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EQUALIZATION AND HAM RADIO LINDY WILLIAMS, K6EB IN THE APRIL 2023 ISSUE, I
DISCUSSED MICROPHONES AND HAM RADIO.  THE SECOND TOPIC TO DISCUSS IN SSB
TRANSMITTED AUDIO IS EQUALIZATION.  LIKE MICROPHONES, EQUALIZATION COMES IN
MANY DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS.  WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TIME SPENT ADJUSTING THE
SOUND OF YOUR STATION, THE RESPONSE OF THE MICROPHONE, IN ALMOST EVERY
INSTANCE, CAN BE MADE TO SOUND AS GOOD AS A MICROPHONE THAT COSTS THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.  HOW IT WORKS EQUALIZATION IS A PROCESS IN WHICH YOU CAN
CONTROL THE GAIN OF INDIVIDUAL FREQUENCIES WITHIN THE AUDIO BAND PASS OF
YOUR TRANSCEIVER.  SOME MICROPHONES, SUCH AS THOSE MADE BY HEIL SOUND AND
SOME SPECIAL PURPOSE MICROPHONES MADE BY SHURE, ELECTRO VOICE, AND OTHERS,
ARE DESIGNED WITH CUTS AND BOOSTS OVER THE SSB BANDWIDTH TO GIVE YOU AN
OPTIMUM RESPONSE FOR THE LIMITED BANDWIDTH OF THE MEDIUM.  THIS CAN BE A
GOOD THING IF YOUR TRANSCEIVER DOESNT HAVE EQUALIZATION OR HAS LIMITED
EQUALIZATION.  THE FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF YOUR AUDIO CHAIN CAN HAVE A MAJOR
EFFECT ON WHETHER THE LISTENER CAN DETERMINE WHAT YOURE SAYING.  THIS ISNT
THE SAME AS HOW GOOD OR NATURAL YOUR AUDIO SOUNDS.  IF YOURE TALKING WITH
ANOTHER HAM AND BOTH OF YOUR SIGNALS ARE FULL QUIETING AND STRONG, THE
INTELLIGIBILITY ISNT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHEN YOURE COMMUNICATING ON THE
VERY EDGE OF SIGNALS THAT ARE BARELY READABLE.  ALSO, ITS IMPORTANT THAT
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