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. 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) the neighbours electrical mains acting as an antenna

c) harmonic interference

d) direct pickup by the electronics inside the TV

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

a) may not transmit and contact the appropriate emergency authority

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

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

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

3. Amateur radio is primarily:-

a) a hobby/service that utilises radiocommunications

b) an encouragement for people to become radio engineers

c) an expansion of the citizens band radio service

d) a back up to the Maritime radio service

4. A transmitter that is incorrectly adjusted may:-

a) need a very sound earth rod

b) cause interference only on other amateur radio bands

c) cause harmful interference to other radiocommunication users

d) damage the antenna

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

a) 70cm

b) 20m

c) 160m

d) 2 metres

6. A radio amateur is advised by a neighbour that, when they are transmitting, they can be heard in the speakers of the neighbours audio system. This problem is best resolved by:-

a) never transmitting before 12 midnight

b) buying the neighbour a new audio system

c) ignoring the neighbours complaint

d) a technical solution

7. An amateur station should have an RF earth. The most important function of the RF earth is to:-

a) replace the mains earth should it go open circuit

b) eliminate the need for filter circuits in the antenna cabling circuit

c) minimise RF currents entering the mains system and causing interference

d) bypass all the transmitted RF power to earth

8. Interference from an amateur station that disrupts a commercial radiocommunication service is called:-

a) radiocommunications overload

b) commercial interference

c) disruptive interference

d) harmful interference

9. Antennas and antenna fittings most importantly must be kept clear of:-

a) power poles and lines

b) neighbours fences

c) the roof of the house

d) trees and shrubs

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

a) call MAYDAY

b) switch to a back up power supply

c) assess the danger to yourself and switch off the power

d) call the power company

11. The reason the transmitter should be matched to the transmission line and antenna is:-

a) to minimise antenna heating effect

b) to increase the gain of the antenna

c) to enable the transmitter to be correctly neutralised

d) so as not to risk causing interference to other radiocommunication services

12. EMC problems can be minimised by:-

a) only transmitting after midnight

b) careful selection and location of antennas

c) having an Advanced licence

d) increasing transmitter power to swamp the interference

13. A Foundation Licence will permit you to communicate by radio with other radio amateurs:-

a) and transmit entertainment materials provided it is not copyright

b) and send them amateur slow scan television pictures

c) operating in any amateur band and mode provided you announce that that is your intention

d) using all modes including Telephony or Morse code

14. All commercially available mains operated equipment must have:-

a) a 2 pin plug

b) a two year guarantee

c) the mains voltage stamped on it

d) an approved equipment label

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

a) spread out and weaker

b) narrowed and stronger

c) faster when it hits the troposphere

d) slower once it enters space

16. 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

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

a) provide better adjustment locally under non resonant lines

b) increase the gain of the antenna

c) reduce radiation from the coaxial line

d) eliminate the use of an antenna tuning unit

18. The unit of voltage is the:-

a) volt

b) ohm

c) watt

d) ampere

19. 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) attach a warning tag, and keep using the lead

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

20. During a thunderstorm the amateur station should:-

a) not be operated

b) stand by for distress calls

c) keep operating at reduced power

d) increase power to overcome static

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

a) switch off your radio

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

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

d) switch to another band

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

a) diagram A

b) diagram B

c) diagram C

d) diagram D

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

a) interference to small kitchen appliances

b) a hum in the receiver speaker

c) interference to broadcast radio and television reception

d) neighbourhood dogs to bark or become frightened

24. Long distance HF communication relies on propagation by:-

a) line of sight

b) knife edge diffraction

c) ionospheric refraction

d) tropospheric ducting

25. The Amateur radio service:-

a) comprises of exclusive bands for amateur radio use

b) may share radio bands with other radio services

c) has frequency allocations with the AM broadcast band

d) permits cross communication with the Maritime service