FCC Exam Question: 8-32D1

Accurate range markers must be developed using very narrow pulses. A circuit that could be used to provide these high-quality pulses for the CRT is a:

A. Ringing oscillator.
B. Monostable multivibrator.
C. Triggered bi-stable multivibrator.
D. Blocking oscillator.
Correct Answer: D

Explanation: Blocking oscillators are specifically designed to produce very narrow, high-amplitude pulses with exceptionally fast rise and fall times. This characteristic is crucial for creating accurate range markers on a CRT, especially in applications like radar, where precise timing and sharp definition are paramount. The transformer feedback mechanism in a blocking oscillator facilitates this rapid on/off switching, generating a pulse that is both short in duration and well-defined, directly correlating to high-quality, distinct range indications. A monostable multivibrator can generate a single pulse of a set duration, but typically not with the extreme narrowness and sharpness inherent to a blocking oscillator for this specific application. Ringing oscillators produce decaying sinusoidal oscillations, not sharp, isolated pulses. Triggered bi-stable multivibrators (flip-flops) are used for state changes or memory, not direct generation of short, repetitive pulses.

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