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. One reason for using a balun to connect coaxial cable to a dipole is to:-

a) reduce radiation from the coaxial line

b) eliminate the use of an antenna tuning unit

c) increase the gain of the antenna

d) provide better adjustment locally under non resonant lines

2. Amateur radio operators must operate:-

a) within the AM broadcast band

b) within the FM broadcast band

c) within the allocated amateur bands

d) within the television bands

3. When wearing headphones, make sure that:-

a) the volume is adjusted so as not to damage hearing

b) visual alarms must be used

c) the RF gain is low to avoid static

d) they are the padded type

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

a) placing an RF choke in the audio leads

b) adding an audio stop filter to the affected equipment

c) placing a capacitor in series with the audio leads

d) adding a highpass filter to the audio leads

5. 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) direct pickup by the electronics inside the TV

b) the neighbours electrical mains acting as an antenna

c) ghosting

d) harmonic interference

6. After an electric shock, you have isolated the power and a person is found to have stopped breathing and have no pulse, you should:-

a) place the patient in the coma position

b) call MAYDAY

c) wait a minute or two to see what happens

d) clear the patients airway and apply CPR

7. Referring to the following block diagram, the name of Block 3 is called the:-

a) IF amplifier

b) RF amplifier

c) audio amplifier

d) mixer

8. One reason why the transmission line impedance is matched to the antenna impedance is to:-

a) increase standing waves on the transmission line

b) reduce standing waves on the transmission line

c) reverse standing waves on the transmission line

d) capture standing waves on the transmission line

9. Antenna erection and rigging should only be carried out:-

a) by suitably experienced persons

b) when 3 or more persons are present

c) by persons with an antenna riggers certificate

d) only on clear sky days

10. If you hear a MAYDAY message on the radio, you should:-

a) switch off your radio

b) listen, and if needed, provide any assistance you can

c) switch to another band

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

11. Using the following conversion chart, convert 2m wavelength into frequency:-

a) 144 MHz

b) 7 MHz

c) 430 MHz

d) 1296 MHz

12. Foundation stations may use:-

a) any non commercial or commercially manufactured transmitting equipment

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

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

d) home made equipment transmitting 100 watts output

13. Using the correct formula, calculate the current flow through a resistor of 25 ohms that has a voltage of 125 volts across it:-

a) 5 Amperes

b) 125 Amperes

c) 0.5 Amperes

d) 0.2 Amperes

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

a) grade of amateur licence held by the operator

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

c) sun spot cycle, time of day and weather

d) date, time, and person operating

15. The effect of over modulation causes:-

a) interference to adjacent frequencies

b) a high pitch whistle in the receiver

c) a narrowing of the signal bandwidth

d) decrease in PEP power output

16. Foundation licence holders:-

a) are not permitted to make modifications to equipment unless they are 21 years of age or over

b) can construct operate simple transmitters above 10 watts PEP

c) can not make simple internal adjustments to transmitters

d) are permitted to make modifications to transmitters

17. EMC problems can be minimised by:-

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

b) increasing the transmitters modulation

c) increasing transmitter power to swamp the interference

d) having an Advanced licence

18. When a thunder storm is approaching, it is wise to:-

a) switch to standby power

b) disconnect antennas

c) test lightning protection

d) remove all antennas from the tower or mast

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

a) The Australian Radio Amateurs Band plan (ARABP)

b) The WIA callbook.

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

d) The Foundation Licence Manual

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

a) diffracted

b) contracted

c) refracted

d) reflected

21. The RF immunity of domestic entertainment equipment can be improved by fitting:-

a) suitable filters on the affected equipment

b) placing an RF immunity filter in the transmitters antenna line

c) a filter to the amateur transmitter

d) using a balun

22. A radio amateur can transmit secret coded messages when:-

a) normal language may be upsetting to some listeners

b) participating in emergency services or training exercises related to emergency services.

c) privacy is a high priority

d) when engaging in secret technical experiments

23. If a radio amateur hears a distress call, on a non-amateur frequency, that is not acknowledged the radio amateur;

a) should send an email to the ACMA

b) should continue to monitor and do nothing else

c) is obliged to accept distress traffic

d) may continue to transmit on a different band

24. The specified bands, emission types, and modes for foundation licence holders are specified in the:-

a) Radiocommunications Act

b) Licence Conditions Determination

c) WIA radio amateurs operation rulebook

d) Foundation Licence Handbook

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

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

b) strength of the transmitted signal

c) high pressure zones

d) rotation of the earth's magnetic poles