[Elecraft] [OT] The dreaded 400 Hz hump

[Al Lorona]

Have you studied how SSB signals look on your panadapter? I believe about 90% of all phone signals have a very pronounced peak at about 400 or 500 Hz. This peak is sometimes 10 dB (or more) higher than the rest of the bandwidth. This is wasted power and, to my ear, makes signals sound muddier.

On the other hand, every once in a while you'll see a signal that has a more or less flat frequency response, without any huge peaks. Sometimes, a signal will actually have slightly *more* power in the higher frequencies, say, 2000 Hz and higher. I've noticed that these signals have much more articulation and punch. But these signals are all too scarce.

It's pretty well known that the aging population of hams collectively suffers from a high frequency hearing loss. It seems to me that this is even more reason to carefully shape your frequency response and cut the dreaded 400 Hz hump.

R,

Al  W6LX/4