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. The primary purpose of amateur radio is to facilitate:-

a) a safety watch service

b) coordination of sporting events via radio

c) a hobby in radiocommunications

d) a means of transmitting educational material to remote areas

2. Interference to a neighbours television is occurring when you are transmitting. Interference via the TV antenna and power leads have been eliminated. The most likely cause is:-

a) ghosting

b) direct pickup by the electronics inside the TV

c) the neighbours electrical mains acting as an antenna

d) harmonic interference

3. The amateur licence authorises an amateur to:-

a) talk with aeronautical band operators

b) talk on air with other radio amateurs

c) talk with marine band operators

d) operate on the CB communication band

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

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

b) notify the WIA

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

d) notify the ACMA

5. A radio wave that passes over sharp objects such as a mountain ridge may be:-

a) contracted

b) reflected

c) refracted

d) diffracted

6. It is good safety practice at an amateur radio station to:-

a) have your certificate of proficiency displayed

b) switch off the power, unplug all mains leads, patch leads and other cables when leaving your station

c) provide an immediate isolation point if there is a complaint about interference

d) know how and where the station mains power can be isolated in an emergency

7. When a fuse blows, it should only be replaced with:-

a) the next biggest current rating

b) a circuit breaker

c) the next smallest current rating

d) the specified type and current rating

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

a) high voltage power lines

b) traffic vibration on nearby roads

c) loud noise

d) high intensity magnets

9. A person who has had an electric shock and is still touching the mains may:-

a) be the cause of electric shock to others if the person is touched

b) twitch a lot

c) survive if the supply voltage is reduced slowly

d) be pushed on to a protective rubber mat

10. When operating on an amateur band, you must announce your call sign:-

a) at the beginning and end of a transmission

b) at the beginning of the first transmission and when you close down

c) at the end of every transmission

d) at the beginning and end of a series of transmissions and at least every 10 minutes

11. When connecting unbalanced line to a balanced antenna the use of a balun:-

a) increase the gain of the antenna

b) will bring the antenna to resonance

c) is good engineering practice

d) will tune out the reactance of the antenna

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

a) F layer skip

b) unusual weather conditions in the troposphere

c) sunspots

d) refraction from the ionosphere

13. Referring to the following block diagram, the name of Block 1 is called the:-

a) RF power amplifier

b) mixer

c) IF amplifier

d) audio amplifier

14. Interference to a telephone or audio entertainment system can be cured by:-

a) adding a highpass filter to the audio leads

b) adding an audio stop filter to the affected equipment

c) placing an RF choke in the audio leads

d) placing a capacitor in series with the audio leads

15. The diagram below that closely represents output of a sinewave oscillator is:-

a) diagram A

b) diagram C

c) diagram B

d) diagram D

16. An amateur transceiver that has the transmitter incorrectly tuned may cause :-

a) neighbourhood dogs to bark or become frightened

b) a hum in the receiver speaker

c) interference to broadcast radio and television reception

d) interference to small kitchen appliances

17. EMC problems can be minimised by:-

a) having an Advanced licence

b) increasing the transmitters modulation

c) increasing transmitter power to swamp the interference

d) placing the transmitting antenna as far as possible from the affected equipment

18. Documentation that contains the latest statutory rules pertaining to the operation of an Amateur radio station is:-

a) The Foundation Licence Manual

b) The Australian Radio Amateurs Band plan (ARABP)

c) The Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination

d) The WIA callbook.

19. Single sideband (SSB) is a form of:-

a) pulse width modulation

b) pulse modulation

c) frequency modulation

d) amplitude modulation

20. 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) place an electrical safety mat over the lead

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

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

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

a) advise a full-call operator

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

c) cease all transmissions

d) deny responsibility and keep operating

22. A radio transmitter requires a 13.8 volt power supply. Connecting a 16 volt power supply would most likely:-

a) increase the power output

b) cause the transmitter to be unstable in frequency

c) require the use of heavier gauge wiring from the power supply to the transmitter

d) cause the transmitter to be damaged

23. A transmitter should be matched to its load to:-

a) allow standing waves to move freely along the line

b) reverse standing waves on the transmission line

c) reduce standing waves to 1.5:1 or less

d) capture standing waves on the transmission line

24. In Australia, radio activities of radio amateurs are authorised under:-

a) a land mobile licence

b) an amateur station licence

c) a citizens band licence

d) a broadcasting licence

25. The reason the mains ON/OFF switch in an amateur station should be clearly labelled is to:-

a) know where the station mains power can be isolated in an emergency

b) provide an immediate isolation point if there is a complaint about interference

c) save power by switching everything off when you exit your station

d) allow others to operate your station in your absence