QADV

Practice Paper 2
for the RCF Advanced Level Exam in Radio Communications
Version 4

This exam consists of a single paper with 62 questions

You will

need

a copy of the Licence bandplans far Zm and ZCm forrnula sheet calculator blue or black pens

Try to set aside 2 hours when you will not be distracted by phone calls, pets, children, cups of tea. Before you begin, visit the loo.
For each guestion, put a tick in the I j by the correct answer. Make sure your tick does not cover two boxes. If you change your mind, scribble over the box with the first tick; then tick the carrect box.

Calculations can be done on the back of this question paper.

1 2 3

Go through the whole paper, answering all the questions you are sure of. Go thncugh the paper a second time, Think about each remaining question and answer lt if you can. Go through the paper a third time.

For each question that is still unanswered, etiminate any options that you know are wrong; then make an intelligent gums at the correct answer. Each question carries one mark. Marks are not deducted for wrong anslilers. 5o do not leave any guxtions unanswered. Check yourcalcutations. Look over your answers until time is up.

4 5

Start time

Duration 2

hours

End

time_

Sources of the reference material needed for the Exam (Licence, bandplans, formulas) can be found at http ://freespace. virgin. netlmu rray. g3kzb This website also gives details of other Practice papers.
G3KZB @ 2012 qADVPPZ version 4

A Licensee may append the suffix'/P'to callsign when operating A

the

What frequency bands are available to a Full UK Licensee operating $ttM in international waters? A

t B[ C[ Dt

I ] ] I

with hand-held equipment

frcm a temporary l*c*tion
away from mains frorn a parked

pswer

[ ] B[ ] {i tI

The bands al]$atd for use in the UK. The top l*kHz ofeach band in Schedule I of S]e Ucence. The bands a}located by the ITU in the region where the vessel is located. The bands set aside by the ITU for /MM operations.

vehicte

In which of the fcllowing happenings rnay a Licensee use the Radio Equipmeat to assist communications? In times of (1) national emergenry (2) international emergenqf (3) disaster
A

\,Vhich of the following conditions apFly to messages sent by UK Amateurs?

(t)

t Bi Ci DI

I I I i

onty. {1} a*d {3} only. tz) a*d {3} only. AII three of them.
t1) and (2)

(2) They must be un-encryPted (3) They must be free of menace

They must be in English

A I I (1) and (2) only. B t j (1} and {3) only.

C t ] (2) and (3) only.

DI I

All three of them.

If the

Lieensee ccntr*is the equipment. under what eircurnsta*ces rtay a non*licensed person talk into the microphone?

circumstances. Only if the Licensee holds a Fuli Licence. C t ] Only if the Licensee holds a Intermediate or Full Licence. D [ ] If the Licencee holds any UK Amateur Radic Licence. [ ] B[ ]
U*der n*

ttlthich one of the fsllowlng restrictions applies to the Remote Control of Radio Equlpnnent by a Full Licence holder?

A B
C

J fhe control signal must not exceed

0.5 watts in Power.

I J It must not allow other Amateurs t I It must only be used with a Club
callsign.

unsupervised use of the Equipment.

I I

A Hotice of Variatian to the Licence rnust be obtained for Ofcom.

When must a'Maritime Mobile'operation cease?

A
B

I I

If the vessel is carrying flammable

cargo.

The callsign given in the Licence, together with a Regional Secondary Location if appropriate, must be transmitted at intervals not exceeding

[ ] CI I DI I

When entering harbour or canal.

In a designated danger area.

On the instruction of the vessel's

master.

At I l0minutes B[ ] l5minutes C[ ] 30minutes PP2PaseZ DI I4Sminutes

The frequenry of a transmission must be as stable as

t I

technical development reasonably permits

BI ] C[ ]
D

1partin1OO,00O
required by a duly authorized officer of Ofcom
necessary to prevent undue interference to users on adjacent frequencles

t I

What is the phase difference between the voltage and current shown on this graph?

10 ttYhich one of the following bands has an allocation to the Amateur Satellite Service?

AI I B[ ] Ct j Dt I
11

1'810 * Z'oo0MHz.
3.sO0

A[ ] Bt I
15

90"
18O"

ct I
Dt I

2?oo 360o

50.00 -144.0

3.sO0MHz. 52.00MH2. 145.0MH2.

:l
I I 100ka. B [ ] 200ka.
A

Rr :oos:
R2

In this figure, what value of Rz will make the voltage at the junction of Rr and R2 3V?

Which capacitor decouples this amplifier from the rest of the circuit?

tI Dt I
c
60pf

300ka.
400kQ.

A[ ] Ca B[ 1 Cb

C[ ] D[ ]

Cc Cd

t2

{Hl-The combined capacitance of these two capacitors in series is

20pf

16 Which one of the following is decreas.ed if a damping resistor is added tc a resonant circuit?

A[ ] Bt I
13

spf
10pf

CI I Dt I

tzef
15pf

t I Bandwidth. Bt I Qfactor. C I ] Resonantfrequency. D t ] Phaseangle.

A

A circuit consisting of a resistor and inductor in series has a time constant of 12msecs. After voltage is applied, the final value of the current will be reached after approximately

L7 A 15 ohm loudspeaker is driven frsm a 6,000 ohm source. What ratio of transformer is required?

tI B[ ]

3Omsecs

60msecs

t ] 9Omsecs Dt I l2omsecs ?pzpasei

A[ J 5:1 B[ ] 2o:1

ct I 250:1 Dt I 5oo:1

The cut-off frequency of a low-pass filter is defined as the frequenry at which the output voltage has fallen to

I B[ Ct Dt
A

I ] j I

0.404 of its maximum value

0.5O5 of its maximum value

0.606 of its maximurn value

0-707 of its maximum value This is the circuit of a

19

The power gain of an amplifier is gdB. By how maay times is the po!iler increased?

AI I Bt I

Stimes.

12times.

Ct I lBtimes. DI IZ7times.

I I BI I C[ ] Dt j
A

bufferamplifier
freque*cysynthesiser

crystalsscillator
variable freq**ary +sciliator

If the reverse bias on a varicap diode is

i*creased, then A
B C

[] [ ] [ ] I I

the depletion layer is widened and the capacitance is increased the depletion layer is narowed and the capacitance is increased the depletian layer is widened and the capacitance is decreased the depletion layer is narrcwed and the capacitance is decreased

Within a transmitter, a modulated signal is produced on 5,0 MHz. To give an output on 80m (3.5 to 3.8 MHz), it is mixed with a synthesiser signal on 10.0 to 10'3 MHz. Also produced (and filtered out) is an unwanted mixer product on

i BI Ct BI
A

I I I I

6.5 to 6.8 MHz

15.0 to 15.3 MHz

?3'5 to 23.8 MHz

32.0 to 32.3 MHz

21 In which class of transistor amplifier does

coltector current flow all the time that votrtage is applied?

25 The bandwidth of an amateur AM signal is

approximately

At I CIassA. Ct I B[ J ClassAB. DI ]

ClassB" ClassC.

AI B[ Cl Dl

I ] I ]

1.5kHz 3kHz 6kHz 12kHz

If the smoothing capacitor in a halfrwave rectifier circuit is in increased in size, what will haBpen to the current through the
rectifier?

26 From which part of a triode valve are

electrons emitted?

peak

current

duration of current
increase increase decrease decrease
PPZpageq

AI BI Ct DI

I I ] ]

increase decrease increase decrease

t B[ Ct Dt
A

I ] I I

Anode. Grid. Cathode. Heater.

27 With which mode of transmission

'chirp' associated?

is the fault

32 What happens if two IF coils are overccupled?

A[ ] B[ ] *[ ]
28

Cw.
AM.

c[ ] ssB.
FM.

[ B[ C[ DI
A

] An AGC voltage is produced. ] fhe response has a dip at its centre. ] Sensitivity is at a maximum. I Self oscillatien accurs.

A notch filter can be used to A

B

[ ] [ ] t ] t I

separate the CTCSS sub-audible tone from speech e*terirg a repeater reduce excessive bandwidtlr caused by overdriving a linear amplifier remove one particular harrnonic from the output of a transmitter remove 50 Hz mains hum from an audio stage

33

D+ubl* st"rperhet receivers have A

B

t I

a low first IF for image rejection and a high second IF for sel*ctivity a high second IF for image rejection

I J a low first IF for selectivity and t I t I

a high first IF for image rejection and a Iaw second IF for sefectivity a high first iF for selectivity and a low second IF for image rejection

eg From which part of a frequency synthesiser

the'out-of-lock' indicator obtained?
A

is

t I Bt I Ci I DI I

Crystal refere*ce *scillatar. Prcgrarnrnabtedivider. Phaseccmparator. Voltage controlled oscillator.

?4 As well as altering the gain, the AGC circuit in a receiver can also be used to

A[ ] B[ ] C[ ] DI I

drivetheSmeter
change the receiver bandwidth

irnprove the SWR remeve spikes of interference

30

'SINAD'in a receiver is related to its

A

t I B[ ] Ci I Dt I

selectivity dynamicrange
signal to noise ratio

35 What d*es the RIT control en a receiver do?

A

imagerejection

[ ] B[ ]

Varies the receiver bandwidttr. Tunes the receiver over a narr*w ranlle.

31

In a superhet SSB receiver, how is the audio

produced?

[] Dt ]

Limits the peak value of the RF. Allows particular frequencies to be stored in memory.

t Bt Ct DI

I I I I

The IF rnixes with the CIO, The RF mixes with the IF. The LO mixes with the RF. The CIO mixes with the LQ.
PP2pageS

36

turns------4 turns--------

40 The'roller coaster'form of variable inductor

is commonly found in

A
8 turns-

-*

This is the diagram of a

I I B[ ] C[ ] Dt I

an Antenna Matching Unit

a Standing Wave Ratio rneter

anoscilloscope
a transverter {HF tolfrom VHF}

At I 1:lbalun B I I braid breaker CI I lFtra*sformer D t I harmonicfilter

37 The feed point impedance of a loaded
five-eights wavelength antenna is approximately
vertical

4r. Ihe amount of electromagnetic energy falling on a* area of 1 squara metre is called the

AI j B[ ] Ct I Dt I

fieldstrength velocityfactcr
power flux density

incidentpower

At I

37a 42 Ionisation in the atmosphere is caused by

,q

B[ ] soa

c[ ] 73a DI I 300Q
38 The'traps'in
a HF trap dipole antenna are

[ ] Bt I

the earth's magnetic field

iet streams where the troposphere and stratosphere m*et

solarernissions

t BI C[ Dt
A

I I ] I

low pass filters

Ct I Dt I

oyer-the-horizon radars

high pass filters

series tuned circuits parallel tuned circuits

43 The longest range obtainable by Eround wave

propagation is normally over A

39

Vf and Vr ore the fsrward and reverse voltages measured on a Standing Wave Ratio meter. The SWR =

t I deserts B{ I seas C [ ] rnountains DI I r*inforests

When a receiver is tuned to Fr a fai*t signal on a higher frequency of Fi can be heard at the same time. What is the frequency af the local oscillator?

p,r:

*;#

cr

I *:*
Vr xVr Vr *Vr

44

Bf 1 Vf-Vr Vr*Vr

Di l

Ai I Fi-

Fr

Ct I
tlt

Fi

*Fr

Bt l
PPZpage6

,l.4 Fi*Fr
2

45

Why is an FM signal less likely to cause cross-modulation in receivers than other rnodes of modulation? A
B

49

[] [ ]

The amplitude of the carrier remains constant.

None of the power [s csntained in sidebands.

A 40 watt transmitter is feeding an antenna with a gai* cf 6dB through a feeder with a 3db loss. What is the field strength 60 metres from the antenna?

[ ] It is not possible for an FM signal to be

CIver-modulated.

I I

The duty cycle of the carrier is small.

t ts [ CI DI
A

I ] I I

1'O4 volts per metre.

2.08 volts per metre. 3.12 volts per metre.

4'?6 volts per metre.

46

Tests have shown that a base-emitter junction in an audio amplifier is acting as a rectifier far an RF signal. To cure the interfereftcef tvhich s*e of the following capacitars should be wired acr*ss the base-emitter leads? A

50 In which part of a car's electrics dses induced

RF pose

the greatest hazard?

I Bt Ci Di

] ] I I

1nF disc ceramic.

t I B[ ] C[ ]
D

Head a*d rcar lights. Engine management system.

Front and rear screen wipers and washers.

lO0OpF electrolytic.

t I

In-car broadcast radio.

l0pFpolystyrene. lpFpolyester.

51 if a Radio Ar*ateur's signals are causing

47

In a cable containing two wires, a comrnon

mode current flows A
B

problems on a neighboufs carnputer and the neighb*ur is not willing t+ c**perate in fi*d**g a cilre, the Amate*r should advise him to contEct

I I

in alternate wires on alternate cycles of AC

I J in both wires but in opposite directions C i j only in one wire D I I in the sarne direction in both wires
48
If a 2 metre signal is breaking through onto a TV, what should be fitted in the TV dcwnlead to prevent this?
A

At I B[ ] CI I Di I

RSGB

Ofcem

Citizens Advice Bureau Trading Standard Department of the local council

52 By which ef the f*lt*wi*g

I I Balun. B [ ] Attenuator. CI I Low-passfilter. Dt I High-passfilter.

PPZpageT

$rays can a Packet Radic rylessege reaclr its d*sti*ati*n? (1) directly if withi* range {2) via a mailbox {3} using a digipeater

I Bt CI DI
A

] I I I

(1) and {2) only. (1) and (3) only. (2) and (3) only.
All three ways.

53

out'? A I I It is closed down by the Repeater

What happens when a repeater'times
Keeper.

5?

The less RF radiation to which bn adult is exposed the better, and in the ranEe 10 to 146 MHz it shoutd never be more tiran

I J Its Notice af Variation is revoked by Ofcom. c t I It transmits the current time in the
B

format used by MSF.

signal.

tj

It stops re-transrnitting the incomlng

t BI ci DI
A

I I ] I

14 volts per metre

28 votts per metre

42 volts per metre 55 volts per metre

5a In a PME rnains wiring system, the neutral

conductor is

54 Intermodulation
A

products generated within receiver can be rninimised by

[ B[ Ct Dt

] ] j I

squelch switching in an attenuater

turning back the
reduclng the audio output increasing the IF

t j B[ ] I ] t I

isolated from earth

connectd to earth at the

electricity

su&tian

connected to earth where the supp]y enters the house connected to earth at the electricity generator

bandwidth
59

55 In which pa* of the 2m band do satellite

cornmunicatians take pl*ce? A

How cen a high voltage be rneasured with a IOBpA nrovi*g cail meter?

t*Hz. I I B I I 144.400 to 144'49G MHz. C t I 145'200 to t45-5935 $4H2" D I j 145.800 to 145.BOO MHz"
144.000

to

144.11S

At ] Bt I
Ct I

tsy

onnecti*g a high value resistor in parallel with it.

By cannecting a low value restster in parallel with it. By connecting a high value resistor in series with it. By connecting a low value resistor in series with it.

D[ ]

56

Why is speciai care needed vrhen dealing with equipment contai ning therrnionic valves? A

t j B[ ]
C

Valves are mechanicalty

Valved equipment voltages.

fragile. centeins high

5{I

The ovelall eccuracy of a di*ital frequency csrnter is limited by the A

[ ] DI j

Large currents are involved. Replacement valves are n6w difficult

[ ] number of digits on the display B I J stability of the gate time CI j inputimpedance

D

to

obtain.

I I

losses in the probe

PPZpageS

61 What happens when the knob labelled 'Y GAIN'on an oscilloscope is turned
anti-clockwise? A

I B[ C[ Dt

I ] ] I

Each sweep of the trace is slower.

The whole of the trace rnoves down. The height ofthe trace decreases.
The trace becomes fainter.

62

This drawing shows a current transformer asfound in an SWR meter. The earthed braid of the coax

[ B[ C[ Dt
A

] ] ] I

reduces eddy currents

maxirnises the sensitivity prevents voltage flashover minimises capacitive coupling

End of questions

PP2pageg

QADV Practice Paper 2 Key

Adva*ce! The Full Licence Manual Syllabus I I Licence
I

1B 2 D I 3B 6 4 D 7 5C 7 6C I 789* 8B 9 9A 10D10 11 A 12D 138 L4A 15D 158 L7B 18D 19A
23 26 27 28 30

i
I

2a.1 2b.1 2c.1

tr

zd.1 2e.1
Zf.! 2g.7 2h.1 2i.1 4J
3d.1 3e"5 3f.3 39,3 3h.3

Note (d) 1{3} 3(4) e{5} e{6} Note {h} 1s{3} 13{1} 7{1Xa} Sc*:edule 1 Table C

31

328 33C 344 3sB 36A 378 38D 39C 404

65 63 65 7t 75 77 73 79

67,68

4k.L 4n.2 4n.1 4p.1

4r.1
5b.1 5c.3 5c.5 5d.1 5e.1

32 32
91 102

3i.4 3j-z 3k.1

3o.1 3n.3

20c
22C 23C 248 25C 26C 274 2ac ?;9c

35

438 44D 45A 464 47D 48D 494 508

51 52 53 54 55

42C 81

4r. c 80

83 90 89 94 9!,*2 86 15

6a.7 6b.2 6c.1 ?a.L 7a.2 7a.4 7b.2 7b.5 7c.1 7e.1

2tA 4A
35 47 52
44,61

3n.7 3p.1 4b.1 4e.1 4f.2

43 4q.3 55 4h.2 57,92 4h.3 48 4h.6 30c 61 4j.3

x Note the correction to page 9
of Advance! 3rd edition given in

56 57
5A

59 60

95 7f ,L 11 Ba.l L2 8b.1 89 8c.1 13 Be.1 B \4 9a.4 B 16 9d-1 c 17,95 9t1 C 96 10a"1 B 101 1Sb.2
B D D B D

www.rsgb,arg/books,f extraladvance.htm

61 62

C lOO D 98

10c.1 10e.1

PPZpagefi
QADVPP2 version

4 zALz