Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Ham Amateur Radio Technician Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each enriched with hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

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Which of the following most limits an HF mobile installation?

Power output from the transceiver
Efficiency of the electrically short antenna
Placement of the antenna
Quality of the coaxial cable

The correct answer is: Efficiency of the electrically short antenna

The efficiency of the electrically short antenna significantly limits an HF mobile installation. Mobile antennas are typically shorter than a quarter wavelength, which makes them less efficient than full-sized antennas. An electrically short antenna does not radiate as effectively because it cannot match the ideal resonant conditions needed for optimal signal transmission. As a result of the reduced efficiency, more power is required to achieve the same communication range compared to a full-sized antenna. This can lead to decreased performance in terms of both range and clarity of the signals you can transmit or receive. Thus, the choice of antenna and its efficiency are critical factors in the effectiveness of HF mobile operations. In contrast, while factors such as power output, antenna placement, and coaxial cable quality do play a role in overall system performance, they do not limit an HF mobile installation as fundamentally as the efficiency of the antenna itself.