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 reason why mains operated transmitters are earthed is to:-

a) allow for a fuse to be inserted in the yellow/green lead

b) discharge static build up

c) reduce the likelihood of electric shock

d) to provide a ground plane for the transmitter

2. Amateur radio operators are allocated specific bands so that:-

a) day time use and night time use are consistent

b) they are less likely to interfere with other radio services

c) they can communicate with other types of radio services

d) they can use low power on any band

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

a) should urgently endevour to find anyone who can operate on the frequency of the distress

b) if there is no response, respond and provide assistance using whatever means available, and using radio if equipment allows

c) may not transmit and contact the appropriate emergency authority

d) should continue to monitor and call other stations on a different band

4. The maximum power using SSB allowed for foundation amateur stations is:-

a) 10 watts PEP

b) 50 watts PEP

c) 20 watts PEP

d) 100 watts PEP

5. Referring to the following conversion chart, the approximate size of a half wavelength antenna to be used at 148 MHz is:-

a) 70cm

b) 1m

c) 20 metres

d) 160m

6. From the spectrum chart supplied, the HF band is:-

a) 3 Hz to 300 Hz

b) 300 Hz to 3 kHz

c) 3 kHz to 30 kHz

d) 3 MHz to 30 MHz

7. If you suspect someone has received an electric shock, the first action is to:-

a) clear all airways and place the person in the coma position then call for help

b) dial 000

c) consider your own safety and switch off the power

d) if necessary apply CPR

8. Objectionable interference from an amateur station to radio and television reception can vary with:-

a) mode of operation

b) wind and rain

c) lunar cycles

d) the solar cycle

9. As a radio wave travels outward from an antenna it will become:-

a) spread out and weaker

b) faster when it hits the troposphere

c) narrowed and stronger

d) slower once it enters space

10. The Amateur radio service:-

a) has frequency allocations with the AM broadcast band

b) permits cross communication with the Maritime service

c) comprises of exclusive bands for amateur radio use

d) may share radio bands with other radio services

11. 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

12. EMC problems can be minimised by:-

a) increasing the transmitters modulation

b) increasing transmitter power to swamp the interference

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

d) having an Advanced licence

13. Interference to a neighbours television equipment by amateur transmissions has been identified; pick up by the equipment through the antenna has been eliminated as the problem. The most likely cause is:-

a) interference being fed via the mains

b) ionospheric refraction

c) a high level of sun spots

d) damp atmospheric conditions

14. Using the correct formula, calculate the resistance in a circuit when a 12 volt power source causes 6 Amps of current to flow:-

a) 0.2 ohm

b) 5 ohms

c) 0.5 ohm

d) 2 ohms

15. The function of the dummy load is to:-

a) limit the reception of very strong signals

b) allow the antenna to be worked on while transmitting

c) provide a non-radiating load for testing the transmitter

d) create interference when tuning up a transmitter

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

a) Radiocommunications Act

b) Licence Conditions Determination

c) Foundation Licence Handbook

d) WIA radio amateurs operation rulebook

17. An amateur callsign VK3NZZ would denote a:-

a) Vancouver full call licensee

b) Australian Amateur licensee

c) New Zealand amateur licensee

d) Venice amateur, Standard licensee

18. If a person has had an electric shock and is unconscious, you must first:-

a) call the power company and advise them of the potential fault

b) watch for smoke or fire

c) assess the danger to yourself and switch off the power before touching the person

d) give the person CPR

19. Adjusting the microphone gain of an SSB transmitter to a high level may:-

a) cause the SWR to change

b) cause the sensitivity of the transmitter to be reduced

c) result in the transmitter being over modulated

d) decrease the bandwidth of the transmitter

20. The reason mains operated equipment is earthed is to:-

a) discharge static electricity when the equipment is touched

b) provide for the use of a transformer

c) reduce the likelihood of electric shock

d) terminate the third wire in the mains cable

21. Referring to the following diagram (waveforms), which diagram represents an AM signal:-

a) diagram 3

b) diagram 2

c) diagram 4

d) diagram 1

22. EMC problems can be minimised by:-

a) careful selection and location of antennas

b) increasing transmitter power to swamp the interference

c) having an Advanced licence

d) only transmitting after midnight

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

a) rotation of the earth's magnetic poles

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

c) strength of the transmitted signal

d) high pressure zones

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

a) ACMA inspectors

b) another amateur radio operator

c) a WIA assessor

d) a person to whom you are causing interference

25. An amateur transceiver that is fed into an antenna with an antenna tuning unit that is out of adjustment may cause:-

a) interference to broadcast radio and television reception

b) a hum in the receiver speaker

c) the antenna polarisation to change

d) the house lights to dim