Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam

Which digital mode is used as a low-power beacon for assessing HF propagation?

1. FT8

2. WSPR

3. Psk31

4. JPEG

The correct answer is: WSPR

The digital mode used as a low-power beacon for assessing HF propagation is WSPR, which stands for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. WSPR is specifically designed for detecting and reporting weak radio signals. It utilizes very low transmission power, often just a few milliwatts, making it ideal for monitoring propagation conditions without requiring high output power. WSPR signals are transmitted periodically and include information about the transmitter's location, frequency, and power level. Stations that receive these signals can report back to a central database, providing valuable data about propagation conditions over different distances and times of day. This capability allows amateur radio operators to study and understand how HF signals propagate under varying conditions. In contrast, while FT8 and PSK31 are also popular digital modes, they are primarily used for making contacts and sending messages rather than specifically assessing propagation. JPEG is unrelated to radio communications as it is an image file format and does not apply to digital modes in amateur radio.