SSB requires more sophisticated frontend than FM because the channel is smaller and reuqires less noise. There are HF radios that use a simple signal generator,

SSB requires more sophisticated frontend than FM because the channel is smaller and reuqires less noise. There are HF radios that use a simple signal generator, but then need a complicated frontend to be able to received anything. The cheap SDR HF radios are $500 when SDR VHF handhelds are cheap like this one.