Conclusion

The researchers found that the product detector recovers the message signal from an SSB signal.
Because of this, a balanced modulator can be repurposed as a product detector. On the circuit
board, the audio filter passes the message signal from the product detector and filters all other
frequencies. In conclusion, the researchers were able to describe how the product detector and
AGC work as well as how to configure the circuits in conjunction with the audio filter to recover
the message signal.

Guide question

1. What type of detector must be used to recover the message signal from the receiver’s 455 kHz
SSB intermediate frequency signal?

Answer: C. Product detector

2. The BFO signal to the SSB receiver’s product detector must be similar to the carrier signal to
transmitter’s modulator in what respect?

Answer: B. Equal frequencies

3. On your circuit board, the product detector’s circuit is

Answer: C. Designed to suppress the BFO input signal
4. On your circuit board, the AGC system controls the gain of what receiver component?
Answer: RF Amplifier
5. If the amplitude of the message signal input to the AGC system starts to decrease (due to a
decrease in the received signal power), the AGC system increases the RF amplifier gain by
Answer: C. Increasing the Q4 base current