FCC Exam Question: 3-80L6

What type of wire would connect an SSB automatic tuner to an insulated backstay?

A. GTO-15 high-voltage cable.
B. RG8U.
C. RG213.
D. 16-gauge two-conductor.
Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Connecting an automatic tuner to an insulated backstay, which acts as a long-wire antenna, often involves very high RF voltages. When a tuner matches a highly reactive or non-resonant antenna, the voltage at the antenna terminal can easily reach thousands of volts, even with moderate transmit power. **A) GTO-15 high-voltage cable** is specifically designed for high-voltage applications, featuring robust insulation capable of withstanding these significant RF potentials without arcing or breakdown. This makes it ideal for the output connection of an antenna tuner to a random wire or long-wire antenna. **B) RG8U** and **C) RG213** are 50-ohm coaxial cables. While excellent for connecting transceivers to tuners or tuners to 50-ohm resonant antennas, they are not designed to handle the extremely high, unbalanced RF voltages present at the output of a tuner feeding a high-impedance long-wire antenna. Their insulation would likely break down. **D) 16-gauge two-conductor** wire typically has thin insulation and a very low voltage rating, making it completely unsuitable and dangerous for high-power RF applications where thousands of volts can be present.

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Includes Elements 1, 3, 6, 7R, 8, and 9.