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Are antennas, feed lines and SWR on the ham radio Technician exam?

Yes.

The 2026-2030 Technician Class FCC Element 2 Question Pool (in use July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030) gives antennas, feed lines and SWR their own groups, T7C, T9A and T9B, with 34 questions. Each exam takes one question from each of the pool's groups, so every exam has 3 questions on the topic, out of 35 (26 correct to pass).

Where it sits in the question pool

  • Group T7C: 11 of 11 questions (the whole group)

    Antenna and transmission line measurements and troubleshooting: measuring SWR, effects of high SWR, causes of feed line failures; Basic coaxial cable characteristics; Use of dummy loads when testing

    T7C01, T7C02, T7C03, T7C04, T7C05, T7C06, T7C07, T7C08, T7C09, T7C10, T7C11

  • Group T9A: 11 of 11 questions (the whole group)

    Antennas: vertical and horizontal polarization, concept of antenna gain, definition and types of beam antennas, antenna loading, common portable and mobile antennas, relationships between resonant length and frequency, dipole pattern

    T9A01, T9A02, T9A03, T9A04, T9A05, T9A06, T9A07, T9A08, T9A09, T9A10, T9A11

  • Group T9B: 12 of 12 questions (the whole group)

    Feed lines: types, attenuation vs frequency, selecting; SWR concepts; Antenna tuners (couplers); RF Connectors: selecting, weather protection

    T9B01, T9B02, T9B03, T9B04, T9B05, T9B06, T9B07, T9B08, T9B09, T9B10, T9B11, T9B12

What you need to know

An antenna works best near its resonant frequency, and its length sets that frequency: shortening a dipole raises it, which is why a vertical about 19 inches long is a quarter wavelength on 2 meters. Gain is the increase in signal strength in a given direction compared to a reference antenna, and beam antennas such as the Yagi, which concentrate the signal in one direction, have the most gain of the common types. Polarization is the orientation of the antenna's electric field.

The feed line carries the signal between radio and antenna. Most amateurs use 50-ohm coaxial cable, and its loss grows as frequency rises, with the lost power turned into heat. Standing wave ratio (SWR) measures how well the load is matched to the line: 1:1 is a perfect match, and a high reading such as 4:1 means a mismatch. Most solid-state transmitters reduce their output power as SWR rises, to protect their output transistors. The exam also covers antenna tuners, dummy loads, connectors and keeping water out of coax.

Sample questions from the pool

T7C04

What reading on an SWR meter indicates a perfect impedance match between the antenna and the feed line?

  1. A. 50:50
  2. B. Zero
  3. C. 1:1
  4. D. Full Scale

Correct answer: C. 1:1

T9B02

What is the most common impedance of coaxial cables used in amateur radio?

  1. A. 8 ohms
  2. B. 50 ohms
  3. C. 600 ohms
  4. D. 12 ohms

Correct answer: B. 50 ohms

T9A06

Which of the following types of antennas offers the greatest gain?

  1. A. 5/8 wave vertical
  2. B. Isotropic
  3. C. J pole
  4. D. Yagi

Correct answer: D. Yagi

Source: NCVEC, 2026-2030 Technician Class FCC Element 2 Question Pool, Public release of February 19, 2026, with the errata to the December 18, 2025 release, in use July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030. Questions and answers quoted as published (public domain); the group counts come from the pool's syllabus. Passing score: 47 CFR 97.503, Element standards.

Practise for the ham radio Technician exam

The 2026-2030 Technician pool questions with their answers, drills by subelement, and mock exams of 35 questions drawn one from each group, 26 correct to pass. Free.

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