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

Using single sideband (SSB) has significant advantages over other analog voice modes, particularly regarding bandwidth and power efficiency. SSB transmitters utilize only one sideband of the signal (either upper or lower), which allows for a more efficient use of bandwidth compared to amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM).

This reduced bandwidth in SSB, typically around 2.4 kHz for voice communication, means that operators can fit more conversations into the same frequency space. This is crucial on the congested HF bands where spectrum availability can be a challenge. As a result, the spectral efficiency of SSB makes it a preferred choice for much of amateur radio voice communication.

Moreover, SSB is also more power-efficient. In AM transmission, a significant amount of power is sent with the carrier and both sidebands, resulting in wasted energy. In SSB, since the carrier is suppressed and only one sideband is transmitted, this leads to better effective radiated power, allowing for clearer signals over longer distances using less power.

These characteristics make SSB a well-suited mode for long-distance communication, especially relevant to the HF amateur bands, where effective allocation of bandwidth and power can greatly enhance the operator's ability to communicate.