Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success

A calibrated field strength meter with a calibrated antenna is specifically designed for measuring radio frequency (RF) field strength accurately. This instrument takes into account the characteristics of the RF field and the specific frequency being measured, ensuring that the readings reflect the actual field strength in a meaningful way.

The use of a calibrated antenna is also crucial because antennas can have different gain characteristics that affect the measurements. A calibrated antenna ensures that the readings from the meter are adjusted for these variations, providing an accurate assessment of the RF environment. This level of specificity and calibration is vital for RF measurements in various applications, such as communications, signal testing, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

In contrast, while a multimeter is useful for many electrical measurements, it is not designed for RF field strength measurements. An oscilloscope displays voltage waveforms and can analyze signals, but it doesn’t provide the specific field strength readings an amateur radio operator would need. A power meter is useful for measuring the output power of a transmitter rather than the strength of the RF field in a given area. Thus, the combination of a calibrated field strength meter and antenna provides the best and most accurate means of measuring RF field strength.