[AMRadio] Only function of carrier

[CL in NC]

The only function of carrier is to operate the detector circuit.  The time constant is long on the  output of the detector at the IF freq, the carrier converted down to the IF freq. charges this RC circuit up.  As the upper sideband signal, being a higher freq,  adds to the output of the detector as its higher IF freq.  switches the circuit on and off generating more charge, the LSB signal subtracts from this voltage as it's lower freq allows the circuit to discharge.  The output is a waveform that represents the transmitted audio and is sent to the audio amp.  100% modulation on  any RF carrier level is the best you can get for fidelity, but maybe not communication punch through ability.

Now, for the folks that think base response is the be all end all for AM,  weak signals are impossible to copy when you are all base, no highs.  There are a lot of signals I hear with my R390A, Hammer 170A and R4C that could be copyable if only they had full range of audio, but for some reason, their owners bow to the god of low freq range audio.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC