Exam Secrets for Radio Amateurs
This book is aimed at those seeking more information about the amateur radio examinations in the UK. Set out with simple revision style introductions and exam questions for all three levels of the amateur radio licence, this book also includes answers to the questions with a brief explanation of why this is the correct answer.
Exam Secrets for Radio Amateurs is divided into the topic areas that align with the syllabus for amateur radio examinations. Each section is sub divided into sections for Foundation, Intermediate and Full examinations and there is a breakdown of how the questions will be allocated in the exam itself. The introductions are designed to remind candidates of the important facts and relevant details. The questions themselves provided are in the same style as the actual examinations and are typical of those candidates will meet. There is also a sample paper for each level of the amateur radio examinations. The final section details the answers to the questions encountered in the book and provides a short explanation to aid a candidate’s comprehension.
If you are studying for any of the levels of amateur radio examinations Exam Secrets for Radio Amateurs provides the ideal companion revision aid and quick reference book.
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Corrections and updates
We are currently shipping the 2nd edition of this book. This is marked as follows
First Edition 2019 (reprinted twice)
Second Edition 2020
Amended edition printed 2022
Reprinted 2023
The changes below are made to the printed edition when it is reprinted and there are often a number of printings in circulation, so it is worth checking your copy against the updates below.
Errata to the 2nd edition
Page 20
The circuit diagram for question 2C2-2 is incorrectly printed under the next question 2C3-1
Page 128 col 2, 1E2-1. Replace the existing text with:
See licence clause 10(6) for this question, its 500mW pep e.r.p. Something to remember.
Page 135 col 1, 2D2-1
There are two answers labeled 2D2-1 the second one should be 2D2-2
Page 143 col 3
6D4-2 – Please delete this answer
Re-number 6D4-1 (2nd entry) as 6D4-2
6D1-2 – is incorrectly ordered
Page 145 col 3 6C4-1
Re-number this answer as 6B3-1 and move to immediately after 6B2-1 on same page.
Page 146 col 1, 6E1-1
The answer number is incorrect, it should be ‘A’, the explanation is correct.
Errata to the 1st edition
Page 7 col 2, para 2. Replace entire paragraph with:
At Full licence level you may operate from a Vessel at Sea which is defined in clause 17(1)(ss). That means you are on a floating structure on the seaward side of the low-water line (or baseline across an estuary, large bay or round an island). Inside the Territorial limit you must give the correct RSL for your current location. The RSL is dropped when outside the limit in international waters. In both cases you are Maritime Mobile and should add the suffix ‘/MM’ to your callsign. The RSL is also dropped when operating overseas, that is in other (non-UK) countries.
Page 43, Caption to Fig3.5
The caption is in the wrong order and should read ‘Fig 3.5.The block diagrams of AM (top), CW, FM and SSB transmitters.’
Page 123 Col 1, Q1 – Replace the question with:
1: An amateur who holds a licence giving his callsign as M#0ABC is on a Scottish river intending to go out to sea and sails to Iceland. To comply with the requirements and recommendations of the licence his callsign will be
A: MM0ABC/M on the river, MM0ABC/MM once at sea and M0ABC/MM when outside UK waters.
B: MM0ABC/M on the river, M0ABC/MM once at sea and M0ABC/MM when outside UK waters.
C: MM0ABC on the river, MM0ABC/MM once at sea and M0ABC when outside UK waters
D: MM0ABC/M on the river, MM0ABC/MM once at sea and MM0ABC when outside UK waters
Page 130 col 2, 1E2-1. Replace the existing text with:
See licence clause 10(6) for this question, its 500mW pep e.r.p. Something to remember.
Page 141, 4E2-1 & 4E2-2
Column 1, The existing text refers to the wrong question and the second entry is missing. Delete that text and replace with:
4E2-1. A. A correct match means that all the power arriving at the antenna is radiated and none is reflected.
4E2-2. D. There are a number of possible faults that could result in a higher SWR. Damage to the antenna will alter the feed point impedance of the antenna so it is likely to present a poorer match increasing the SWR. Corroded and loose/broken joints and damage to the feeder will also affect the SWR. Worth mentioning that water ingress can increases feeder losses. That means that less signal reaches the antenna and less reflected signal gets back to the SWR meter and transmitter. That will then read a lower SWR, an apparent improvement. Don’t believe it! If the feeder fails some weeks later the SWR meter will then show an increase.
Page 142, 4E1-1
Pairs of brackets are missing in the formula on lines 6 and 7. It should read
Vmax/Vmin = (Vi + Vr) / (Vi – Vr) = (1 + 0.707) / (1 – 0.707)
Page 142, 5B3-3
The correct answer is B i.e. five hops
Page 142, 5B5-1
Column 3, The existing text refers to the wrong question and the second entry is missing. Please make the following changes:
Change 5B5-1 to 5B5-2
Before newly numbered 5B5-2 insert:
5B5-1. A. Sporadic-E is a refraction of VHF signals by highly ionised patches in the E layer of the ionosphere allowing reception up to 2000km from the transmitter.
P145 col 3, 6E1-1
The answer number is incorrect is should be ‘A’, the explanation is correct.
Page 152 Col 2, Full, Q1 – Replace the text with:
A. In Scotland the # is replaced by the RSL ‘M’. On the river, to comply with the recommendation the suffix /M is added to signify ‘Mobile’. When at sea the suffix is changed to /MM, ‘Maritime Mobile’. He is still in Scottish waters so retains the RSL ‘M’. Once outside UK territorial waters he is not in a UK nation or Crown Dependency so no RSL is appropriate. It remains recommended to use the suffix ‘/MM’.
Errata to previous printings
Page 96, 7E2-1
The line is transposed and should read ‘The signal report 5 and 2 means’
Page 109, the dB table
column 1, line 3 should read
| 8x | 2× 2× 2× | 3dB + 3dB +3dB = 9dB |
Page 130, 1C1-2
column 3, question 1c1-2, The correct answer should be shown as ‘B’ the explanation is correct.
Page 146, ,7E2-1
column 2, , 7E2-1 the last sentence is transposed and should read ‘….a perfectly clear channel a 5 and 2 report is possible.’
Page 153, question 28
column 1, question 28, line 1. The correct answer should be shown as ‘C’ and the word ‘product’ replaced with ‘ratio’.
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