OPERATING PROCEDURES
Operating methods: contest and DX operating; spread-spectrum transmissions; selecting an operating frequency
Which of the following is true about contest operating?
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Correct AnswerOperators are permitted to make contacts even if they do not submit a log
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Interference to other amateurs is unavoidable and therefore acceptable
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It is mandatory to transmit the call sign of the station being worked as part of every transmission to that station
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Every contest requires a signal report in the exchange
The FCC has no requirement to identify the station you are speaking with, or to provide signal reports of stations being contacted. There is currently no longer a mandate to submit any logs. Interference to other amateurs is bad radio practice, and should be avoided where possible.
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Which of the following best describes the term "self-spotting" in regards to contest operating?
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Correct AnswerThe generally prohibited practice of posting one's own call sign and frequency on a call sign spotting network
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The acceptable practice of manually posting the call signs of stations on a call sign spotting network
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A manual technique for rapidly zero beating or tuning to a station's frequency before calling that station
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An automatic method for rapidly zero beating or tuning to a station's frequency before calling that station
There are online services called "spotting networks" where people can post which callsigns they have been able to hear / make contact with. In a contest it is nearly always against the rules (and always considered bad form) to "self spot" -- that is, to post your own callsign and frequency to the network.
Don't do it =]
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From which of the following bands is amateur radio contesting generally excluded?
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Correct Answer30 meters
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6 meters
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2 meters
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33 cm
On the HF bands, for example, operating on the “WARC bands” is normally prohibited. Therefore, 30 meters is one band on which amateur radio contesting is generally excluded. (E2C03). The other “WARC bands” are 17 meters and 12 meters. They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a sort of gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting.
Hint: as we learned in the technicians and general exams, 30m has a lot of restrictions. This is one.
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On which of the following frequencies is an amateur radio contest contact generally discouraged?
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3.525 MHz
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14.020 MHz
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28.330 MHz
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Correct Answer146.52 MHz
146.52 is the
National Simplex Calling Frequency on the 2 meter band. Calling frequencies are meant for initiating a contact and then QSY.
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What is the function of a DX QSL Manager?
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To allocate frequencies for DXpeditions
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Correct AnswerTo handle the receiving and sending of confirmation cards for a DX station
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To run a net to allow many stations to contact a rare DX station
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To relay calls to and from a DX station
QSL cards are sent to confirm radio contact. Knowing that, it makes sense that a QSL Manager is someone who handles the sending and receiving of confirmation cards.
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During a VHF/UHF contest, in which band segment would you expect to find the highest level of activity?
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At the top of each band, usually in a segment reserved for contests
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In the middle of each band, usually on the national calling frequency
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Correct AnswerIn the weak signal segment of the band, with most of the activity near the calling frequency
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In the middle of the band, usually 25 kHz above the national calling frequency
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What is the Cabrillo format?
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Correct AnswerA standard for submission of electronic contest logs
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A method of exchanging information during a contest QSO
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The most common set of contest rules
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The rules of order for meetings between contest sponsors
The Cabrillo standard file format has revolutionized the world of amateur radio competitions. Log files can now be emailed in for adjudication from a variety of different logging software programs.
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Why are received spread-spectrum signals resistant to interference?
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Correct AnswerSignals not using the spectrum-spreading algorithm are suppressed in the receiver
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The high power used by a spread-spectrum transmitter keeps its signal from being easily overpowered
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The receiver is always equipped with a digital blanker circuit
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If interference is detected by the receiver it will signal the transmitter to change frequencies
Intentional or unintentional interference and jamming signals are rejected because they do not contain the spread-spectrum key. Only the desired signal, which has the key, will be seen at the receiver when the despreading operation is exercised.
Hint: Question and answer have Receive and Spread Spectrum in them.
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How does the spread-spectrum technique of frequency hopping work?
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If interference is detected by the receiver it will signal the transmitter to change frequencies
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If interference is detected by the receiver it will signal the transmitter to wait until the frequency is clear
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A pseudo-random binary bit stream is used to shift the phase of an RF carrier very rapidly in a particular sequence
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Correct AnswerThe frequency of the transmitted signal is changed very rapidly according to a particular sequence also used by the receiving station
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Why might a DX station state that they are listening on another frequency?
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Because the DX station may be transmitting on a frequency that is prohibited to some responding stations
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To separate the calling stations from the DX station
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To reduce interference, thereby improving operating efficiency
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Correct AnswerAll of these choices are correct
Amateur stations transmitting in foreign countries or regions may have different operating privileges than the receiving stations. In order for a contact to be made, the DX Station must transmit on his authorized frequencies and receive the frequencies permitted to the responding stations.
Also, separating the transmit and receive frequencies can cause less of a "pile up" of callers for the DX station.
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How should you generally identify your station when attempting to contact a DX station working a pileup or in a contest?
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Correct AnswerSend your full call sign once or twice
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Send only the last two letters of your call sign until you make contact
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Send your full call sign and grid square
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Send the call sign of the DX station three times, the words this is, then your call sign three times
In pileups, there are a multitude of operators all transmitting at once in the hopes that the other station (in this case the DX station) will hear their call sign and answer. It's usually hard to pick out
Knowing this, process of elimination:
Sending full callsign and grid square would be annoying/confusing because grid squares are also comprised of letters and numbers which could be mistaken as a call sign.
Sending only the last two letters is brief, yes, but leaves a lot of room for confusion because there's a chance that there's someone else in the pileup that also has those two letters. Also, the DX station will just have to ask for clarification if they hear you, which is a waste of time in pileups and contests.
Sending the DX's call, "this is", then yours, etc. is way too much repetition. Also, it's pretty clear if you're in the pileup that you're trying to reach the DX station. No need to say their call repeatedly, too.
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What might help to restore contact when DX signals become too weak to copy across an entire HF band a few hours after sunset?
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Switch to a higher frequency HF band
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Correct AnswerSwitch to a lower frequency HF band
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Wait 90 minutes or so for the signal degradation to pass
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Wait 24 hours before attempting another communication on the band
As solar flux decreases and the maximum usable frequency (MUF) becomes lower long distance traffic on the higher frequency bands are the first to vanish but conditions may still allow traffic at lower frequencies.
Study tip: Sun gets lower in the sky at sunset....lower frequency.
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