The History of Single Sideband 

Hello Don: Wow, that is very interesting about your Dad and his early work with SSB. It's too bad that he didn't talk more about his work as a simple reel to reel tape recording of his ventures would be precious today. I enjoyed researching and gathering information for this video and finding the old S-9 magazine article was a highlight indeed. Thank you for your kind words. 73, Ed Gable K2MP/W2AN, Curator Emeritrus, AWA Museum

Howie et al: This video brought back so many memories! --And some amazing coincidences. I attended Johns Hopkins University as an undergraduate, beginning in 1960. On the third floor was a guy from Libertyville, IL who roomed with my friend and fellow ham, K3CUW. That guy was named Joe Batchelor. And yes-- his dad was the Joe Batchelor who had invented the broadband tuning innovation of the Central Electronics 100V transmitter. By 1960, the dad was already at Hallicrafters. His dad was a distinguished-looking guy with a goatee, who drove a Mercedes sedan. But the dad and his two sons were also hot-rod car guys. They had put a Chevy 265 V-8 into that Merc, and had balanced the pistons so the engine would turn very high RPM. It was very fast from a cold start. Joe Jr. used to brag about the fact that his dad would come to a stoplight and when a kid in a hot car would pull up alongside him in the next lane, his dad took great pleasure in leaving the kid behind when the light turned. But, back to radio coincidences. Howie mentioned CAI--- but didnt mention that the company was co-founded by the engineers and management who had formed Eldico earlier. I worked at CAI during my summers and vacations on Long Island. The Chief Engineer was a Swiss electrical engineer named Werner Brach, and the CEO was named Don Merten. The VP and senior radio engineer was Everett Gibbs, W2FI-- who gave me my Novice ham radio exam in 1956. I worked building many commercial receivers and transmitters that CAI sold to various commercial entities. One of the most interesting at the time was a breadboard teaching tool--- a large vertically-oriented panel on a wheeled cart, that had the whole SSB signal path shown, with test points at many locations that could be used by the instructor to demonstrate the frequency and waveform at each step in the radio. All that gear in those days was wired with discrete components, and the wiring harness was hand-laid to interconnect everything in the chassis. I learned how to do all that stuff, and also was a tech in the lab where I learned how to tune a crystal filter for the desired passband shape. I am still a ham radio operator [K2TNO] and -despite the plug for SSB above, prefer high speed CW. 73 to all---- Bill

Hi Bill, I just learned of the Eldico connection last week when I went to lunch with a former co-worker who was also at CAI, Walt Perloski K2IBR. He loaned me his catalog of CAI equipment brochures which I am scanning to put online somewhere. I worked at CAI from 1974 to 1976. I knew Werner from CAI and worked with him at another company started by former CAI people. Sadly Werner passed away a few years ago.

I have a 75S3 receiver and the KWM2A and accessories. They do work, bit I tend to just sit and look in admiration at them. I do like owning the top of the line and have IC-7800, FT-9000, and a K3. Those big companies making ham gear today have been hit by SDR and China cut rate prices, I guess. My 80 years reduce my operating time and I no longer try to keep up.

Hello Bill: Thank you for your kind words. I have been made aware of the USB/LSB problem with the W2EWL rig by yourself and others and the original Powerpoint has been corrected. Now, I also join you in wondering where the LSB/USB versus band usage was generated. And the search begins again... Mni thanks and 73 Ed K2MP

I know you! Thanks Randy for the kind words. Anybody reading this should look up K7AGE's many writings and RU-vid videos on electronic history. You will be entertained and educated on many levels. 73, /Ed K2MP

Hello Ray. Thanks for your interesting response and the telling of your long career. Your WV2 callsign was a rare short lived FCC issue. Stay well and keep active. 73 Ed K2MP

@@edwardgable8583 Thanks 😊, Yes the WV2ZPD call as a novice lasted only for one year. 73 de W2CH Ray

Oh, yes. We used to call those the "drifty 250" Nice to hear from you, Ray. 73 Ed K2MP

Hello Peter: The early transatlantic telephone tests were at VLF, around 50 kHz, using the long wave antennas at RCA's Rocky Point site. When the service really got running they moved first to low HF and then to multi-band day/night frequencies. Ed K2MP

@@edwardgable8583 Thank you for the info Ed. 73's GW4NFJ

Side bands are literally the "side bands" of AM 🤷

@@livelongandprosper70 yes, but not an answer

Hello Dick, nice to hear from you OT. Thank you and 73. Ed 2MP