RadioBanter - View Single Post - They are Talking about Shortwave Radio Numbers Stations on Fringe

Geoffrey S. Mendelson · November 15th 10, 10:19 AM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

wrote:
Aero comm is mostly in USB on HF. Have not heard them in AM
lately,maybe a l-o-o-o-ng time ago it was. Amelia Earhart used it in
the 30's..

Oh come on. Hams started using SSB in the 1950s.

From the wikipedia entry on Curtis Lemay:

"LeMay was an active amateur radio operator and held a succession of call
signs; K0GRL, K4FRA, and W6EZV. He held these calls respectively while
stationed at Offutt AFB, Washington, D.C. and when he retired in
California. K0GRL is still the call sign of the Strategic Air Command
Memorial Amateur Radio Club.He was famous for being on the air on
amateur bands while flying on board SAC bombers. LeMay became aware that
the new single sideband (SSB) technology offered a big advantage over
Amplitude Modulation (AM) for SAC aircraft operating long distances from
their bases. In conjunction with Art Collins (W0CXX) of Collins Radio,
he established SSB as the radio standard for SAC bombers in 1957."

It did not become the standard for commercial aircraft until later.
(anyone have a real date?)

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
To help restaurants, as part of the "stimulus package", everyone must order
dessert. As part of the socialized health plan, you are forbidden to eat it. :-)