Ham Radio Technician License Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   What often causes tropospheric ducting of VHF and UHF signals?

   • AHeavy snow on the antenna
   • BA temperature inversion in the atmosphere
   • CA geomagnetic storm
   • DSunspots on the far side of the sun
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A temperature inversion in the atmosphere

   When warm air sits over cooler air, VHF and UHF signals can be trapped and carried a few hundred miles.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Why is the radio horizon a little farther away than the visual horizon?

   • AAntennas are always higher than eyes
   • BRadio waves travel faster than light
   • CThe ionosphere reflects all VHF signals
   • DThe atmosphere bends radio waves slightly
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The atmosphere bends radio waves slightly

   The lower atmosphere refracts radio waves slightly, so they follow the curve of the Earth a bit farther than light does.

3. Question 3 of 25

   What supply voltage does a typical mobile transceiver need?

   • AAbout 5 volts DC
   • BAbout 48 volts AC
   • CAbout 120 volts AC
   • DAbout 13.8 volts DC
   Show answer

   Answer: D. About 13.8 volts DC

   Mobile radios are built to run from a vehicle electrical system, which is close to 13.8 volts DC when the engine runs.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Why should the DC power cables to a transceiver be short and heavy?

   • ATo block RF from reaching the antenna
   • BTo make the radio receive better on FM
   • CTo meet the rule on cable color
   • DTo keep voltage drop low when the radio draws high current
   Show answer

   Answer: D. To keep voltage drop low when the radio draws high current

   Thin or long wires lose voltage when current is high. The radio may then work poorly or shut down while transmitting.

5. Question 5 of 25

   A battery is rated at 20 amp-hours. About how long can it run a radio that draws an average of 4 amps?

   • AAbout 1 hour
   • BAbout 16 hours
   • CAbout 80 hours
   • DAbout 5 hours
   Show answer

   Answer: D. About 5 hours

   Run time is about the amp-hour rating divided by the average current. 20 divided by 4 is 5 hours.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What does the RIT or clarifier control on a transceiver do?

   • AIt sets the transmit power
   • BIt shifts the receive frequency a little to make an SSB voice sound natural
   • CIt shifts the transmit and receive frequencies together to move off a busy channel
   • DIt changes the repeater offset
   Show answer

   Answer: B. It shifts the receive frequency a little to make an SSB voice sound natural

   RIT changes only the receive frequency slightly, so you can correct the pitch of a single sideband voice without moving your transmit frequency.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What is a DMR code plug?

   • AA file of settings loaded into the radio, such as channels, color codes and talkgroups
   • BA filter that removes noise
   • CA plug-in hardware key that must be inserted to unlock extra channels and talkgroups
   • DA plug that connects the microphone
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A file of settings loaded into the radio, such as channels, color codes and talkgroups

   A code plug holds the setup data a DMR radio needs to use repeaters and talkgroups. It is usually made on a computer and loaded into the radio.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What is the unit of electric current?

   • AAmpere
   • BWatt
   • CVolt
   • DOhm
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Ampere

   Current is measured in amperes. Voltage is measured in volts, resistance in ohms and power in watts.

9. Question 9 of 25

   A circuit has 24 volts across it and 4 amperes flowing. What is its resistance?

   • A96 ohms
   • B20 ohms
   • C0.17 ohms
   • D6 ohms
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 6 ohms

   Ohm's Law says resistance equals voltage divided by current. 24 divided by 4 is 6 ohms.

10. Question 10 of 25

    How much current flows when 12 volts is applied to a 6-ohm resistor?

    • A0.5 amperes
    • B72 amperes
    • C18 amperes
    • D2 amperes
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 2 amperes

    Current equals voltage divided by resistance. 12 volts divided by 6 ohms gives 2 amperes.

11. Question 11 of 25

    A radio draws 5 amperes from a 12-volt supply. How much power does it use?

    • A2.4 watts
    • B60 watts
    • C7 watts
    • D17 watts
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 60 watts

    DC power equals voltage times current. 12 volts times 5 amperes is 60 watts.

12. Question 12 of 25

    How many amperes is 2,500 milliamperes?

    • A0.25 amperes
    • B250 amperes
    • C2.5 amperes
    • D25 amperes
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 2.5 amperes

    Milli means one thousandth. Divide milliamperes by 1,000 to get amperes, so 2,500 mA equals 2.5 A.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What is 7,150 kHz in megahertz?

    • A0.715 MHz
    • B71.50 MHz
    • C715 MHz
    • D7.150 MHz
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 7.150 MHz

    There are 1,000 kHz in 1 MHz. Dividing 7,150 by 1,000 gives 7.150 MHz.

14. Question 14 of 25

    About how many decibels does power rise when you double it?

    • A3 dB
    • B10 dB
    • C1 dB
    • D6 dB
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 3 dB

    Doubling power is an increase of about 3 dB. A tenfold increase in power is 10 dB.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What is the same through every part of a series circuit?

    • AThe power used by each part
    • BThe voltage across each part
    • CThe resistance of each part
    • DThe current
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The current

    In a series circuit there is only one path, so the same current flows through every component.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What is the same across every branch of a parallel circuit?

    • AThe resistance of each branch
    • BThe current in each branch
    • CThe heat in each branch
    • DThe voltage
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The voltage

    All branches of a parallel circuit connect to the same two points, so each branch has the same voltage across it.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which component is often used as a volume control?

    • AA diode
    • BA relay
    • CA fuse
    • DA potentiometer
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A potentiometer

    A potentiometer is a resistor whose value can be adjusted, so it is a common choice for volume and other level controls.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How is a basic capacitor built?

    • AA coil of wire around an iron core
    • BA thin wire that melts under high current
    • CTwo pieces of semiconductor joined together
    • DTwo conductive surfaces separated by an insulator
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Two conductive surfaces separated by an insulator

    A capacitor stores energy in an electric field between conductive plates. An insulator keeps the plates apart.

19. Question 19 of 25

    In what form does an inductor store energy?

    • AA chemical reaction
    • BA magnetic field
    • CAn electric field
    • DHeat
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A magnetic field

    An inductor is usually a coil of wire. Current through the coil builds a magnetic field that stores energy.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What does a diode do?

    • AIt raises AC voltage
    • BIt stores a large electric charge
    • CIt changes resistance with the volume setting
    • DIt lets current flow in only one direction
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    Answer: D. It lets current flow in only one direction

    A diode conducts in one direction only. The cathode end is often marked with a band or stripe.

21. Question 21 of 25

    What are the three terminals of a bipolar junction transistor?

    • AAnode, cathode and grid
    • BGate, drain and source
    • CPositive, negative and ground
    • DEmitter, base and collector
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Emitter, base and collector

    A bipolar junction transistor has an emitter, a base and a collector. Gate, drain and source belong to a field effect transistor.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What does a rectifier do in a power supply?

    • AIt changes AC into DC
    • BIt changes DC into AC
    • CIt raises the voltage of DC
    • DIt filters RF from the antenna
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It changes AC into DC

    A rectifier uses diodes to turn alternating current into pulsing direct current, which is then filtered.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What does a schematic diagram show?

    • AHow components are connected, using standard symbols
    • BThe price of each part
    • CWhat the finished radio looks like
    • DThe exact length of every wire
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    Answer: A. How components are connected, using standard symbols

    A schematic uses standard symbols to show the electrical connections in a circuit, not its physical layout.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Which two components together form a resonant circuit?

    • AA diode and a switch
    • BA resistor and a fuse
    • CAn inductor and a capacitor
    • DA battery and a lamp
    Show answer

    Answer: C. An inductor and a capacitor

    An inductor and a capacitor, in series or parallel, resonate at a frequency set by their values. This is the basis of tuned circuits.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What does receiver selectivity describe?

    • AHow weak a signal the receiver can detect above its own internal noise
    • BHow loud the speaker can play
    • CHow well a receiver separates signals that are close in frequency
    • DHow many memories the radio has
    Show answer

    Answer: C. How well a receiver separates signals that are close in frequency

    Selectivity is the ability to separate nearby signals. Sensitivity is the ability to detect weak signals.

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

The real test: 26 of 35 correct