The Volunteer Monitoring Program is a program in which amateur volunteers are formally enlisted to monitor the airwaves for rules violations.

The Volunteer Monitoring Program was formerly the Amateur Auxiliary to the FCC and the Volunteer Monitors were referred to as the Amateur Auxiliary and also as Official Observers.

We are all responsible for monitoring our station and operations for compliance with FCC regulations. The Volunteer Monitors look out for any violations of safety, station frequency or power issues, interference conflicts, license privilege misuse and general conduct.

This is a way for the Amateur Service to act in a self-policing capacity.

For more info see Wikipedia: Amateur Auxiliary

Hint: Only one answer has the word "monitor" in it.

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(B). The objective of the Amateur Auxiliary is to work with amateur radio operators to encourage self regulation and compliance with the FCC rules. They monitor the amateur airways making sure that there are no issues/violations of license privilege, power or frequency use, safety practices and general station conduct. We are all responsible to monitor ourselves and make sure that we follow good engineering and courtesy practices and operate our stations according to FCC rules.

For more info see Wikipedia: Amateur Auxiliary

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A beam is a type of directional antenna. The signal is strongest when the front of the beam is pointed at the source of a signal.

The signal is weakest when the side of the beam is pointed at the source. The measurement from the side is often more precise than the front.

By noting the direction the beam is pointed when the signal is strongest or weakest, each monitoring station can note the direction of the source.

Using a map, drawing lines from the monitoring station toward the source, the place where the lines cross will be near the source.

Slight errors in measurement caused by calibration errors or reflections from buildings or terrain can cause the lines to not cross at a point, but they will cross near the source.

The next step is to go to the area where they cross and refine the measurements.

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An azimuthal projection map is a world map projection centered on a particular location. An example would be where the North pole is at the focus or center of the circular map, and lines project in a radial scale from this central point, such as degrees longitude out to the equivalent of the equator. The image would look as if you were looking straight down on the north pole from a point out in space. Any point on the globe may be used as the focus, with radial degrees of direction issuing from that central point. This type of map is useful for figuring out the shortest straight line path for a signal far across the globe.

A video that gives a great intuitive understanding of the problems of maps and projections is Why All Maps are Wrong.

Hint: "Azimuth" uses "bearings".

For more info see Wikipedia: Azimuthal (projections onto a plane)

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Calling CQ lets other stations know that you’re looking for other stations to respond/contact. You follow it by your call sign for identification.

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(C). The most direct path or shortest straight path points directly from one station or point to a second station or point. This is usually the best way to point a directional antenna. The long-path is considered to be the direction directly opposite the short path, or 180 degrees from its short-path heading. Depending on atmospheric conditions and nearby interferences, this can sometimes provide a clearer signal transmission and reception.

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Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog are part of the Allied Military phonetic alphabet from World War II

Adam, Boy, Charles, David are part of the legacy APCO radiotelephone alphabet

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta are part of the NATO phonetic alphabet

America, Boston, Canada, Denmark are part of the "DX' Alphabet

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(D). It is always a good idea to keep station logs recording your contacts and operations. You are responsible for the good operations of your station. It is fun to keep a record of all the contact you have made (call signs, frequencies, and locations). You should also keep records of any safety or RF field strength studies, records of antenna gain, etc. These records will help with a reply if the FCC requests information about your station operations.

Refer to FCC Part: [97.103(b)]

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The only legal requirement is to identify per normal regulation. One can participate in a contest and submit no log, and QSL cards are not required.

Hint: You might be in a contest, but it’s best to act normal!

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CW uses Q codes as abbreviations for common statements or questions relating to signal transmission. The meaning of "QRP" is to "decrease your Power." So low power transmit operations are often referred to as QRP operation. It is always good practice to use the lowest power output level that will still allow successful transmission of the signal.

Note: Remember that the "P" in "QRP" refers to Power. You might also consider "QRP" as in "Reduced Power".

For more info see Wikipedia: QRP operation

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Signal reports generally occur at the beginning of an HF contact in order for each station to know how well they are being able to be received.

If one side finds that conditions are making it difficult for the other operator to hear you with your current settings and setup, they can change accordingly, such as increasing or decreasing power, changing antenna direction, switching to another antenna or just speaking up more if using SSB.

Signal reports also allow both sides to understand the current HF propagation, and how far the signal is getting out.

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