz
   • D29.000 to 29.700 MHz
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 28.300 to 28.500 MHz

   Technicians may use phone on 28.300 to 28.500 MHz. On 28.000 to 28.300 MHz they may use CW, RTTY and data only.

2. Question 2 of 25

   What may a Technician transmit on the 40-meter segment from 7.025 to 7.125 MHz?

   • AAny mode the radio supports
   • BSingle sideband voice only
   • CCW (Morse code) only
   • DFM voice and data
   Show answer

   Answer: C. CW (Morse code) only

   Part 97 limits Technician and Novice operators to CW using Morse code on their 80, 40 and 15 meter segments.

3. Question 3 of 25

   What is the most power a Technician may use on the 80, 40, 15 and 10 meter HF segments?

   • A200 watts PEP output
   • B5 watts PEP output
   • C1,500 watts PEP output
   • D50 watts PEP output
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 200 watts PEP output

   Section 97.313 caps a Technician at 200 watts PEP on the HF segments shared with Novices. Higher power is not allowed there.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What is the highest transmitter power any amateur station may use, with few exceptions?

   • A2,000 watts PEP
   • B500 watts PEP
   • C10,000 watts PEP
   • D1,500 watts PEP
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 1,500 watts PEP

   No amateur station may exceed 1.5 kW PEP. Every station must also use only the minimum power needed to carry out the contact.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Which amateur bands may a Technician use above 50 MHz?

   • AOnly the 6-meter band
   • BOnly bands above 1 GHz
   • COnly the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands
   • DAll amateur bands above 50 MHz
   Show answer

   Answer: D. All amateur bands above 50 MHz

   Section 97.301(a) gives Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra operators the same privileges on all amateur bands from 50 MHz up.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What frequency range is the 2-meter band in the United States?

   • A144 to 148 MHz
   • B140 to 150 MHz
   • C220 to 225 MHz
   • D420 to 450 MHz
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 144 to 148 MHz

   The 2-meter band runs from 144 to 148 MHz in ITU Region 2, which includes the United States.

7. Question 7 of 25

   How often must you give your call sign during a long contact?

   • AOnly at the start of the contact
   • BOnly when the other station asks for it
   • CAt least every 30 minutes and at the start of the contact
   • DAt least every 10 minutes and at the end of the contact
   Show answer

   Answer: D. At least every 10 minutes and at the end of the contact

   Section 97.119 requires your call sign at the end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during it.

8. Question 8 of 25

   In what language must you give your call sign when you identify by voice?

   • AEnglish
   • BMorse code only
   • CAny language the other station speaks
   • DThe language of the country you are calling
   Show answer

   Answer: A. English

   When you identify with a phone emission, Part 97 says it must be in English. Using a phonetic alphabet is encouraged.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which of these transmissions is prohibited for an amateur station?

   • ASending an emergency message
   • BTalking with another amateur station
   • CPlaying music over a voice transmission
   • DMentioning once that you have a radio for sale
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Playing music over a voice transmission

   Section 97.113 bans music on phone emissions with narrow exceptions. Occasional notices of equipment for sale are allowed.

10. Question 10 of 25

    How long is an amateur license normally granted for?

    • AFor life
    • B5 years
    • C2 years
    • D10 years
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 10 years

    Section 97.25 says an amateur service license is normally granted for a 10-year term, after which you renew it.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Your license expired last month. What is true?

    • AYou must pass the exam again right away
    • BYou may keep transmitting during the 2-year grace period as long as you file to renew it
    • CNothing changes until the FCC writes to you
    • DYou may renew within the 2-year grace period but may not transmit until it is renewed
    Show answer

    Answer: D. You may renew within the 2-year grace period but may not transmit until it is renewed

    Section 97.21 gives a 2-year filing grace period for renewal, but no operating privileges apply until the license is renewed.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Who is the control operator of an amateur station?

    • AWhoever owns the radio equipment
    • BThe licensed operator designated to be responsible for the station's transmissions
    • CThe person who installed the antenna and connected the station feed line and power supply
    • DThe FCC employee who issued the call sign
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The licensed operator designated to be responsible for the station's transmissions

    Part 97 defines the control operator as the amateur operator the station licensee designates to be responsible for the transmissions.

13. Question 13 of 25

    When may a US station pass messages for a third party to a station in another country?

    • ANever, under any conditions
    • BOnly if the station in the other country agrees and the message is under 25 words long
    • CWhen that country has a third-party agreement with the US, or in an emergency
    • DAlways, as long as the message is short and has no business content
    Show answer

    Answer: C. When that country has a third-party agreement with the US, or in an emergency

    Section 97.115 allows international third-party traffic only to countries that permit it by agreement, or for emergency or disaster relief messages.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What is remote control of an amateur station?

    • AThe control operator adjusts the station indirectly, through a control link, from a control point
    • BAnother country's agency controls the station
    • CThe operator sits at the radio and turns its knobs
    • DThe station runs with no control operator at a control point, using its own devices and procedures instead
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The control operator adjusts the station indirectly, through a control link, from a control point

    Part 97 defines remote control as indirect manipulation of the station's adjustments by a control operator at a control point.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What is the most common offset for 2-meter repeaters?

    • A5 MHz
    • B600 kHz above or below the output
    • C1.6 MHz
    • D100 kHz
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 600 kHz above or below the output

    Most 2-meter repeaters listen 600 kHz above or below the frequency they transmit on. On 70 centimeters the usual offset is 5 MHz.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What is the national FM simplex calling frequency on 2 meters?

    • A146.520 MHz
    • B144.200 MHz
    • C145.800 MHz
    • D147.000 MHz
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 146.520 MHz

    146.520 MHz is the national 2-meter FM simplex calling frequency. After making contact, move to another simplex frequency.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is CTCSS used for on many FM repeaters?

    • AA low audio tone sent with your voice to open the repeater
    • BA beep the repeater sends after each user
    • CA digital ID code sent in place of your call sign on each transmission
    • DA code that encrypts your voice
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A low audio tone sent with your voice to open the repeater

    CTCSS sends a sub-audible tone with your voice. If your radio does not send the right tone, the repeater will not respond to you.

18. Question 18 of 25

    On a DMR repeater, what is the color code?

    • AA tone that marks an emergency call
    • BAn access code programmed in the radio so it can use a certain repeater
    • CThe color of the radio's display
    • DThe time slot number that every talkgroup on the whole network must share
    Show answer

    Answer: B. An access code programmed in the radio so it can use a certain repeater

    A DMR radio must be set to the repeater's color code to access that repeater, much like a tone on an analog repeater.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What does the Q signal QRM mean?

    • AWhat is your location?
    • BInterference from other stations or man-made sources
    • CStatic from lightning or natural noise
    • DI am changing frequency
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Interference from other stations or man-made sources

    QRM means man-made interference. QRN is natural static, QSY means change frequency and QTH means location.

20. Question 20 of 25

    During a directed net, when should you transmit if you are not reporting an emergency?

    • AAny time you have news to share
    • BOnly on the hour
    • CWhenever the frequency is quiet for a moment
    • DOnly when the net control station calls on you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only when the net control station calls on you

    Net control runs a directed net. Unless you have emergency traffic, wait until net control asks for your check-in or message.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Who may be the control operator of a station transmitting in RACES?

    • AA licensed amateur who is enrolled and certified by a civil defense organization
    • BAny public safety officer, licensed or not
    • CAny licensed amateur who has checked in with the local emergency net on that day
    • DOnly a General class or higher operator
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A licensed amateur who is enrolled and certified by a civil defense organization

    Section 97.407 requires an FCC amateur license and certification by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that organization.

22. Question 22 of 25

    About how long is the wavelength of a 50 MHz signal?

    • A60 meters
    • B2 meters
    • C15 meters
    • D6 meters
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 6 meters

    Wavelength in meters is about 300 divided by the frequency in MHz. 300 divided by 50 gives 6 meters.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What frequency range is called VHF?

    • A30 to 300 MHz
    • B3 to 30 MHz
    • C3 to 30 GHz
    • D300 to 3000 MHz
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 30 to 300 MHz

    HF is 3 to 30 MHz, VHF is 30 to 300 MHz and UHF is 300 to 3000 MHz.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What usually lets HF signals travel thousands of miles?

    • AReflection from tall buildings
    • BDucting under clouds of rain
    • CSignals following power lines
    • DRefraction by the ionosphere
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Refraction by the ionosphere

    The ionosphere bends HF signals back to Earth. Long-distance contacts this way are much more common on HF than on VHF or UHF.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What can bring short, strong openings on 10, 6 and 2 meters well beyond the horizon?

    • ASporadic E propagation
    • BGround wave
    • CMultipath from nearby hills
    • DRadio frequency feedback
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Sporadic E propagation

    Sporadic E is caused by patches of dense ionization in the E region. It can give strong signals from far beyond the horizon for short periods.

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

The real test: 26 of 35 correct