SMRC Ham Radio Christmas Pop Quiz¶

Section 1: Ham Radio History and Culture¶

  1. What was the original purpose of the “Q” codes used in amateur radio?
    A. Simplify military communication
    B. Create a universal shorthand for telegraph operators
    C. Standardize radio frequencies
    D. Encode secret messages

  2. What year was the first amateur radio license issued in the United States?
    A. 1912
    B. 1920
    C. 1934
    D. 1948

  3. Who was the first U.S. president to communicate via amateur radio?
    A. Woodrow Wilson
    B. Herbert Hoover
    C. Calvin Coolidge
    D. Franklin D. Roosevelt

  4. What does the ham radio term "Elmer" mean?
    A. A new operator learning the ropes
    B. A mentor who teaches newcomers
    C. A nickname for high-power amplifiers
    D. A specific antenna design

Section 2: Ham Radio Culture and Fun Facts¶

  1. What is the name of the first amateur radio satellite?
    A. Sputnik-1
    B. OSCAR-1
    C. HAM-SAT
    D. AMSAT-1

  2. What is the CQ World Wide DX contest commonly referred to as?
    A. "The Big One"
    B. "The DXer’s Dream"
    C. "CQ WW"
    D. "Pileup Central"

  3. Which country has the prefix “VK” for its amateur radio operators?
    A. New Zealand
    B. Australia
    C. Canada
    D. South Africa

  4. In ham culture, what does the term “worked all continents (WAC)” mean?
    A. Made contact with all major countries
    B. Made contact with every continent on Earth
    C. Operated from multiple continents
    D. Made contacts during a solar cycle

Section 3: Advanced Technical Trivia¶

  1. What is the key difference between a Yagi antenna and a log-periodic antenna?
    A. Gain levels
    B. Bandwidth coverage
    C. Feedline requirements
    D. Polarization

  2. Which band is most affected by the solar cycle?
    A. 80 meters
    B. 40 meters
    C. 20 meters
    D. 10 meters

  3. What is the function of a “balun” in an antenna system?
    A. Match impedance between feedline and antenna
    B. Protect the transmitter from lightning strikes
    C. Increase antenna gain
    D. Switch between multiple antennas

  4. What is a “dummy load” used for in ham radio?
    A. Testing a transmitter without radiating a signal
    B. Simulating a contact for contest practice
    C. Calibrating an SWR meter
    D. Reducing interference from nearby signals

Section 4: DXing and Contesting¶

  1. What is a “pileup” in ham radio?
    A. A transmitter malfunction
    B. A large group of operators trying to contact the same station
    C. When multiple stations interfere with one another
    D. An antenna failure during a contest

  2. What’s the maximum power allowed for U.S. amateur radio operators on HF bands, unless otherwise specified?
    A. 100 watts
    B. 1.5 kilowatts
    C. 500 watts
    D. 2 kilowatts

  3. What does the DX code "599" commonly signify in a contest exchange?
    A. The signal is very strong and perfectly clear
    B. An operator’s station location
    C. The signal strength is fading
    D. The operator is running QRP