ARRL Technician Practice Exam

Which of the following controls could be used if the voice pitch of a single-sideband signal seems too high or low?

1. The transmitter power control

2. The receiver RIT or clarifier

3. The audio gain control

4. The RF attenuator

The correct answer is: The receiver RIT or clarifier

When dealing with single-sideband (SSB) signals, if the voice pitch seems too high or low, one effective solution is to adjust the receiver's RF gain or use the receiver's RIT (Receiver Incremental Tuning) or clarifier control. The RIT or clarifier allows the operator to fine-tune the received frequency slightly, effectively modifying the pitch of the audio being heard. This adjustment is critical because SSB modulation relies on accurate frequency alignment between the transmitter and receiver. If there are slight mismatches due to issues like frequency drift or variations in local oscillators, the pitch can be altered, making the audio sound unnatural or difficult to understand. By using the RIT or clarifier, operators can bring the pitch back to a desirable and recognizable level without affecting the overall transmission quality. In contrast, other options such as transmitter power control, audio gain control, and RF attenuator focus on different aspects of radio operation. Transmitter power control adjusts the output power of your transmission, audio gain adjusts the volume level of the audio output, and RF attenuator reduces the strength of the incoming signal. While all these controls serve essential functions, they do not specifically address the pitch issue that can be resolved through precise frequency adjustment provided by