HAM’S LIFE

The new Technician class question pool has seven diagrams, three schematic and four block diagrams.  The new technician class candidate does not have to actually be able to read the schematic or identify them.  All that is required is to identify eleven different components drawn in the schematics.  These eleven are: Battery, Lamp, Transistor, and Resistor from Figure T1; Transformer, Variable Resistor, Light Emitting Diode, a

Single-pole single-throw switch and Capacitor from Figure T2; Antenna and Variable Inductor from T3.

You do need to know that a transistor controls current because one question asks about the function of component 2 on T1 which is the transistor.

T6C02 (A)

What is component 1 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Battery

D. Connector

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T6C03 (B)

What is component 2 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Indicator lamp

D. Connector

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T6C04 (C)

What is component 3 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Lamp

D. Ground symbol

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T6C05 (C)

What is component 4 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Battery

D. Ground symbol

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T6D10 (C)

What is the function of component 2 in Figure T1?

A. Give off light when current flows through it

B. Supply electrical energy

C. Control the flow of current

D. Convert electrical energy into radio waves

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T6C06 (B)

What is component 6 in figure T2?

A. Resistor

B. Capacitor

C. Regulator IC

D. Transistor

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T6C07 (D)

What is component 8 in figure T2?

A. Resistor

B. Inductor

C. Regulator IC

D. Light emitting diode

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T6C08 (C)

What is component 9 in figure T2?

A. Variable capacitor

B. Variable inductor

C. Variable resistor

D. Variable transformer

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T6C09 (D)

What is component 4 in figure T2?

A. Variable inductor

B. Double-pole switch

C. Potentiometer

D. Transformer

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T6C10 (D)

What is component 3 in figure T3?

A. Connector

B. Meter

C. Variable capacitor

D. Variable inductor

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T6C11 (A)

What is component 4 in figure T3?

A. Antenna

B. Transmitter

C. Dummy load

D. Ground

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The bock diagrams depict a simple CW transmitter, a very simple representation using just three blocks to display a transceiver, a little more complex diagram of a Single-conversion superheterodyne receiver, and finally the most complex of the diagrams showing An FM receiver.

Figure T4 and Figure 5 both ask for circuit identification while Figure T6 and Figure T7 ask the candidate to identify the complete unit.  Both show a single conversion receiver but only question T7A02 gives that as an answer for Figure T6 while question T7A04 identifies Figure T7 as An FM receiver. 

T7A05 (D)

What is the function of block 1 if figure T4 is a simple CW transmitter?

A. Reactance modulator

B. Product detector

C. Low-pass filter

D. Oscillator

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T7A07 (B)

If figure T5 represents a transceiver in which block 1 is the transmitter portion and block 3 is the receiver portion, what is the function of block 2?

A. A balanced modulator

B. A transmit-receive switch

C. A power amplifier

D. A high-pass filter

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T7A02 (C)

What type of receiver is shown in Figure T6?

A. Direct conversion

B. Super-regenerative

C. Single-conversion superheterodyne

D. Dual-conversion superheterodyne

T7A04 (D)

What circuit is pictured in Figure T7, if block 1 is a frequency discriminator?

A. A double-conversion receiver

B. A regenerative receiver

C. A superheterodyne receiver

D. An FM receiver

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Possibly the most frightening aspect of the new Technician Class question pool for the prospective candidate is the diagrams now included. 

If break it down as I have above it really should not be all that frightening.  First just learn what those ten component drawings look like and answering any question you might have concerning the schematic should be a breeze. 

Remember that the first stage of a CW transmitter is an oscillator and that a transmitter and a receiver have to have some type of antenna switch if they are to use the same antenna and the next two diagrams should loose their ability to strike fear in the hearts of those testing.

Finally remember that both receivers are single conversion but only one if an FM receiver and the bugaboo of Figures T6 and T7 should disappear.  If you need a little more help remember that an FM receiver does not use a Beat Frequency Oscillator and the wide filter and the Limiter give T7’s secret of being an FM receiver away.

If you have been studying the old question pool and think you know it fairly well but you are afraid of the new questions you might just read through the new question pool.  New question pool can be seen at http://www.hamslife2.blogspot.com/