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. Long distance radio communication in the range 3-30 MHz mostly relies on:-

a) ionospheric refraction

b) tropospheric refraction

c) faraday bounce from the upper atmosphere

d) tropospheric diffraction

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

a) atmospheric pressure

b) the coriolis effect

c) the Earth's electric field

d) electrical industrial and domestic equipment

3. If an amateur is causing harmful interference to other radiocommunications services, the amateur must:-

a) put in a mains filter

b) review the transceiver user manual

c) reduce power

d) cease transmission immediately

4. 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 house lights to dim

d) the antenna polarisation to change

5. 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) using all modes including Telephony or Morse code

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

6. When erecting antennas and climbing on structures:-

a) fall prevention must be considered

b) the look of the antennas must be considered

c) ERP must be considered

d) the type of coaxial cable must be considered

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

a) E

b) F1

c) F2

d) D

8. The Amateur radio service:-

a) may share radio bands with other radio services

b) has frequency allocations with the AM broadcast band

c) permits cross communication with the Maritime service

d) comprises of exclusive bands for amateur radio use

9. 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) bypass all the transmitted RF power to earth

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

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

10. A foundation licensee may allow another person to operate their amateur station if the person is supervised and:-

a) studying to get a Foundation licence

b) an Adult, equal to or greater than 21 years of age.

c) transmitting 10 watts or less

d) all answers are correct

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

a) an approved brand or purchased from an approved supplier

b) equipment which has been commercially manufactured

c) self-modified transmitting equipment

d) all the given answers are correct

12. When a voltage is applied to a closed circuit, the current in the circuit is the:-

a) resistance

b) electrical pressure

c) flow of electrons past a point

d) power

13. If interference to other radio services is being generated by a Foundation station, the Foundation station licensee must:-

a) deny responsibility and keep operating

b) advise a full-call operator

c) cease all transmissions

d) surrender the station licence to the Australian Communications and Media Authority

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

a) Licence Conditions Determination

b) amateur radio journals

c) the Foundation Licence manual

d) transceiver user manual

15. To carry out any 230/240V AC mains related activity, it is necessary to:-

a) use insulated tools and keep unlicensed persons out of the room

b) stand on an insulated mat

c) wear rubber gloves

d) comply with relevant regulations regarding who is authorised to wire and test mains equipment

16. To improve the effective power radiated from an antenna, an antenna:-

a) of higher gain can be used

b) of lower impedance is best

c) of wider beamwidth can be used

d) of higher impedance is best

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

a) cause the SWR to change

b) decrease the bandwidth of the transmitter

c) result in the transmitter being over modulated

d) cause the sensitivity of the transmitter to be reduced

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

a) 2 metres

b) 70cm

c) 160m

d) 20m

19. 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

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

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

b) they can communicate with other types of radio services

c) they can use low power on any band

d) day time use and night time use are consistent

21. You have developed a secret code and wish to transmit this on an amateur band:-

a) secret coded or encrypted messages are generally not permitted

b) you must identify yourself every 30 minutes in plain English

c) secret coded or encrypted messages are allowed only on specified bands

d) you must advise the local amateur radio club or WIA

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

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

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

c) allow others to operate your station in your absence

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

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

a) 125 watts

b) 6.25 watts

c) 100 watts

d) 0.16 watts

24. Amateur band operations and emissions:-

a) must be wholly within the amateur bands

b) can be 6 kHz outside the amateur bands

c) can be up to 3 kHz outside the amateur bands

d) can be outside the amateur bands providing WIA permission is obtained

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

a) high voltage power lines

b) traffic vibration on nearby roads

c) loud noise

d) high intensity magnets