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 a good RF Earth at an amateur station is:-

a) to bypass any reflected transmitter RF power to earth

b) to bypass RF currents to ground and minimise interference

c) reduce mains shock hazard

d) to act as a safety backup should the mains earth become open circuit

2. A 10 watt transmitter with an antenna that has gain of 10 times, would have an effective radiated power of:-

a) 5 decibels

b) 1 watt

c) 20 watts

d) 100 watts

3. When making the first of a series of transmissions, a radio amateur:-

a) does not have to identify if their station is known to the others on the frequency

b) should transmit station identification as soon possible

c) does not have to identify if another station identifies them first

d) should transmit the station identification in 10 minutes time

4. When erecting antennas and climbing on structures:-

a) the look of the antennas must be considered

b) the type of coaxial cable must be considered

c) fall prevention must be considered

d) ERP must be considered

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

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

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

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

d) allow others to operate your station in your absence

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

a) adding an audio stop filter to the affected equipment

b) placing a capacitor in series with the audio leads

c) adding a highpass filter to the audio leads

d) placing an RF choke in the audio leads

7. Overmodulation of a transmitter:-

a) makes the audio quality of the transmitter sound better

b) increases the power and cuts through the noise better

c) is beneficial for DX working

d) may cause interference to other services

8. 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) damp atmospheric conditions

d) a high level of sun spots

9. 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) heat and/or fire damage

d) the main switch from being operated

10. 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) give the person CPR

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

11. Amateur radio operators must operate:-

a) within the FM broadcast band

b) within the television bands

c) within the AM broadcast band

d) within the allocated amateur bands

12. Using the correct formula, calculate the power in a circuit when the voltage is 25 volts and the current is 4 amperes:-

a) 6.25 watts

b) 125 watts

c) 0.16 watts

d) 100 watts

13. Another name for voltage is:-

a) power

b) resistance

c) electrical pressure

d) current

14. A radio call that includes PAN PAN means:-

a) that the call is via the Internet

b) that the call is for a specific country

c) a Distress situation

d) an Urgency situation

15. The amateur licence authorises an amateur to:-

a) operate on the CB communication band

b) talk with aeronautical band operators

c) talk on air with other radio amateurs

d) talk with marine band operators

16. 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) may not transmit and contact the appropriate emergency authority

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

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

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

a) 20m

b) 2 metres

c) 70cm

d) 160m

18. 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) cease transmission immediately

d) reduce power

19. When a receiver or transmitter drifts off the operating frequency, as it warms up, it is said to be:-

a) insensitive

b) selective

c) stable

d) unstable

20. A radio amateur's transmission can be heard in a nearby neighbour's television receiver. These problems are best solved by:-

a) a technical solution

b) reducing the transmitter power until the problems disappears

c) ignoring the problem as you have a licence

d) not transmitting during the neighbour's viewing hours

21. You notice that a mains extension lead is frayed, you must:-

a) ignore the frayed lead but put it under an insulated mat

b) shut down your station and call the ACMA

c) immediately remove the lead from service, tag it defective, and destroy it or have it repaired by a competent person

d) attach a warning tag, and keep using the lead

22. Radio waves in free space travel in straight lines unless:-

a) refracted, rejuvenated or ionised

b) reflected, refuted or disputed

c) diffracted, discriminated or bent

d) reflected, refracted or diffracted

23. If harmful interference is being generated by an amateur station:-

a) an Advanced operator, may by written notice, direct you to stop transmitting

b) the WIA may restrict amateur operations

c) the ACMA may direct you to cease all transmissions for a specified time

d) the local council may restrict the times you operate your station down

24. In the diagram below, the highest ionospheric layer during daylight is:-

a) E

b) F1

c) F2

d) D

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

a) 100 watts PEP

b) 20 watts PEP

c) 50 watts PEP

d) 10 watts PEP