Foundation Licence

WIA Amateur Radio
Foundation Level Online Assessment

Check your knowledge - Instant results

This online assessment has been made available for prospective amateurs studying for their Foundation level licence.

For the best outcome we strongly recommend you purchase a copy of "Your Entry Into Amateur Radio" the foundation licence study manual Rev 3, accessible in the Left Hand menu or by clicking this Link.

Each question in this assessment carries equal marks.
Questions must be answered by clicking the button associated with the correct answer for each question.
You have 30 minutes to complete this Amateur Radio Foundation Level online assessment.
The questions are selected at random from a pool of questions.
The order of the answers for each question have been randomised.
Exam questions are © Wireless Institute of Australia (September 2020)
Copyright in this material is owned by the Wireless Institute of Australia (‘WIA’). All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Copyrights Act 1968 you must not reproduce, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise this material without the express written permission of the WIA. This material must not be transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated to any human or computer language without written permission. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the WIA.

1. You notice that a mains extension lead has a broken outer insulation, you must:-

a) run the lead in such a way that it cannot be touched by people or animals

b) immediately remove the lead from service or have it repaired by a competent person

c) place an electrical safety mat over the lead

d) immediately turn the power off, bind the broken portion with electrical tape, then turn the power on

2. A Foundation station licensee may:-

a) make internal adjustments to the transmitting equipment to produce harmful interference

b) repair and fix faults inside transmitting equipment

c) fix simple faults and test 100 watt transmitting equipment on air

d) construct and operate a transmitter at above 10 watts PEP output

3. An amateur transceiver that is being over modulated by an excessive audio signal may result in:-

a) a hum in the receiver speaker

b) the house lights dimming

c) interference to broadcast radio and television reception

d) an increase in the distance the signal may travel

4. The ionosphere layers are ionised primarily due to the:-

a) rotation of the earth's magnetic poles

b) high pressure zones

c) sun's ionising effects on earth's upper atmosphere

d) strength of the transmitted signal

5. EMC problems from an amateur station are dependent on the:-

a) transmitter power, frequency, and distance from affected equipment

b) sun spot cycle, time of day and weather

c) grade of amateur licence held by the operator

d) date, time, and person operating

6. A fuse is designed to blow when excessive current is in a circuit. The fuse blowing will prevent:-

a) the antenna from being resonant

b) the RF earth from functioning correctly

c) the main switch from being operated

d) heat and/or fire damage

7. Amateur radio, broadcast radio, and TV reception can suffer interference from:-

a) traffic vibration on nearby roads

b) loud noise

c) high voltage power lines

d) high intensity magnets

8. Foundation stations may use:-

a) any non commercial or commercially manufactured transmitting equipment

b) home made equipment transmitting 100 watts output

c) modified amateur transmitting equipment transmitting above 10 watts PEP output

d) new commercial equipment modified by you for the Citizens Band service

9. Long distance communications is sometimes possible on VHF and UHF due to:-

a) refraction from the ionosphere

b) F layer skip

c) sunspots

d) unusual weather conditions in the troposphere

10. Referring to the following conversion chart, the approximate size of a half wavelength antenna to be used at 7.5 MHz is:-

a) 70cm

b) 2 metres

c) 160m

d) 20m

11. If interference to other radio services is being generated by a Foundation station, the Foundation station licensee must:-

a) deny responsibility and keep operating

b) cease all transmissions

c) surrender the station licence to the Australian Communications and Media Authority

d) advise a full-call operator

12. A form of amplitude modulation is:-

a) asymmetric modulation

b) single sideband

c) angular modulation

d) altitude modulation

13. The transmitter power allowed by a foundation station using AM is:-

a) half the power of that permitted for single sideband

b) zero watts as a foundation station is not permitted to use AM

c) an average power of 12 watts

d) the same as for FM, that is, 10 watts pX

14. When erecting antennas and climbing on structures:-

a) fall prevention must be considered

b) the look of the antennas must be considered

c) ERP must be considered

d) the type of coaxial cable must be considered

15. The reason the transmitter should be matched to the transmission line and antenna is:-

a) to enable the transmitter to be correctly neutralised

b) so as not to risk causing interference to other radiocommunication services

c) to increase the gain of the antenna

d) to minimise antenna heating effect

16. An amateur must produce their Amateur Licence to:-

a) a person to whom you are causing interference

b) another amateur radio operator

c) a WIA assessor

d) ACMA inspectors

17. Using the correct formula, calculate the current in a circuit when the power is 100 watts and the voltage is 25 volts:-

a) 0.4 Amperes

b) 4 Amperes

c) 0.25 Amperes

d) 2500 Amperes

18. The compliance with Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) is a Licence Condition that:-

a) applies to Commercial operators

b) applies to those transmitting in excess of 3200 watts EIRP

c) applies to all classes of amateur licence

d) only applies to Standard and Advanced Licencees

19. When a voltage is applied to a closed circuit, the current in the circuit is the:-

a) resistance

b) flow of electrons past a point

c) power

d) electrical pressure

20. If an amateur is causing harmful interference to other radiocommunications services, the amateur must:-

a) review the transceiver user manual

b) put in a mains filter

c) reduce power

d) cease transmission immediately

21. It is a condition of the Foundation Licence that, if you change your postal address, you must:-

a) notify the WIA

b) advise the local council that you are removing your antennas

c) notify the ACMA

d) broadcast your new address on the bands before you move

22. Electromagnetic radiation can be dangerous to people, the danger is directly related to:-

a) frequency, power output, and the proximity to the transmitting antenna

b) frequency and power output

c) frequency and proximity to the transmitting antenna

d) power output and the proximity to the transmitting antenna

23. If you respond to a MAYDAY message, you must:-

a) switch to another band

b) not allow anyone else to communicate with the station calling MAYDAY

c) record MAYDAY details, render all possible assistance, and report to appropriate authorities

d) switch off your radio

24. A radio amateur is advised by a neighbour that, when they are transmitting, they can be heard in the speakers of the neighbours audio system. This problem is best resolved by:-

a) a technical solution

b) never transmitting before 12 midnight

c) ignoring the neighbours complaint

d) buying the neighbour a new audio system

25. A SWR reading on a coaxial cable of 2.6:1 that is terminated at an antenna would indicate:-

a) an excellent antenna match

b) a faulty ATU

c) an unsatisfactory antenna match

d) a satisfactory antenna match