NU9N SSB Audio News Editorial - December, 2003

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Wow, its been an interesting year!

SSB audio experimentation and the art of both sounding good and getting along with everyone at the same time has been a real challenge.

My SSB activity has been minimal the last few months as I have been playing around with the AM mode and learning some new processing techniques relevant to AM. However, some of the "Phase Asymmetry" and "Negative Peak Limiting" techniques for AM may have some benifits to SSB... I'm just not sure to what extent. I'm still playing with these types of processing.

I have noticed that SSB modulation quality in general has improved on all the bands that I have been monitoring. This is encouraging in light of the fact that just a few short years ago 99% of SSB signals sounded terrible. Once the audio bug bit, it seems like hams were more concerned with quality rather than quantity.

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Perhaps you will find a new toy under the tree this year... I am hoping that 2004 will be even a better year for both SSB audio quality, as well as better diplomatic relations with those who are not interested.

Wherever your Amateur Radio interests lie, may 2004 be a wonderful year for "Ham Radio" and may the true spirit of Amateur Radio be realized once again as we all work together for the betterment of the hobby !!

73,

-John Anning, NU9N