Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

How is a directional antenna pointed when making a "long-path" contact with another station?

1. Toward the rising Sun

2. A long the gray line

3. 180 degrees from its short-path heading

4. Toward the north

The correct answer is: 180 degrees from its short-path heading

When making a "long-path" contact with another station, the correct approach involves pointing the directional antenna 180 degrees from its short-path heading. This means that if you have determined the short-path heading to the desired station, you would then aim your antenna in the opposite direction to effectively communicate over a longer distance that utilizes the Earth's curvature and the layers of the ionosphere. Understanding long-path communication is crucial, especially for HF (high frequency) bands, where radio waves can travel great distances by reflecting off the ionosphere. By targeting the long path, operators can take advantage of optimal propagation conditions that may be present in that direction, enabling better signal strength and clarity. The other options do not effectively represent the technique for long-path communication. For instance, aiming toward the rising Sun or along the gray line may have their advantages in specific circumstances but do not necessarily relate to the concept of long-path operations. Pointing toward the north does not apply generally, as direction is contingent upon the location of the stations involved and their relative positions on the globe.