Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

How does the receiving station respond to an ARQ data mode packet containing errors?

1. Terminates the contact

2. Requests the packet be retransmitted

3. Sends the packet back to the transmitting station

4. Requests a change in transmitting protocol

The correct answer is: Requests the packet be retransmitted

In Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) data modes, error detection is a fundamental feature. When a receiving station detects an error in a data packet, it typically sends a request back to the transmitting station for that packet to be retransmitted. This process helps ensure data integrity and maintains a reliable communication link. The receiving station utilizes acknowledgments to indicate whether a packet was received correctly or if there were errors, prompting a retransmission if necessary. The action of requesting retransmission is essential in ARQ systems, as it allows for the correction of errors without losing data. This mechanism is crucial for maintaining effective communication, especially in environments where data loss could significantly impact the overall operation. In contrast, terminating the contact, sending the packet back, or changing the transmission protocol are not standard practices in this context. Terminating the contact would halt communications altogether, while sending back the erroneous packet is not a typical response, as the focus remains on requesting the necessary corrections. Changing the transmitting protocol would complicate communication further when the immediate solution is simply to retransmit the erroneous packet.