How to test an SSB Radio installation

[BrendanChandler]

<font color="blue">I recently bought a new SSB and had it installed by the boatyard. I added a PTC-IIex modem with Practor III software today.

After a lot of playing about I managed to connect to Sailmail, Belgium and uploaded and downloaded a couple of emails at a very slow pace. Whilst it was downloading the info line at the bottom of the screen showed "speed =200" and there was a lot of retrying. I am not sufficiently familiar with the Sailmail system to know whether that is as expected.

I tried to call a number of the Coastguard stations Humber, Yarmouth and Solent for a radio check but did not get any response. When I broadcast, I can see that the current being used shoots up to 10amps.

Is there a simple way to check out the radio or do I need to go to the boat at a time when I can log onto one of the nets?

As always, any advice or guidance would be welcome.

Brendan </font> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[forestay]

Brendad

Welcome to the black art of SSB & sailmail.

If you tried to test your ssb in a marina, all the other masts around tend to confuse things... there's nothing like a bit of open sea for SSB clarity.

That sailmail speed will vary depending on the reception you get. You should get as high as 800 bps but that will change with the time of day and distance and things like sunspot activity.

Have you got any propagation software? If not, there is a link to some on the sailmail website (downloads section) or PM me for details on where to find a simple version.

Hope this helps

Stan

 

[BrendanChandler]

Thanks Stan,

I have some propogation Software.

Do you have the frequence of any station that is known to answer requests for radio check on HF.

Brendan

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue">
I tried to call a number of the Coastguard stations Humber, Yarmouth and Solent for a radio check but did not get any response. </font> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Try Ostend Radio - they're the only station I know that still monitors 2182 ALL the time.

 

[Benbow]

SSB installation is a specialised job. I would not trust many boat yards to do it properly. It may well be worth finding a tame expert to cast an eye over the installation. Mistakes like securing an anenna feed to a grounded piece of wire to 'keep it neat' are very common.

10A means the radio is consuming 120W which is lower than I would expect for a 100W output. But there is big variation from moment to moment as the audio signal varies.

 

[BrendanChandler]

Try Ostend Radio - they're the only station I know that still monitors 2182 ALL the time.
I have tried Ostend Radio but not on that frequency - I will try that.

BENBOW, I did have an "expert" look it over and he says it is fine. Personally I am a little unhappy that there is about 4metres of aerial cable from the ATU to the bottom of the backstay but they say that is fine.

As far as the power consumption is concerned, I think that the low figure is probably due to damping on the display as it gradually rises the longer the broadcast of sound takes.

I am probably one of life's cynicics and would like somebody, ideally far away, to say "I can hear you loud and clear"

Brendan

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally I am a little unhappy that there is about 4metres of aerial cable from the ATU to the bottom of the backstay but they say that is fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that sounds odd. Everything after ATU is radiating antenna, you certainly don't want this floating about about in the bilge and it absolutely must not run alongside grounded metal over any length.

 

[Bergman]

Deeply suspicious about this 4M of cable.

Your backstay should have 2 insulators in it, one near the top and one near the bottom but at a height such that no-one is goin to grab hold of the live bit between the insulators.

The wire from the ATU should be heavily insulated and should connect to the backstay above the bottom insulator.

The wire is part of the aerial and should be as short as possible and should avoid coils, sharp bends and close proximity to any earthed metal, or any metal if possible.

 

[tome]

Brendan

The way we test our SSB is to hang a lamb cutlet from the backstay, with a length of 7/0.2 from the bone to the briny. Select 2182 and auto-tune the ATU. Press the transmit button and keep it pressed for 2 minutes.

Examine the lamb. If still pink, you have a problem.

Hope this helps