General exam question G8A10
Subelement G8, SIGNALS AND EMISSIONS· Group G8A
What is meant by the term “flat-topping,” when referring to an amplitude-modulated phone signal?
- A.Signal distortion caused by insufficient collector current
- B.The transmitter’s automatic level control (ALC) is properly adjusted
- C.Signal distortion caused by excessive drive or speech levels (correct answer)
- D.The transmitter’s carrier is properly suppressed
WhyFlat-topping on an amplitude-modulated phone signal refers to signal distortion caused by excessive drive or speech levels. "Flat-topping" describes the visible clipping of an AM signal's modulation peaks that happens when the operator drives the transmitter with too much audio or speech-processor gain, distorting the envelope and splattering energy outside the intended bandwidth, answer C. It isn't caused by insufficient collector current, doesn't describe a properly adjusted ALC, and it isn't related to carrier suppression (that's an SSB concept, not an AM one), so A, B, and D are wrong.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2023-2027 NCVEC Element 3 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
Related questions
- G8A01How is direct binary FSK modulation generated?
- G8A02What is the name of the process that changes the phase angle of an RF signal to convey information?
- G8A03What is the name of the process that changes the instantaneous frequency of an RF wave to convey information?
- G8A04What emission is produced by a reactance modulator connected to a transmitter RF amplifier stage?
- G8A05What type of modulation varies the instantaneous power level of the RF signal?