Modulation Modes

Modulation Modes

CW (Continuous Wave)
This uses the narrowest signal possible. Morse code is used to communicate with CW. Due to the narrow bandwidth the transmitted power is concentrated over the smallest segment and tends to work when no other mode will.

AM (Amplitude Modulation)
This mode consists of a carrier at the center of the transmission with two side bands on each side of the carrier. The Amplitude of the sidebands are varied to carry the signal.

SSB (Single Sideband)
This mode is related to an AM signal. The carrier and one of the sidebands are suppressed leaving the transmitted power concentrated over just one sideband. This mode is 3KHz wide. LSB (Lower Sideband) is typically used below 10MHz and USB (Upper Sideband) is typically Used above 10MHz. The 60 Meter band is a notable exception to this. On the 5 channels allocated to secondary amateur use only USB can be used for phone.

FM (Frequency Modulation)
This mode has a carrier that is modulated by varying the frequency to carry the signal.

Recent Posts

Sabbatical away from the Whack-a-Mole of technology

So many things have broken over the last six months that there is very little left intact. Since spring there have been a long string of power surges, lightning strikes, wind damage, and magic smoke leaving nearly every device. By the time one thing was fixed and operation another event would break three more things. As if there were not enough issues, a fallen tree took out the antennas for the shack. The last of the base radios failed early this fall.

I’ve removed the blown up equipment and supporting wiring. I lack the time and energy to rebuild what was a decade in the making. I’m going quiet for a while. I may well be back at some point, but that is far enough down the road not to be in sight.

Due to aging hardware and software in the data center this site cannot be upgraded without a complete start from scratch, and an upgrade is required to get it to run on modern software. As bad as the whack-a-mole with the radio and power systems was, the digital side of things has been an even bigger handful.

I am going to archive this site into cold storage for another day where I might be able to pull a magic rabbit with a quick fix, but don’t look for it soon. If you want anything that is on the site I’d suggest downloading it very soon. Nothing will be erased, and it may even return sometime between later and when pigs take flight.

In the ways that matter things are fine, so don’t worry be happy… I’m also shutting down the last of the online projects as soon as a graceful exit presents. It is time for a long sabbatical to examine the insides of my eyelids and recharge.

de w5mz QRT

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