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Ham Radio Trivia Quiz

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby that is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people all across the world. From just chit chatting on the airwaves to providing emergency communications, radio hams enjoy many aspects of this hobby.

A multiple-choice quiz by rocknrun. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
rocknrun

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
319,660

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
365

Last 3 plays: Guest 209 (1/10), krajack99 (10/10), Guest 185 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. At the end of a conversation ham operators will say "73" to the person they are talking with. What does "73" mean? Hint

Best regards.

Have a nice day.

Thanks for the contact.

I read you loud and clear.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. 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? Hint

5 Words Per Minute

30 Words Per Minute

10 Words Per Minute

Zero, The Ability To Copy Morse Code Is Not Required

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Using a hand held "walkie-talkie", some hams can talk with another amateur that is 100 miles away by utilizing what device? Hint

Transducer

Q Multiplier

Signal Generator

Repeater

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Question 4 of 10

4. 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? Hint

Senator Barry Goldwater

George Wallace

John McCain

Thomas Dewey

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Question 5 of 10

5. Usually costing around $45 to build, this simple wire antenna is used by many hams to communicate around the world. What is it? Hint

Dipole

Ground Mounted Vertical

Tri-Band Beam

Yagi

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Question 6 of 10

6. 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? Hint

Skywarn

Sky Watch

Storm Patrol

Disaster Early Warning System

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. 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? Hint

RM-Radio Mrs

XYL-Ex Young Lady

YLNM-Young Lady No More

OL-Old Lady

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Many countries have a fraternal organization of ham radio operators. What's the name of the largest amateur radio organization in the United States? Hint

US Association of Amateur Radio Operators

Society Of Radio and Telegraphy Enthusiasts

Wireless Society of America

American Radio Relay League

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is the ARISS program? Hint

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

Amateur Radio Installed, Stay Safe

Amateur Radio Institute of Southern States

Amateur Radio Installation Safety System

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. 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? Hint

PACTOR

The Ten Code

Q Signals

The Morse Abbreviator

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : Guest 209: 1/10
Dec 13 2024 : krajack99: 10/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 185: 9/10
Dec 12 2024 : Finbarr0: 5/10
Dec 12 2024 : Davo8: 4/10
Dec 12 2024 : dee1304: 3/10
Dec 12 2024 : hilhanes: 1/10
Dec 12 2024 : Josie9: 3/10
Dec 12 2024 : Barbs1: 1/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 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"

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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".

Source: Author rocknrun

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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