ARRL Technician Practice Exam

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Prepare for the ARRL Technician Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

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What is the approximate bandwidth of a single sideband voice signal?

1 kHz
3 kHz
6 kHz
10 kHz

The correct answer is: 3 kHz

The approximate bandwidth of a single sideband (SSB) voice signal is about 3 kHz. This is due to the way SSB modulation works, where it transmits only one sideband of the frequency spectrum and typically requires a bandwidth of around 2.7 to 3 kHz to properly accommodate the voice signal. In SSB transmission, speech frequencies range from approximately 300 Hz to 3 kHz. The effective bandwidth of the SSB signal is determined by the frequency components of the audio signal being transmitted, as well as the necessary guard band for signal clarity. A 3 kHz bandwidth allows for effective transmission of human voice while keeping the signal bandwidth efficient, making it suitable for radio communication where bandwidth conservation is important. In contrast, other options provided either overestimate or underestimate the required bandwidth for effective SSB voice communication, making 3 kHz the most accurate representation of the typical bandwidth used for this type of signal.