Ham Radio General Class Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The statement that accurately describes the single sideband (SSB) voice mode is that only one sideband is transmitted while the other sideband and the carrier are suppressed. This is fundamental to the operation of SSB, which effectively uses either the upper or lower sideband of the radio signal, depending on the specific mode being employed. By suppressing the carrier and the unused sideband, SSB significantly reduces the bandwidth and power requirements for voice transmissions. This makes SSB highly efficient compared to amplitude modulation (AM) where both sidebands and the carrier are transmitted, leading to a larger bandwidth and increased power consumption.

In contrast, the other options present aspects that do not accurately reflect SSB characteristics. For instance, the first choice mentions that only one sideband and the carrier are transmitted, which contradicts the very essence of SSB as it does not require the carrier signal to be transmitted at all. The third choice incorrectly asserts that SSB transmissions have higher average power than any other mode; in reality, SSB is more efficient, utilizing less power for the same level of intelligibility. Lastly, the fourth option incorrectly claims that SSB is the only authorized mode on certain amateur bands; in fact, there are several modes allowed on those