Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

Which of the following is a good indicator of the possibility of sky-wave propagation on the 6 meter band?

1. Short skip sky-wave propagation on the 10 meter band

2. Long skip sky-wave propagation on the 10 meter band

3. Severe attenuation of signals on the 10 meter band

4. Long delayed echoes on the 10 meter band

The correct answer is: Short skip sky-wave propagation on the 10 meter band

Sky-wave propagation on the 6 meter band is closely related to propagation conditions on other bands, particularly on the 10 meter band, which is in the same frequency range and often experiences similar atmospheric conditions. Short skip sky-wave propagation on the 10 meter band indicates that there is enough ionization in the atmosphere to reflect signals back to earth at shorter distances, which can also create similar conditions for the 6 meter band. When short skip is occurring on 10 meters, it suggests that the ionosphere has the right conditions to enable signals to propagate via sky-wave, potentially leading to similar results on the 6 meter band. This correlation is due to shared propagation characteristics between the frequency ranges, particularly during periods of enhanced solar activity or specific atmospheric conditions that favor short-range sky-wave propagation. Other choices indicate different conditions. Long skip propagation refers to signals bouncing off the ionosphere over long distances, and while this may still occur on the 6 meter band, it doesn’t directly indicate the more favorable conditions for shorter propagation that could benefit local stations. Severe attenuation indicates unfavorable conditions that would not promote good propagation at all. Long delayed echoes may imply the presence of high-frequency propagation but don't directly correlate to the shorter skips that would benefit the 6