A good SSB radio

[alorwin]

Can anyone recommend a decent SSB/Long Range Radio? We are new to this and would like to buy one, so anyones experiences on makes and models would me much appreciated.

thanks all! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[jerryat]

Hi alorwin,

We've used an Icom 706MkII for the last seven years full time cruising on our boat and it's brilliant. It is a 'Ham' set rather than a 'proper' marine set, but is only about the size of a car radio as compared to the bulk of the marine types - ideal therefore for our small boat.

If you do a search on SSB on these forums you will be swamped with opinions which will give you a good idea of the ones people like best.

We have communicated with other operators over thousands of miles with ours, as well as getting weatherfaxes, RTTY and BBC World service and others on our Pond circuits.

Try the search first though, as the many replies cover everything from the sets, through installation to antennae.

Cheers Jerry

 

[DavidJ]

One of the best SSB receivers was the British made Lowe HF150. I bought one off ebay for £100 and it's excellent. There are still spares/service from the original manufacturers. My choice came after posting a similar question on this forum about a year ago.
Not the coolest looking instrument on the boat though!
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/r/arar93/mds975/Content/lowe2.html

David

 

[jerryat]

Hi David,

Yep, entirely agree re the Lowe HF150. We have the 'marinised' version of one of these aboard and as you say, it's excellent. But it is a receiver not a transceiver, which is what I assumed alorwin was seeking.

Certainly, if it is reception only that is required, these radios are generally considered to be the Rolls Royce, and will provide superb wefax, RTTY and audio quality.

You had a very good buy at £100.00 David, they are usually much more costly!!

Cheers Jerry

 

[DavidJ]

Hi Jerry (it was Jerry who got me up the learning curve on this one)
The guy who sold it to me on ebay wasn't too pleased at only getting £100 for it either
regards
David

 

[jeremyshaw]

We've had an Icom 802 for a couple of years and it's been very reliable. Mostly use it for email. It has a separate fascia from the 'main box' so that makes installation easier.

You probably know this already, but most problems with radios are down to installation and grounding. I suspect radios are much of a muchness these days, but installation quality varies enormously.

Best wishes

 

[Paragon]

I'd second Jeremy's comments and am very happy with Icom 802 both in terms of reliability and performance.

As he says, installation is everything and not something I was confident in doing right so had professionally done. Looks like it's paid off!

John

 

[GAJ]

I have an Icom 706 Mk1 not a Mk2. The Mk2 is likely to cost more and as far as I know the improvements are only in the VFH side of things. Look on Ebay. It is small and easy to fit.
I paid £375 for the radio and £230 for an ATU. The only additional cost was a bronze ground plate and lots of copper foil.
Perfect for voice, RTTY, email etc. and if you wanted to you could always 'open it' up for use on marine bands.

 

[webcraft]

Could be a bargain HERE ?

- Nick

 

[alorwin]

THANKS EVERYONE!

May I once again say thank you for all the opinions and advise offered by you all! We've get a much better idea, with your help, now.

Thanks and I hope you will be around next time we get stuck!

alorwin

 

[davidbains]

I have a "marinised" Lowe HF150 with an unreadable digital display and possibly a defunct
loudspeaker. It didn't last as long as I expected. However no doubt it could be
repaired if Lowe still supply the parts. You can have it for the cost of postage!!

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a "marinised" Lowe HF150 with an unreadable digital display and possibly a defunct
loudspeaker. It didn't last as long as I expected. However no doubt it could be
repaired if Lowe still supply the parts. You can have it for the cost of postage!!

[/ QUOTE ]

What an offer! You can contact Lowe on http://www.lowe.co.uk/

 

[trouville]

im looking for an icom 706, which has been suggested,for compact set there very good.Theres also a new small icom hf bands only (no vhf) which costs around £300

The kenwood TS50 is also a good rig but has a week frontend--dosent receive as well as the icom--

An economy set would be a trio or kenwood TS140 small very good last forever if used properly--not to much swr!

It would be wonderful if there were a net set up "ywb crusing net"??? then we could use marine bands and get info and WX and not just a few of us with a call,

Just need someone to go on air twice a day and moniter a low and high frequency 6/13 megs? then all could keep in touch near and far day and evening