Tag: test

How Much Electronics is on the Test?

I was an Electronics Technician for many years. But, when I took a peek at the Extra Class Exam, I quickly realized I had a lot more studying to do. I’ll be happy with my General Class privileges for awhile 🙂

Now that basic proficiency in Morse Code is no longer required to be a licensed Ham, the most daunting aspect of the exam for me was/is the Electronics Theory. The three classes: Technician, General, and Extra, each builds upon the previous one, increasing in complexity and depth. Here’s how the electronics theory body of knowledge differs across the three levels:

Technician Class (Entry-Level)

  • The Technician license focuses on fundamental electronics concepts and basic radio theory. The exam covers:
    • Ohm’s Law (Voltage, Current, Resistance, Power)
    • Basic circuit components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors)
    • Simple circuit analysis (series and parallel circuits)
    • Basic AC/DC theory and power calculations
    • Intro to radio waves and modulation (AM, FM, SSB, digital)
    • Antenna basics (dipoles, verticals, feedlines)
  • This level assumes little to no prior knowledge of electronics.

General Class (Intermediate-Level)

  • The General license builds on the Technician-level knowledge with a deeper dive into electronics theory and radio operation. The exam includes:
    • More advanced circuit theory (impedance, reactance, resonance)
    • Semiconductors and amplifiers (diodes, transistors, vacuum tubes)
    • Power supplies and rectifiers (AC/DC conversion, voltage regulation)
    • Intermediate radio wave behavior (propagation, ionospheric layers)
    • More complex modulation and signal processing (SSB, CW, digital modes)
    • Intermediate antenna theory (gain, directivity, SWR, matching networks)
    • RF filters and transmission lines (coaxial loss, standing waves)
    • Increased emphasis on safety (RF exposure calculations, grounding)
  • This level assumes a working understanding of basic electronics.

Extra Class (Advanced-Level)

  • The Extra license demands a deep technical understanding of electronics and radio engineering. The exam covers:
    • Advanced circuit design and analysis (complex impedance, Smith charts)
    • Advanced modulation techniques (digital signal processing, phase-locked loops)
    • Advanced RF and microwave principles (waveguides, UHF/VHF/microwave)
    • Antenna design and theory (Yagis, phased arrays, near-field/far-field)
    • High-level propagation analysis (ducting, gray-line, auroral effects)
    • Advanced digital electronics (logic gates, microcontrollers, software-defined radio)
    • RF interference and mitigation (filters, shielding, noise suppression)
    • Advanced safety and station setup (lightning protection, RF safety limits)
  • This level assumes a strong foundation in electronics and radio science.

Each level progressively increases in technical complexity, allowing amateur radio operators to understand and operate more sophisticated equipment while gaining access to expanded frequency privileges.

I was an Electronics Technician for many years. But, when I took a peek at the Extra Class Exam, I quickly realized I had a lot more studying to do. I’ll be happy with my General Class privileges for awhile 🙂