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Subelement G2

OPERATING PROCEDURES

Section G2D

Volunteer Monitor Program; HF operations

What is the Volunteer Monitor Program?

  • Correct Answer
    Amateur volunteers who are formally enlisted to monitor the airwaves for rules violations
  • Amateur volunteers who conduct amateur licensing examinations
  • Amateur volunteers who conduct frequency coordination for amateur VHF repeaters
  • Amateur volunteers who use their station equipment to help civil defense organizations in times of emergency

The Volunteer Monitoring Program is a program in which amateur volunteers are formally enlisted to monitor the airwaves for rules violations.


The Volunteer Monitoring Program was formerly the Amateur Auxiliary to the FCC and the Volunteer Monitors were referred to as the Amateur Auxiliary and also as Official Observers.


We are all responsible for monitoring our station and operations for compliance with FCC regulations. The Volunteer Monitors look out for any violations of safety, station frequency or power issues, interference conflicts, license privilege misuse and general conduct.

This is a way for the Amateur Service to act in a self-policing capacity.

For more info see Wikipedia: Amateur Auxiliary

Hint: Only one answer has the word "monitor" in it.

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Which of the following are objectives of the Volunteer Monitor Program?

  • To conduct efficient and orderly amateur licensing examinations
  • To provide emergency and public safety communications
  • To coordinate repeaters for efficient and orderly spectrum usage
  • Correct Answer
    To encourage amateur radio operators to self-regulate and comply with the rules

(B). The objective of the Amateur Auxiliary is to work with amateur radio operators to encourage self regulation and compliance with the FCC rules. They monitor the amateur airways making sure that there are no issues/violations of license privilege, power or frequency use, safety practices and general station conduct. We are all responsible to monitor ourselves and make sure that we follow good engineering and courtesy practices and operate our stations according to FCC rules.

For more info see Wikipedia: Amateur Auxiliary

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What procedure may be used by Volunteer Monitors to localize a station whose continuous carrier is holding a repeater on in their area?

  • Compare vertical and horizontal signal strengths on the input frequency
  • Correct Answer
    Compare beam headings on the repeater input from their home locations with that of other Volunteer Monitors
  • Compare signal strengths between the input and output of the repeater
  • All these choices are correct

A beam is a type of directional antenna. The signal is strongest when the front of the beam is pointed at the source of a signal.

The signal is weakest when the side of the beam is pointed at the source. The measurement from the side is often more precise than the front.

By noting the direction the beam is pointed when the signal is strongest or weakest, each monitoring station can note the direction of the source.

Using a map, drawing lines from the monitoring station toward the source, the place where the lines cross will be near the source.

Slight errors in measurement caused by calibration errors or reflections from buildings or terrain can cause the lines to not cross at a point, but they will cross near the source.

The next step is to go to the area where they cross and refine the measurements.

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Which of the following describes an azimuthal projection map?

  • A map that shows accurate land masses
  • Correct Answer
    A map that shows true bearings and distances from a specific location
  • A map that shows the angle at which an amateur satellite crosses the equator
  • A map that shows the number of degrees longitude that an amateur satellite appears to move westward at the equator with each orbit

An azimuthal projection map is a world map projection centered on a particular location. An example would be where the North pole is at the focus or center of the circular map, and lines project in a radial scale from this central point, such as degrees longitude out to the equivalent of the equator. The image would look as if you were looking straight down on the north pole from a point out in space. Any point on the globe may be used as the focus, with radial degrees of direction issuing from that central point. This type of map is useful for figuring out the shortest straight line path for a signal far across the globe.

A video that gives a great intuitive understanding of the problems of maps and projections is Why All Maps are Wrong.

Hint: "Azimuth" uses "bearings".

For more info see Wikipedia: Azimuthal (projections onto a plane)

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Tags: arrl chapter 7 arrl module 29

Which of the following indicates that you are looking for an HF contact with any station?

  • Sign your call sign once, followed by the words “listening for a call” -- if no answer, change frequency and repeat
  • Say “QTC” followed by “this is” and your call sign -- if no answer, change frequency and repeat
  • Correct Answer
    Repeat “CQ” a few times, followed by “this is,” then your call sign a few times, then pause to listen, repeat as necessary
  • Transmit an unmodulated carried for approximately 10 seconds, followed by “this is” and your call sign, and pause to listen -- repeat as necessary

"CQ" is a term originally used with morse code by telegraph operators both in and outside of the amateur radio service to indicate that you are calling any station. The specific origin is unclear, but many theorize that it is a short-hand for "seek you", as it was (and is) common with morse code to have codes like that to convey common ideas succinctly. The term carried over to voice operations as well.

Calling CQ lets other stations know that you’re looking for other stations to respond/contact. By convention, you repeat it several times to make sure you are heard and then follow with your call sign so that stations who hear you know who to respond to.

Some think of it as "Contact Query". It may also have come from the french "c'est qui?" which means "Who's there?". At one time there was a standard for "CQD" to mean "CQ Distress" as a call for help, but that was later replaced with the simpler "SOS" call.

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How is a directional antenna pointed when making a “long-path” contact with another station?

  • Toward the rising sun
  • Along the gray line
  • Correct Answer
    180 degrees from the station’s short-path heading
  • Toward the north

(C). The most direct path or shortest straight path points directly from one station or point to a second station or point. This is usually the best way to point a directional antenna. The long-path is considered to be the direction directly opposite the short path, or 180 degrees from its short-path heading. Depending on atmospheric conditions and nearby interferences, this can sometimes provide a clearer signal transmission and reception.

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Which of the following are examples of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet?

  • Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog
  • Adam, Boy, Charles, David
  • America, Boston, Canada, Denmark
  • Correct Answer
    Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta

While in theory any phonetic alphabet could be used to improve clarity, if everyone uses the same one it reduces confusion (people are less likely to misunderstand what is going on, for example). The NATO phonetic alphabet is the most widely used option.

Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog are part of the Allied Military phonetic alphabet from World War II

Adam, Boy, Charles, David are part of the legacy APCO radiotelephone alphabet

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta are part of the NATO phonetic alphabet

America, Boston, Canada, Denmark are part of the "DX' Alphabet

Hint. BRAVO you got it right!

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Why do many amateurs keep a station log?

  • The FCC requires a log of all international contacts
  • The FCC requires a log of all international third-party traffic
  • The log provides evidence of operation needed to renew a license without retest
  • Correct Answer
    To help with a reply if the FCC requests information about your station

(D). It is always a good idea to keep station logs recording your contacts and operations. You are responsible for the good operations of your station. It is fun to keep a record of all the contact you have made (call signs, frequencies, and locations). You should also keep records of any safety or RF field strength studies, records of antenna gain, etc. These records will help with a reply if the FCC requests information about your station operations.

Refer to FCC Part: [97.103(b)]

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Which of the following is required when participating in a contest on HF frequencies?

  • Submit a log to the contest sponsor
  • Send a QSL card to the stations worked, or QSL via Logbook of The World
  • Correct Answer
    Identify your station according to normal FCC regulations
  • All these choices are correct

The only legal requirement is to identify per normal regulation. One can participate in a contest and submit no log, and QSL cards are not required.

Hint: You might be in a contest, but it’s best to act normal!

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What is QRP operation?

  • Remote piloted model control
  • Correct Answer
    Low-power transmit operation
  • Transmission using Quick Response Protocol
  • Traffic relay procedure net operation

CW uses Q codes as abbreviations for common statements or questions relating to signal transmission. The meaning of "QRP" is to "decrease your Power." So low power transmit operations are often referred to as QRP operation. It is always good practice to use the lowest power output level that will still allow successful transmission of the signal.

Note: Remember that the "P" in "QRP" refers to Power. You might also consider "QRP" as in "Reduced Power".

For more info see Wikipedia: QRP operation

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Why are signal reports typically exchanged at the beginning of an HF contact?

  • Correct Answer
    To allow each station to operate according to conditions
  • To be sure the contact will count for award programs
  • To follow standard radiogram structure
  • To allow each station to calibrate their frequency display

Signal reports generally occur at the beginning of an HF contact in order for each station to know how well they are being able to be received.

If one side finds that conditions are making it difficult for the other operator to hear you with your current settings and setup, they can change accordingly, such as increasing or decreasing power, changing antenna direction, switching to another antenna or just speaking up more if using SSB.

Signal reports also allow both sides to understand the current HF propagation, and how far the signal is getting out.

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