Amplitude Compandored Sideband compared to conventional frequency modulation for VHF mobile radio: Laboratory and field testing results

Amplitude Compandored Single Sideband (ACSB) communications systems need only 5 or 6 kHz of bandwidth to transmit information as compared to the 25 or 30 kHz needed by conventional FM two-way systems. Even though less bandwidth is needed for transmission, several questions needed to be answered regarding how ACSB might interfere with existing FM systems and the frequency reuse potential of ACSB as compared to FM. Answer to these questions could help in considering how new techniques, such as ACSB, might be introduced into the existing two-way VHF bands with minimum impact on current radio users and a long-term improvement in spectrum utilization. The report describes the testing program and provides a tabulation of the results. ACSB has been found to be a viable communications medium that can compare favorably to FM under most conditions.