What are two advantages of single sideband (SSB) transmission?

Single sideband (SSB) transmission is a refined type of amplitude modulation (AM) that offers significant advantages over conventional methods. One of the primary benefits of SSB is the savings in power consumption. Since SSB transmits only one sideband of the signal, it requires less power compared to traditional AM that transmits both the upper and lower sidebands along with the carrier frequency. This efficiency makes SSB particularly valuable in radio communications, especially for long-distance transmissions where power resources may be limited.

In addition to power savings, SSB also provides advantages in frequency bandwidth. Conventional AM transmissions require a wider bandwidth because they transmit both sidebands. In contrast, SSB transmits only one sideband, thereby halving the bandwidth requirements. This efficient use of bandwidth allows more signals to occupy the same frequency range, supporting better spectrum management and facilitating more channels within the same frequency allocation.

These two advantages make SSB a preferred method in many radio communication applications, particularly in the field of amateur radio and maritime communications.