License Exam Quiz #333

de Steve, AE8AT 

This week we look to another historic event, this one just 15 years ago. UVB-76 was a Russian broadcast station known for a buzz on the transmitted signal earning the station the nickname “the Buzzer”. The station went off the air, periodically resumed transmitting, and on September 7 announced a callsign change followed by some seemingly random words and numbers. Yes, UVB-76 is a numbers station at 4625kHz (65 meters). There are YouTube channels and other sources dedicated to this numbers station. You can listen for them (try USB) but their operation is infrequent. In the spirit of a numbers station, the answers form a secret word!

T3A08 What is a likely cause of irregular fading of signals propagated by the ionosphere?

A. Frequency shift due to Faraday rotation

B. Interference from thunderstorms

C. Intermodulation distortion 

D. Random combining of signals arriving via different paths

G1C03 What is the maximum bandwidth permitted by FCC rules for amateur radio stations transmitting on USB frequencies in the 60-meter band?

A. 2.8 kHz

B. 5.6 kHz

C. 1.8 kHz

D. 3 kHz

E4E10 Which of the following can create intermittent loud roaring or buzzing AC line interference?

A. Arcing contacts in a thermostatically controlled device

B. A defective doorbell or doorbell transformer inside a nearby residence

C. A malfunctioning illuminated advertising display

D. All these choices are correct

Answers:

T3A08 = D

G1C03 = A [FCC Part 97.303(h)(1)]

E4E10 = D