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. Electric cables and leads left lying around the station and coiled up:-

a) may cause mains hum in radio equipment

b) may overheat and cause fire or be a trip hazard

c) are safe provided the electric insulation is intact

d) should be colour coded or labelled for easy identification

2. The transmitter power allowed by a foundation station using AM is:-

a) an average power of 12 watts

b) the same as for FM, that is, 10 watts pX

c) zero watts as a foundation station is not permitted to use AM

d) half the power of that permitted for single sideband

3. The ability of a receiver to reject unwanted signals nearby, is called:-

a) Armstrong rejection

b) selectivity

c) sensitivity

d) near channel rejection

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

a) wind and rain

b) lunar cycles

c) mode of operation

d) the solar cycle

5. An amateur transceiver that is being over modulated by an excessive audio signal may result in:-

a) the house lights dimming

b) an increase in the distance the signal may travel

c) a hum in the receiver speaker

d) interference to broadcast radio and television reception

6. The amateur licence authorises an amateur to:-

a) operate on the CB communication band

b) talk with marine band operators

c) talk on air with other radio amateurs

d) talk with aeronautical band operators

7. A 5 watt transmitter with an antenna that has a gain of 2, would have an effective radiated power of:-

a) 10 watts

b) 20 watts

c) 5 watts

d) 15 watts

8. An AM transmitter is likely to over modulate if the:-

a) microphone gain control is set too high

b) LF gain control is set too high

c) IF gain control is set too high

d) RF gain control is set too high

9. The Foundation Amateur Radio Licence is subject to conditions in:-

a) The Radiocommunications Act 1992 only

b) The Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determinations only

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

d) The Foundation Licence Operators Handbook

10. Amateur radio, broadcast radio, and TV reception can suffer interference from:-

a) the Earth's electric field

b) atmospheric pressure

c) the coriolis effect

d) electrical industrial and domestic equipment

11. Modern electronic equipment in the home is rated in terms of radio frequency immunity, which is the:-

a) ability of the electronic equipment to operate properly when subject to strong electromagnetic fields

b) compatibility with the mains supply

c) compatibility with telephone circuits

d) ability to jam amateur radio transmissions by being more powerful

12. When a fuse blows, it should only be replaced with:-

a) the next biggest current rating

b) the next smallest current rating

c) the specified type and current rating

d) a circuit breaker

13. If a battery is burnt or punctured, it may:-

a) electrode

b) polarise

c) implode

d) explode

14. Foundation licence holders:-

a) are permitted to make modifications to transmitters

b) can construct operate simple transmitters above 10 watts PEP

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

d) can not make simple internal adjustments to transmitters

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

a) placing a capacitor in series with the audio leads

b) placing an RF choke in the audio leads

c) adding an audio stop filter to the affected equipment

d) adding a highpass filter to the audio leads

16. Using the correct formula, calculate the power in a circuit when a 25 ohm resistance has 2 amperes of current going though it:-

a) 50 watts

b) 100 watts

c) 12.5 watts

d) 156.25 watts

17. Long distance communications is sometimes possible on VHF and UHF due to:-

a) unusual atmospheric conditions

b) D layer skip

c) sunspots

d) increased ionisation of the F layer at night

18. The purpose of the amateur radio service is primarily:-

a) for talking to other radio amateurs using radiocommunications

b) to make use of the parts of radio spectrum that are not being used

c) for self training in radiocommunications and technical investigation into radiocommunications

d) to avoid the cost of international phone calls

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

a) amateur radio journals

b) Licence Conditions Determination

c) transceiver user manual

d) the Foundation Licence manual

20. If you change the fixed address where your station is normally operated you must:-

a) notify the Australian Communications and Media Authority

b) contact your local council to find out about any amateur radio restrictions

c) advise the WIA of the new station location

d) advise the amateur radio callbook committee

21. An omnidirectional antenna will cause electromagnetic fields to be radiated:-

a) with cross polarisation

b) in two directions

c) equally in all directions

d) where the antenna is pointed

22. The unit of frequency is the:-

a) kilocycle

b) radians

c) hertz

d) cycle

23. A radio wave that strikes the earth is likely to:-

a) be absorbed by the earths mantle

b) be contracted

c) diffracted in speed

d) be reflected

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

a) that the call is for a specific country

b) an Urgency situation

c) a Distress situation

d) that the call is via the Internet

25. Foundation licence holders may use transmitting equipment that is:-

a) all the given answers are correct

b) equipment which has been commercially manufactured

c) an approved brand or purchased from an approved supplier

d) self-modified transmitting equipment