Technician exam: station setup and operation
Setting up a station: power, mobile installs, controls on a radio and digital modes in practice. 23 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key station setup and operation rulesShow the rules
- For FT8, the radio's audio output feeds the computer's audio input and the computer's audio output feeds the radio, with FT8 software doing the rest. (p. 31)
- An RF power meter measures power flowing to the antenna, so it goes in the feed line between the transmitter and the antenna. (p. 31)
- A digital mode interface carries receive audio to the computer, transmit audio to the radio and a keying signal to switch to transmit. (p. 31)
- A hotspot is a small low-power device that links nearby digital voice or data radios to an internet-based network. (p. 32)
- An electronic keyer forms correctly timed dots and dashes from a paddle, helping you send Morse code by hand. (p. 32)
- Too much microphone gain overdrives the SSB transmitter and distorts the audio, making it hard to understand. (p. 32)
- You set a transceiver's frequency with its keypad or by turning the VFO tuning knob. (p. 33)
- Scanning steps through a range of frequencies or memories, stopping on active signals. (p. 33)
- On a DMR radio, you select a particular group of stations by entering that talkgroup's identification code. (p. 34)
- D-STAR transmits your call sign digitally with every transmission, so it must be programmed into the radio before you transmit. (p. 34)
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample station setup and operation questions
1.What is a DMR "code plug"?
- AAn adapter cable used to connect a DMR radio to a computer for internet access
- BConfiguration data loaded onto your radio to access repeaters and talkgroups
- CAn upgrade to DMR programming software provided by the radio manufacturer to accommodate new radio models
- DA Coder-Decoder (CODEC) that converts analog voice data to DMR digital data and vice versa
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✓ B. Configuration data loaded onto your radio to access repeaters and talkgroups
A DMR code plug is the configuration file loaded into the radio, holding repeaters, talkgroups and other settings.
2.What does the scanning function of an FM transceiver do?
- APrevents interference to nearby repeaters
- BChecks incoming signal deviation
- CTunes through a range of frequencies to check for activity
- DTunes through a range of frequencies to determine the antenna's resonant frequency
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✓ C. Tunes through a range of frequencies to check for activity
Scanning steps through a range of frequencies or memories, stopping on active signals.
3.Which of the following receiver filter bandwidths provides the best signal-to-noise ratio for SSB reception?
- A1000 Hz
- B5000 Hz
- C2400 Hz
- D500 Hz
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✓ C. 2400 Hz
An SSB voice signal is about 2.4 kHz wide, so a 2400 Hz filter passes the voice while rejecting noise outside it.
4.How is a specific group of stations selected on a DMR digital voice transceiver?
- ABy entering the group's identification code
- BBy inserting a five-pin, pre-programmed code plug
- CBy retrieving the frequencies from transceiver memory
- DBy enabling the group's CTCSS tone
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✓ A. By entering the group's identification code
On a DMR radio, you select a particular group of stations by entering that talkgroup's identification code.