G2A

Phone operating: SSB and sidebands

Explain why SSB is the HF voice mode, pick LSB or USB by band, break into contacts, and set mic gain.

12 pool questions1 on the exam

Syllabus: Phone operating procedures: USB/LSB conventions, breaking into a contact, transmitter setup for voice operation; answering DX stations

SSB sends one sideband and nothing else

Single sideband is the usual HF voice mode. The transmitter suppresses the carrier and one sideband, so no power is spent on them.

SSB drops the carrier and one sideband: half the width, all the power in the voice.

Result: less bandwidth and greater power efficiency than other analog voice modes.

RememberSSB: one sideband only, carrier and the other side suppressed.

Low bands use LSB; 14 MHz and up use USB

Low bands LSB, 14 MHz and up USB. Habit, not law.

160, 75 and 40 m: lower sideband. 20 m and up (including 17 and 12 m) and VHF/UHF SSB: upper sideband. Nothing forces LSB on the low bands. It is simply accepted amateur practice.

Memory hookLow bands, Lower sideband. Higher bands, Upper.

Break in short. Answer DX from outside.

Break in short. Answer CQ DX only from outside the caller's area.

To join a phone contact, say your call sign once and wait to be acknowledged. A lower-48 station calling CQ DX wants contacts outside the lower 48.

RememberCall sign once. CQ DX is for stations outside the caller's area.

Mic gain sets the ALC. VOX frees your hands.

Set mic gain so the ALC just touches its zone on voice peaks. More is not louder, only dirtier.

Mic gain (transmit audio)40%

On SSB, adjust transmit audio (mic) gain for the proper ALC reading. VOX keys the transmitter by your voice (hands-free), unlike PTT, where you press to talk. It changes neither bandwidth nor power.

RememberALC too high? Turn down mic gain.

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