*Question E2D10:
What does the packet path WIDE3-1 designate?*  

*Correct Answer is  C: Three digipeater hops are requested with one remaining*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

The packet path designation "WIDE3-1" is used in amateur radio packet networks, specifically in APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) and other digital modes that use digipeaters. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

1. **Correct Answer: C: Three digipeater hops are requested with one remaining**

   - **Explanation**: The "WIDE" part of "WIDE3-1" indicates a generic digipeater path. The number before the dash (3) represents the total number of digipeater hops initially requested. The number after the dash (1) indicates how many hops remain. Therefore, "WIDE3-1" means that three hops were originally requested, and one hop remains. This is a common way to manage and track the number of digipeater hops a packet can take.

2. **Why the Other Choices are Incorrect**:

   - **A: Three stations are allowed on frequency, one transmitting at a time**: This choice is incorrect because "WIDE3-1" does not refer to the number of stations or their transmission order. It specifically relates to digipeater hops in a packet network.

   - **B: Three subcarriers are permitted, subcarrier one is being used**: This choice is incorrect because "WIDE3-1" has nothing to do with subcarriers. Subcarriers are used in different contexts, such as in certain digital modes or multiplexing, but not in the context of digipeater paths.

   - **D: Three internet gateway stations may receive one transmission**: This choice is incorrect because "WIDE3-1" does not refer to internet gateways. It is specifically about the number of digipeater hops in a packet radio network.

3. **Useful Rule of Thumb**:

   - In APRS and similar systems, the format "WIDEn-m" is used to specify digipeater paths, where $n$ is the initial number of hops requested, and $m$ is the number of hops remaining. This helps manage network traffic and ensures packets do not loop indefinitely.