Technician exam question T3C03
Subelement T3, RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION· Group T3C
What is one characteristic of VHF signals received via auroral backscatter?
- A.They are often received from 10,000 miles or more
- B.They are distorted, with a characteristic raspy sound (correct answer)
- C.They occur only during winter nighttime hours
- D.They are generally strongest when your antenna is aimed west
WhyVHF signals received via auroral backscatter are distorted, with a characteristic raspy sound. VHF signals reflected off the aurora take on a rough, distorted quality, often described as a raspy or fluttery buzz, caused by the turbulent, rapidly shifting ionization in the auroral region they're bouncing off, answer B. Auroral contacts are typically shorter range than 10,000 miles (A), they aren't limited to winter nights specifically (C), and since the aurora forms toward the poles, stations in the mid-latitude U.S. generally aim north, not west (D), to work it.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2026-2030 NCVEC Element 2 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
Related questions
- T3C01Why are simplex UHF signals rarely heard beyond their radio horizon?
- T3C02What is a characteristic of HF communication compared with communications on VHF and higher frequencies?
- T3C04Which of the following types of propagation is most commonly associated with occasional strong signals on the 10-, 6-, and 2-meter bands from beyond the radio horizon?
- T3C05Which of the following effects may allow radio signals to travel beyond obstructions between the transmitting and receiving stations?
- T3C06What type of propagation is responsible for allowing over-the-horizon VHF and UHF communications to ranges of approximately 300 miles on a regular basis?