Master the Waves: Ham Radio Extra Class 2026 Practice Test – Tune In and Transmit Success!

Single Sideband (SSB) modulation is known for being an efficient voice transmission mode. This efficiency stems from the way SSB works compared to traditional amplitude modulation (AM). In SSB, one of the sidebands (either upper or lower) and the carrier signal are suppressed, which means that only one sideband is transmitted. This not only reduces the amount of power required for transmission—because less overall signal is being sent—but also leads to better bandwidth utilization. As a result, SSB is able to fit more signals into a smaller bandwidth compared to AM.

SSB modulation also allows for clearer communication over long distances, as it is less susceptible to noise and interference than other modulation methods, such as conventional AM or frequency modulation (FM). This makes SSB particularly valuable in amateur radio, where voice communication over long distances is often the goal. Thus, the efficiency of voice transmission in SSB is a key benefit that encapsulates its preferred usage among ham operators.