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40 Amateur Radio & DX Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Amateur Radio & DX? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Amateur Radio & DX (Entertainment). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Radio   
1 What do the Amateur Radio Stations NA1SS and RS0ISS have in common?
Answer: They are both located on the International Space Station

  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
2 This famous ham invented a legendary music device that was featured on the album "Switched On Bach". Who is it?
Answer: Robert Moog

K2AMH, Bob Moog, invented the famous Moog Synthesizer along with some other innovative electronic music equipment. He died in 2005. John McVie is the bass player for Fleetwood Mac. Tom Scholz is the founder of the band Boston and also an MIT graduate who has made his own contributions to music technology.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
3 At the end of a conversation ham operators will say "73" to the person they are talking with. What does "73" mean?
Answer: Best regards.

Although hams use many different modes of communication such as voice, digital and even television the original mode was Morse code. In order to save time many abbreviations were created by Morse users and 73 is used to sign off with a friendly good-by. Of course, if you are talking with that special someone a different number is used, 88, which means "love and kisses"
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
4 When radio amateurs are trying to solicit a new contact, what two-letter phrase do they use?
Answer: CQ

CQ sounds like "Seek You" - get it?

WX means "weather"

DE means "from"

CX is the common callsign prefix for hams in Uruguay.
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
5 Besides talking on his ham radio, this famous newscaster spent most of his life talking into a microphone for a living. Who is it?
Answer: Walter Cronkite

KB2GSD, Walter Cronkite obtained his amateur radio license after he retired from CBS news, primarily to have another form of communication while on his sailboat.
Chet Huntley and David Brinkley were popular co-anchors of the NBC television news broadcast. Dan Rather replaced Walter Cronkite on the 'CBS Evening News' after Cronkite retired.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
6 In the United States what speed of Morse code must a prospective ham be able to accurately read in order to get their amateur radio license?
Answer: Zero, The Ability To Copy Morse Code Is Not Required

In 2007 the Federal Communications Commission dropped the Morse code requirement for hams. In order to receive an amateur radio license you only have to pass a written examination.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
7 In amateur radio parlance, what does the two-letter phrase "DX" stand for?
Answer: distance

DX is often used to indicate a station in a country outside one's own, regardless of "distance".
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
8 What is Yuri Gagarin, Amateur Callsign: UA1LO, famous for?
Answer: He was the first cosmonaut and the first human in space.

Many Soviet/Russian Cosmonauts and American Astronauts have been Amateur Radio Operators. Yuri Gagarin (UA1LO), a Russian cosmonaut and Hero of the Soviet Union, was the first human in space, his flight taking place on April 21st, 1961.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
9 Gerson Strassberg, WA2JXX invented this item which no self-respecting geek would have been without. Now, you could probably only find one on e-bay. Who is it?
Answer: Plastic Pocket Protector

It's been years since I've seen a plastic pocket protector, but it was designed to slip into your shirt pocket and hold your ink pens. Geek fashion dictated that you not only have a plastic pocket protector, but also have multiple pens tucked into it.
    Your options: [ Digital Watch ] [ Slide Rule ] [ Plastic Pocket Protector ] [ Pocket Calculator ]
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
10 Using a hand held "walkie-talkie", some hams can talk with another amateur that is 100 miles away by utilizing what device?
Answer: Repeater

Repeaters are usually located at the top of a tall structure such as a building, tower or mountain top. The repeater simply receives the signal from one radio and re-transmits it to another. Because of the height, the repeater can greatly extend the range of a hand held or mobile radio.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
11 When radio amateurs discuss a "Yagi", what are they talking about?
Answer: antenna

"Yagi" is the shortened name for a "Yagi-Uda Antenna". In 1926, Shintaro Uda of Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, with the collaboration of Hidetsugu Yagi developed the antenna. Mr. Yagi published the first English-language article about it in 1928 so his name got associated with it, though he was always quick to credit Mr. Uda.
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
12 W2MFW, Jerry Schatz (billed as Jerry Tucker) played the spoiled rich kid on this popular series. What was the name of the series?
Answer: Our Gang

Jerry appeared in 18 'Our Gang' episodes and six movies. In 1942 he quit acting and joined the US Navy and was wounded when a kamikaze attacked his ship, the USS
Sigsbee. After World War II he studied engineering and retired as an engineer for RCA Global Communications.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
13 If the election had gone in a different direction this long time amateur radio operator would have probably had a ham antenna on the roof of the White House. Who is he?
Answer: Senator Barry Goldwater

Senator Barry Goldwater lost the 1964 Presidential election to Lyndon Johnson. Senator Goldwater, who was known on the air as K7UGA was a ham for many years and during the Vietnam War provided a radio/telephone link to thousands of GIs and their families.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
14 What do radio amateurs mean by a "silent key"?
Answer: a deceased radio amateur

A "telegraph key" (or simply "key") is a device used to send Morse code. A key goes silent when its owner has passed on.
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
15 What is Dr. Owen K. Garriott (Amateur Callsign: W5LFL) famous for?
Answer: He was the first Amateur Operator (HAM) to operate from space.

Dr. Owen Garriott (PhD) has flown on Skylab-3, spending 60 days (a record at the time, doubling the previous record) in space in 1973. His next space mission was aboard Spacelab-1 for 10 days in 1983. During this mission (STS-9) Dr. Garriott, an amateur radio operator for over 40 years, was the first astronaut to take a ham radio into space.

Garriott said. "In my spare time only, I managed to hold up an antenna to the window and to talk to amateurs on Earth."

Since that time, Amateur radio has been included on almost every American spaceflight, and is currently in use on the International Space Station.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
16 His call-sign was K2ORS and he wrote and narrated a classic film that had everyone saying "you'll shoot your eye out". Who is it?
Answer: Jean Shepherd

Jean Shepherd was a writer and radio-television personality who narrated 'A Christmas Story'. The movie was based on his writing. Clive Cussler is a maritime history authority and author of many books including "Raise The Titanic". Franklin W. Dixon was the pseudonym for a host of writers who authored "The Hardy Boys" series.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
17 Usually costing around $45 to build, this simple wire antenna is used by many hams to communicate around the world. What is it?
Answer: Dipole

The easy to build dipole antenna is often strung between two trees with a feedline running from the antenna to the radio. Cheap and easy to build, it is capable of world wide communications.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
18 Operating your radio "barefoot" means to operate it...?
Answer: without an amplifier

Generally, barefoot operating means using 10 watts to 100 watts. An amplifier would typically boost that to approximately 1000W.
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
19 W3DEF, Stephen Aug is the former business correspondent for what TV show?
Answer: Good Morning America

Stephen Aug spent several years keeping Americans abreast of the latest business and economic news.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
20 Many US hams participate in a national program to help provide reports and warnings for storms and tornadoes. Not limited to ham operators, what is the name of this program?
Answer: Skywarn

Since the early 1970s the Skywarn program has enabled volunteer storm spotters to communicate information to the National Weather Service about severe weather activity.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
21 What organization is the ultimate authority for radio amateurs in the United States?
Answer: FCC

  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
22 What is required to become an Amateur (HAM) radio operator in the United States?
Answer: Pass an FCC license test, which covers "basic regulations, operating practices and electronics theory"

To become a HAM you must pass an FCC license test, which covers "basic regulations, operating practices and electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications. Morse code is not required for this license." (Reference: www.arrl.org) A degree is not required and many children under ten years old have passed the test and become Amateur Radio Operators.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
23 This well known country music star changed his amateur radio call-sign to W4CGP, which he said stood for "certified guitar picker".
Answer: Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins was very active in amateur radio and was said to even have a radio set up in his kitchen. Roy Rogers was of course a singing cowboy and Randy Parton is the musician brother of Dolly Parton. Buck Owens was the co-host of the long running country variety show 'Hee Haw'.
    Your options: [ Buck Owens ] [ Randy Parton ] [ Chet Atkins ] [ Roy Rogers ]
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
24 In ham lingo, an unmarried female ham is known as a "YL" which stands for "young lady". Once she becomes married, what is she called?
Answer: XYL-Ex Young Lady

Again, dating back to the Morse code abbreviations the terms YL and XYL have stuck. You might hear a ham comment that he is "getting ready to take the XYL out to dinner." All guy hams are referred to as "OM", Old Man!
    Your options: [ XYL-Ex Young Lady ] [ YLNM-Young Lady No More ] [ RM-Radio Mrs ] [ OL-Old Lady ]
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
25 What does "73" mean in radio lingo?
Answer: Best regards

"73" means "best regards". So, technically, "73's" or "73s" means "best regardses" - some sticklers get worked up about that kind of grammar.

"88" means "love (or hugs) and kisses".
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
26 Due to possible conflict-of-interest, politicians and journalists are NOT allowed to be Amateur Radio (HAM) operators.
Answer: False - Journalists and Politicians may be issued an Amateur Radio License.

Politicians who are or were Hams include former US Senator and Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater (K7UGA) and Former Governor of New York George Pataki (K2ZCZ). Journalists who are or were Hams include Walter Cronkite (KB2GSD) and David French (N4KET).
    Your options: [ False - Journalists and Politicians may be issued an Amateur Radio License. ] [ False - Politicians may not be issued an Amateur Radio License ] [ True - Neither politicians or journalists may be issued an Amateur Radio License. ] [ False - Journalists may not be issued an Amateur Radio License ]
  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
27 Another famous country star who is also a ham is originally from North Carolina and has hits such as "Smokey Mountain Rain" and "Lost In The Fifties Tonight". His callsign is WB4KCG. Who is it?
Answer: Ronnie Milsap

All of these musicians hail from The Carolinas, but Ronnie is the only ham in the bunch. Darius Rucker is from South Carolina and released a solo album of country music; when not singing country, he's the lead singer for Hootie And The Blowfish.
Randy Travis is a well known country star from Marshville, NC. Doc Watson is a bluegrass legend and hosts the annual Merlefest (named for his late son) in Wilkes County NC, which draws thousands of fans every year.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
28 Many countries have a fraternal organization of ham radio operators. What's the name of the largest amateur radio organization in the United States?
Answer: American Radio Relay League

Founded in 1914 the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has over 150,000 members. They publish a monthly amateur radio magazine called QST and provide many services for their members.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
29 What is a "radio contest"?
Answer: an operating event

Radio contesting is a highly popular sub-hobby in which amateurs, during some predetermined time period (like a weekend) try to make as many contacts with a variety of places as quickly as possible. It can cause a bit of chaos on the bands.
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
30 Her call-sign is K5PSG, her name is Peggy Sue, and her then boyfriend wrote a song about her. Who was this famous rock and roller?
Answer: Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly wrote "Peggy Sue" about his Texan girlfriend. Tragically, he was killed in an airplane crash in Iowa along with The Big Bopper and Richie Valens in 1959.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
31 What is the ARISS program?
Answer: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

ARISS is a program that enables astronauts on the space station to communicate with groups such as school students. Volunteer ham operators set up their equipment in classrooms and the students can chat with the astronauts and ask questions. Even though they are in space, the astronauts still have to have a valid amateur radio license to communicate back to hams on earth; that's why most of the members of the astronaut corps are licensed hams.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
32 What is a "lid" in ham radio lingo?
Answer: a poor operator

No one can really say from where the term originated but to be called a lid is generally the ultimate insult.

An unlicensed operator is called a variety of things - pirate, bootlegger, slim, but he may operate respectfully otherwise so not qualify as a true "lid".
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
33 In the U.S., in order to become an Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) one must pass a Morse Code test at how many words per minute (WPM)?
Answer: Morse Code is not required to become an Amateur Radio (HAM) operator

In 2007, the FCC dropped the Morse requirement for all license classes. Since then, the number of new U.S. hams has increased dramatically.
  From Quiz: Ham Radio Interest
34 Here's another ham musician; he's been with several groups, but is probably best known as a member of The Eagles. Who is it?
Answer: Joe Walsh

All have been members of The Eagles, but Joe Walsh is the only ham. His callsign is WB6ACU and he is very active on the air and has quite a radio collection too.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
35 Used mostly when communicating with Morse code, what is the name for a group of abbreviations for such things as location or to tell the other ham to move to another frequency?
Answer: Q Signals

Q Signals are used to abbreviate a conversation, particularly when sending Morse code. For example instead of sending or saying "my location is in Miami Florida" a ham would transmit "QTH Miami FL".
  From Quiz: Ham Radio
36 Which best matches what the term "QSL" means in ham radio talk?
Answer: a card confirming a contact

There are many Q-signals employed by radio amateurs and the original meanings are often stretched in daily use. Technically, they should only be used during Morse code communications, but they have become part of the general vocabulary.

"QSL" means to confirm or acknowledge something (similar to "roger" in voice communications). Quite often it means specifically a card confirming a contact (these cards are often highly sought for awards).

A "QSO" is a contact; "QRO" means to turn up the power and can also mean operation with an amplifier; "QTH" means location.
    Your options: [ a card confirming a contact ] [ to operate with an amplifier ] [ your location ] [ a two-way contact ]
  From Quiz: Amateur (Ham) Radio Jargon
37 This late actor held the call-sign KE6PZH and once used his Oscar as a doorstop. Who is it?
Answer: Marlon Brando

Jimmy Stewart, Richard Burton and John Wayne were all great actors, but none of them were hams.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
38 This ham's name is probably known to jazz fans, but we all know his cute red haired daughter from her many movies such as 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club'. His name is Bob and his call-sign is K6YBV. Who do you think his daughter is?
Answer: Molly Ringwald

All three have acted in movies with Molly Ringwald. Her proud dad is Bob Ringwald, jazz pianist and band leader. He appeared with daughter Molly in 'Twice Upon A Time' playing (what else?), a saloon piano player.
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
39 This well known politician made a run for the White House, but was defeated. It would have been interesting to see a ham antenna on the roof at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Who is it?
Answer: Barry Goldwater

Even with his busy schedule, Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA found the time to be active on the ham bands. During the Vietnam war he ran thousands of phone patches through his amateur radio station which enabled the soldiers to talk with their families back home. Wonder if he ever hooked up with King Hussein while on the air?
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
40 Here's the ham: Bob Heil, K9EID. Now, match him up with the correct answer!
Answer: Pioneered live in concert sound for various rock and roll groups.

Bob Heil is responsible for taking the world of live rock and roll from a fairly puny sound from the band's amps, to the booming wall to wall of volume we enjoy today during concerts. He worked with The Who, The Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh and many other performers. Remember the "talking guitar" that Peter Frampton played? Another one of Bob's creations. Today he manufactures high quality microphones that are used in music and communications.
    Your options: [ Developed police speed detection radar. ] [ Invented the portable transistor radio. ] [ Pioneered live in concert sound for various rock and roll groups. ] [ First ham to operate from Mt. Everest. ]
  From Quiz: Famous Hams
The rest of the questions and answers can be found in our quizzes here:
Amateur Radio & DX Quizzes