What is the effect of excessive microphone gain on SSB transmissions?

• A. Distorted transmitted audio
• B. Loss of signal strength
• C. Increased interference from other stations
• D. Enhanced reception on the receiving end

Answer: (A)

Excessive microphone gain on SSB (Single Sideband) transmissions results in distorted transmitted audio. When the microphone gain is set too high, the sound waves are amplified beyond an acceptable level, causing clipping. This distortion can be particularly noticeable in audio frequency ranges, leading to a garbled signal that can be hard for others to understand.

In contrast, excessive gain does not inherently affect signal strength in a way that would cause it to be lower. Instead, it typically leads to a situation where the quality of the transmission is compromised due to distortion. Additionally, while it may lead to increased noise, it does not precisely equate to enhanced reception, as the modifications to the audio quality can hinder how well a receiver can demodulate the incoming signal. Thus, maintaining appropriate microphone gain is essential for clear communications in SSB operations.