AM vs SAM in SDR Console?

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Is one better than the other? Sometimes, SAM seems to make things louder and maybe clearer, but it also seems to accentuate the noise

 

[ka3jjz]

I'm unsure about how Console implements Sync AM (which is what SAM stands for), but in a nutshell; the AM carrier of a signal can be distorted due to noise and other effects, including propagation. Sync AM generates its own carrier, and synchronizes it with the original. This results in a cleaner detection. However it can't compensate for the noise that might also be in the passband (think of a window) of a signal. You may have other tools that you can invoke for that.

If you have an AM signal that is way down in the mud - say a Latin American local station - SAM can be useful in bringing the audio up and making it at least recognizable

Mike

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]