ACMA Standard Theory Exam case studies
ACMA Standard Theory Exam · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ACMA Standard Theory exam is the written knowledge assessment that sits behind Australia's Amateur Standard Licence. It is aimed at people who want to operate an amateur station with access to the full range of amateur bands and modes, rather than the restricted privileges of the Foundation licence. The ACMA Standard Theory Exam case studies are 5 cases and about 3,305 words.
1The Flattering SWR Meter
A station runs 50 W on 2 m through 50 m of RG-58C/U to a home-built vertical on the roof. At 145 MHz the cable's published matched loss is 4.3 dB per 50 m.
625 words, about 3 min2Keying a Relay From the TX Line
A station's 12 V antenna changeover relay has a 100 mA coil. The transceiver's TX line is an open-collector output that sinks current to ground during transmit, rated 50 mA and 30 V maximum.
658 words, about 3 min3The Ghost on 146.500
A 2 m FM operator at a busy suburban site hears a weak but perfectly readable signal on 146.500 MHz. It appears only when two nearby amateurs are transmitting simultaneously on 145.900 and 146.200 MHz; switch either of them off and it goes away.
633 words, about 3 min4Choosing a Band for a 2000 km Midday Circuit
An operator wants a dependable daily circuit to a station 2000 km away, operating around midday in summer. Ionosonde data for the midpoint give foF2 = 5.5 MHz, with the reflecting layer at about 300 km height, and the circuit is expected to work as a single hop at a low take-off angle.
688 words, about 3 min5Boom Aimed at the Neighbour's Balcony
An operator is planning a 430 MHz station: 50 W into a 9 dBd Yagi on a 6 m mast at the end of a single-storey roof, putting the antenna about 8 m above ground. The nearest neighbour's first-floor balcony is 4 m away horizontally and at the same height as the antenna, and the plan is for the main lobe to point straight at it.
701 words, about 4 min