SSB VS. AM Transmit Distances

[Tucker Terra]

In a normal situation, clear weather, and everything else, does SSB transmit farther than regular AM does, or are they about the same?

[beebuzzbee]

SSB, hands down

[Red Warrior]

With a 5W AM broadcast transmitter, you will only be able to impress 2.5 W of audio power on a transmission signal. This means that each of the two sidebands will have only 1.25 W of power. But using single sideband, a single sideband signal removes the carrier and one sideband and concentrates all of its energy in one sideband. Thus, a 1W SSB signal will "talk" as far as a 4W conventional AM or FM transmitter. It is one reason why long distances can be covered effectively with SSB. Single sideband's benefit is not only evident on transmission. The reverse happens on receive. When you work out the math, the efficiency with an SSB signal is 16 times greater than with a conventional AM signal.

[Visegrip]

Looks like we have a winner!
Let me give you an example:

I have a cousin who lives about 40 miles away as the crow flies.

On a clear night on the AM band we can barely hear each other. It's enough to hold a solid conversation but barely.
And thats with both of us running 4 pills in the mobile.

Now for the SSB we can make the same trip barefooted.
Hope this helps ya

[Tucker Terra]

nice, thanks much, thats kinda what I thought, but I wasn't positive of it. so now I know.

thanks much guys

[KW KID]

What is no names website? I want to check that out!

To me, a 128 pill is dumb because there is a huge DC current / heat issue, but interesting nonetheless!

[King Mudduck]

15 watts AM. 25 miles local on a clear day and a few states like FL and NY on a very good day.
20 watts SSB on a good day and on a really good day To Ireland, Alstralua and England on a clear channel. Done that more than a few times!

SSB rocks!!!!

[DJEEPER]

dayyum. i need to get a SSB radio!

i have always wondered about this.... very interesting!

[Slim Jim]

dayyum. i need to get a SSB radio!

i have always wondered about this.... very interesting!

it'll be money well spent. You definitely won't regret it! SSB really enhances the CB experience.

[indiejeep]

dayyum. i need to get a SSB radio!

i have always wondered about this.... very interesting!

it'll be money well spent. You definitely won't regret it! SSB really enhances the CB experience.

Yes, and you often find people on SSB channels are more interested in talking it up than those on the standard 40 which are often not as conversational or polite.

SSB is also an excellent place to find some good contacts when skip causes the standard 40 to be too noisy and full.

[Tucker Terra]

Ya, I am loving the SSB, alot more privacy........ My buds and I can all talk on the SSB without having other people talking on the channel, where as on the regular AM, about every channel is full of people

[linx]

If you're serious about SSB, then there's only 2 radio's on the market....the 2950DX and 2970DX by RCI.

[TheTeZ]

i have heard it diffrently....

your CB radio is aloud to put out 4w on am.... and aloud to put out 12w on SSB according to the FCC

the way it works out is the am signal is made up of 3 parts, the upper and lower side band as well as the AM carrier, to get a good 4 watts on am all 3 parts need to pump out 4 watts. now on side band you are only using a Single Side Band, not the other 2 parts... so the 4 watts the other two take up (8 watts) now you have 12w on ssb,


SSB is so much nicer than your standad 40 channel am CB the people are nicer, its much more fun and you talk so much futher. its kinda like hams little bro in the way some of the channels are carried, others are VERY!! relaxed like my home channel 39LSB

27.395 LSB

from new york youve got 732 here!

73's all

[Turbo-T]

I believe to talk on the side bands doesn't the other party need sideband on their radio? I considered getting a SSB radio but I've heard not as many people are on the side bands these days.

[Slim Jim]

I believe to talk on the side bands doesn't the other party need sideband on their radio? I considered getting a SSB radio but I've heard not as many people are on the side bands these days.

SSB is a mode of operation, like AM and FM. For a radio to talk successfully to another radio, both radios must have SSB. At times, there doesn't seem to be much activity on SSB as there is on regular AM, but when skip rolls, it's a different story. Usually channel 35-40 as well as some of the upper freeband channels (roughly 41-60), there is quite a bit of SSB activity. I'm lucky enough to have a local SSB net down here in the middle Georgia area. That's where I got my start on SSB. When I was first getting into radios, I wasn't at all interested in sideband. After a few years I picked it up and found that I really enjoyed it. Now my focus tends to be on SSB over AM...just a preference.

[TheTeZ]

hey linx, i almost got one of those RCI radios because they are solid side band rigs, the best out there... but not "CB" enough for me....

[kenny kustom]

hey linx, i almost got one of those RCI radios because they are solid side band rigs, the best out there... but not "CB" enough for me....

Explain ?

[TheTeZ]

well if you are a SERIOUS side bander and thats your thing. the RCI 2970 and 2950 (2970 has an amp inside) are some of the best radios out there... but if you do a google image search for one of those... hey dont look like your standard CB radio... (cuz they arent) they are amaizing on side band, and nothing compares. also good on am....

but in my truck i want a nice "cb" looking radio

these rci's look kinda like marine type radios or something.... they are a ham radio... not a cb, but can easily be converted. (they might even work on it stock... not sure but doubt it)

[flashover]

well theres not much people on the AM side down here.. so i highly doubt there people on the SSB side anywhere close to me

[DJEEPER]

we should try to talk some time! im out here in yorktown and can get down on the water for some good skip. (its my secret transmitting spot no power lines or buildings for 5 miles)

[TheTeZ]

yorktown... i was just working over in katonah... we coulda easily talked.... but im done with that, got a new job and starting it tomorrow.

[Circuit Breaker]

I believe to talk on the side bands doesn't the other party need sideband on their radio? I considered getting a SSB radio but I've heard not as many people are on the side bands these days.

For BOTH of you to have a conversation...yes. However, if you are on sideband and another person is on AM, you will be able to understand them but they will not understand you unless they switch to the same mode you're using.

[edx111]

I useam on 28, but after awhile I got a Cobra 2000gtl and started using SSB to the exclusion of am. That radio had been opened up so I was able to venture up the freq. and found a lot of guys, very polite, and talkative. Now, I have a Yaesu rig and hardly ever use cb channels as, when skip is running, my signal goes worldwide and I have contacts all over the place. Sometimes the signal is one way, as I will see a comment on cluster.dk that someone in, say New Caledonia is hearing me 5/9, but I have no copy on them, and it works the same for me. SSB is the only way to go for more power, clarity and distance; my longest distance was one night in cycle 23 when i spoke for about 30 minutes to a station in Reunion island, long path from Jamaica, west indies, and regularly to Australia, via both long and short path.
I am not a ham, just a devoted freebander, and find it a lot of fun

[TheTeZ]

ended up getting a 2510 a while ago AWESOME RADIO. so very nice. Great ears, and great talker. i thought the washington was a good radio but holy hand grenade batman! it blows the washington out of the water.

DJEEPER we should try and make contact one of these days. i can definitely reach over there from my base. 27.395.lsb (39 lsb) is where i hang out when im on. listen for 732

[Circuit Breaker]

i have heard it diffrently....

your CB radio is aloud to put out 4w on am.... and aloud to put out 12w on SSB according to the FCC

the way it works out is the am signal is made up of 3 parts, the upper and lower side band as well as the AM carrier, to get a good 4 watts on am all 3 parts need to pump out 4 watts. now on side band you are only using a Single Side Band, not the other 2 parts... so the 4 watts the other two take up (8 watts) now you have 12w on ssb,

Actually, the way Red Warrior described it on page 1 is correct.