Technician 2022-2026T8A12

Which of the following is a disadvantage of FM compared with single sideband?

B
Answer
Signals, emissions, and modulation
Type
A
Voice quality is poorer
B
Only one signal can be received at a time
C
FM signals are harder to tune
D
All these choices are correct

Answer Notes

Frequency Modulation (FM) exhibits a phenomenon known as the "capture effect." When an FM receiver hears multiple signals on the same frequency, it will "capture" and demodulate only the strongest signal, completely suppressing the weaker ones. Therefore, only one signal can be heard and understood at a time. In contrast, Single Sideband (SSB) does not have this capture effect. If two stations transmit on the same SSB frequency simultaneously, a receiver will hear both voices mixed together (heterodyning), allowing the operator's ear to potentially distinguish one from the other. The distractors are incorrect because FM actually provides very clear voice quality due to its resistance to static, and it is generally easier to tune than SSB since slight tuning errors on FM do not change the pitch of the received voice.
Previous · T8A11
What is the approximate bandwidth required to transmit a CW signal?
Next · T8B01
What telemetry information is typically transmitted by satellite beacons?