Question
What is the National Radio Quiet Zone?
Answer Options
- A) An area surrounding the FCC monitoring station in Laurel, Maryland
- B) An area in New Mexico surrounding the White Sands Test Area
- C) An area surrounding the National Radio Astronomy Observatory
- D) An area in Florida surrounding Cape Canaveral
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) is a large area of land in the United States, centered around the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, West Virginia. It was established to minimize electromagnetic interference to the NRAO’s highly sensitive radio telescopes and receiving equipment, which are used for critical scientific research.
Amateur radio operation is allowed in the NRQZ, but operators are subject to special restrictions and must register their stations if they plan to transmit at high power or with high-gain antennas. The goal is to protect the sensitive research taking place at the NRAO by limiting the local RF noise floor, even for secondary users of the spectrum like the amateur service.
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