USB or LSB?

[N5MOA]

Or you could do like the guy I heard two nights ago.

He had a real nice signal around 14.182 on upper ssb, and a equally nice signal around 14.202 on lower ssb.

[ZL3GSL]

You might be surprised at how many people you would find to talk to
All of them telling you "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!"

That isn't a problem. Just work USB at the bottom of the band, so you can tell them you are required by law to use USB at that frequency.

[K7JEM]

That isn't a problem. Just work USB at the bottom of the band, so you can tell them you are required by law to use USB at that frequency.

But you're not required to use USB at the bottom of the band. Why do people think these things?

[W0IS]

If, for example, your VFO is on 7126, and you want to operate SSB, then you are, indeed, "required by law to use USB at that frequency."

There is a better solution to the problem, but that statement is correct.

[K7JEM]

If, for example, your VFO is on 7126, and you want to operate SSB, then you are, indeed, "required by law to use USB at that frequency."

There is a better solution to the problem, but that statement is correct.

Well, I think some here don't understand how SSB works. An LSB signal contains exactly the same bandwidth as a USB signal. In most cases we call that 3KHz, but it could be more or less, depending on the radio. If you operate on 7126 USB, your signal is occupying 7126-7129 KHz. That spectrum is being used by your station. If you move your VFO to 7129, and switch to LSB, you will be occupying the exact same slice of spectrum. No additional benefit is gained by running either sideband, they are both just as effective. The only reason to choose one over another is to be compatible with others using the band. We don't have to "guess" which sideband a station will use, it's defined by convention. That convention is USB except on 160, 80 and 40. Pretty simple. We could change the convention and use USB everywhere, but it wouldn't gain anything.

Joe

[K9ZMD]

If you move your VFO to 7129, and switch to LSB, you will be occupying the exact same slice of spectrum.

Yes, Joe, you stated the obvious, but changed the point of the discussion by changing the frequency. If you kept your VFO at 7126 and switched to LSB, you would be operating with a good portion of your signal below 7125 (out of band for phone operation). With the stipulated frequency of 7126, any phone operation would have to be USB, by law.

[K7JEM]

Yes, Joe, you stated the obvious, but changed the point of the discussion by changing the frequency. If you kept your VFO at 7126 and switched to LSB, you would be operating with a good portion of your signal below 7125 (out of band for phone operation). With the stipulated frequency of 7126, any phone operation would have to be USB, by law.

But we have no stipulated frequencies. When you "stipulate" a frequency on SSB, you are stipulating a "band" of frequencies, not just where the suppressed carrier is. The fact is, there is no advantage or reason to switch sidebands just because you are near a band edge. Nothing is "forcing" an individual to operate on 7126, and use USB. He could easily move to 7129 and use LSB, and use the same spectrum.

The way I am reading these posts is that some feel that there will be some "lost" spectrum unless USB is used near the bottom of the band. That is not the case. New operators may not understand this, so it is foolish to suggest doing this, as you will get people doing it. "Oh, I saw on QRZ where we should use USB when down near 7125." Better that they should understand to just stay on LSB and not operate below 7128. That should be easy enough to understand. Their signal will occupy to down as close to the band edge as possible that way, and you don't confuse others, or make them think you're a lid.

Joe

[W0IS]

Well, I think some here don't understand how SSB works.

And obviously you do understand how it works. That's why I was careful to say "if your VFO is on 7126" and not word it some other way.

If your suppressed carrier frequency is 7126, then the quoted statement is true, because it's illegal to use LSB on that suppressed carrier frequency, for the reasons you stated.

[K7JEM]

And obviously you do understand how it works. That's why I was careful to say "if your VFO is on 7126" and not word it some other way.

If your suppressed carrier frequency is 7126, then the quoted statement is true, because it's illegal to use LSB on that suppressed carrier frequency, for the reasons you stated.

I suppose that is correct. But what it does is to suggest to people that they have to operate USB when at the bottom of the band. My point is that we don't "have" to be on that particular frequency, in order to operate SSB. Park your VFO 3KHz up from there, and do LSB. You occupy the same amount of spectrum, and are a better neighbor.

The subject of USB on 40 meters should not even come up. To do so confuses new ops and those who don't totally understand how things work. A person that operates USB on 7126 would be considered a "lid", since it is non conventional. We need to avoid any suggestions to people that would result in "lid like" behavior.

So, while the above is technically correct, the better suggestion is just to stay on LSB and stay above 7128. That should make everyone happy.

Joe

[KI6ZIF]

But you're not required to use USB at the bottom of the band. Why do people think these things?

Actually, if you were at the very bottom of the band "carrier" wise, suppressed or not.. Your LSB would fall outside of your band usage limits. As already mentioned. You could park at 7125 and use USB. Or qsy up to 7128 and use LSB.