This morning, a reader wrote:
Good morning, Dan. So on Ham Nation last night they kept going on and on about AM and encouraging people to use it. I understand there is a frequency window that should be used, but they seemed to be trying to reduce apprehension but suggesting how great it is. So what’s the big deal about AM?
Simply put, Bob Heil, K9EID, is a big proponent of AM and likes to use his show to promote its use—just like I am a big proponent of CW and use my blog to promote CW. There are several reasons why hams might be apprehensive about using AM:
- It’s viewed as “ancient modulation” by some, and is a less efficient mode than single sideband.
- There are a lot fewer operators that use AM. One reason that Heil is pushing it is so that there are more people that he can talk to.
- Generally, modern transceivers output less power when operating AM than they do when operating SSB. For example, the IC-7300 has an output power of 100 W PEP on SSB, but only 25 W on AM.
Now, I am only speculating as to why Bob Heil thinks it’s such a great mode, but here are some things that come to mind:
- It sounds better than SSB. Remember that Heil is a sound guy.
- There’s a certain sense of nostalgia that older hams have for AM. AM was a big thing when Heil got started in amateur radio, and perhaps he feels a bit nostalgic about using it.
- It’s easier to build an AM transmitter than it is to build a SSB transmitter. That’s what the Pine Board project was all about.
- It’s fun! Like any other mode, it’s just something that’s fun to do. Heil has fun operating AM and wants others to have fun operating AM, too.
Is it as great as Heil makes it out to be? Well, it all depends on what floats your boat. Just like CW, some guys will have fun operating AM. Others will just blow it off. I tried it once when I was using the IC-7300, and it was amusing, but I don’t think that I’m going to become a regular AM user anytime soon.