ARRL Technician Practice Exam

What popular operating activity involves contacting as many stations as possible during a specified period of time?

1. DXing

2. Contesting

3. SOTA

4. Field Day

The correct answer is: Contesting

The correct choice is contesting, which is a popular operating activity in amateur radio where participants aim to contact as many stations as possible within a set timeframe. This activity is structured and competitive, often involving specific rules and scoring systems based on the number of contacts made, the distance of those contacts, and sometimes additional criteria like the use of different frequencies or modes of transmission. Contesting is distinct from other activities in amateur radio. For example, DXing focuses primarily on making contacts with distant stations, particularly those in rare or less accessible locations, and is not necessarily time-limited. SOTA, or Summits on the Air, involves activating mountain summits and making contacts from these locations, which is more about specific locations rather than the competitive aspect of maximizing contacts in a timeframe. Field Day is an event where operators practice emergency communications skills, but while it can involve making many contacts, it is generally more about demonstration and training than competition. Therefore, contesting emphasizes the competitive nature of trying to make as many contacts as possible in a limited period, making it the right answer.