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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/hame-product-detector-ssb

Which type of detector is used for demodulating SSB signals?

The product detector demodulates SSB.

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  1. Discriminator
  2. Product detector ✔
  3. Phase detector

Why: An SSB signal has no carrier, so the receiver supplies one. A product detector mixes the signal with that local carrier to recover the audio.

Huh, didn't know that: A frequency discriminator is a circuit for detecting FM signals (E7E03).

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Why was the technician arrested for driving too much power into a diode detector? He violated the square law.
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References

Answer: Product detector. An SSB signal has no carrier, so the receiver supplies one. A product detector mixes the signal with that local carrier to recover the audio.

  1. NCVEC 2024-2028 Amateur Extra Question Pool, E7E11 (4th errata, Feb. 4, 2026) www.ncvec.org/downloads/2024-2028%20Extra%20Class%20Question%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20with%204th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    C. Product detector
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. NCVEC 2024-2028 Amateur Extra Question Pool, E7E03 (4th errata, Feb. 4, 2026) www.ncvec.org/downloads/2024-2028%20Extra%20Class%20Question%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20with%204th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    D. A circuit for detecting FM signals
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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