SSB Radio

[stevespink]

Hi all,
Just had an SSB radio fitted but when I switch on the unit and scan through the channels I don't seem to pick up very much at all... mostly just noise! I'm worried the installation hasn't been done correctly. What should I expect to be recieving?

Many thanks,

Steve.

 

[iangrant]

Steve
Which SSB is it the Icom?
Have a browse around the web and take a look at www.franksingleton.clara.net which lists frequencies for weatherfax.
BBC world service is listed in the Reeds Almanac. etc,,,, 198 is of course radio 4. Coastguard stations transmit weather on MF at the same time as the VHF.

Good tweaking whistle and pop

Ian

 

[snowleopard]

Try a few of these..

0.198 Radio 4
11.700 & 15.300 Radio France
5.975 9.410 12.095 17.710 21.710 BBC World Service
5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 WWV Colorado

If you hear nothing on any of these it's not working.

(some of the World service frequencies may not have anything on and WWV may be too far away at some times of the day).

 

[jimboaw]

Before you decide to confront the installer try Snowleopards frequencies away from your dock. You may be blanketed in the marina or close to other boats/buildings

 

[snowleopard]

Another solution is to find someone else who has an SSB to send you a test transmission. When I had the same problem I called the coastguard for a radio check (ducks smartly). That only worked after I called them on VHF and asked for a check on 2182 as they don't seem to monitor MF/HF.

In my case the problem was that there were 3 distinct switches that could cut off the speaker and/or telephone handset!

 

[stevespink]

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm recieving BBC world service and some other stations so I'm sure it's fine.
I was expecting the ship-to-ship channels to be full of people chatting but I guess we're not that sociable!

cheers,

steve.
p.s. if anyone wants to do a radio check then just let me know...

 

[iangrant]

I phoned Falmouth coastguard who said anytime on 2182 we can do a radio check, very helpful chap.

Ian

 

[jerryat]

Thanks for that Ian. I never do a radio check on my VHF and never thought of doing one with my HF transceiver, but it's a good idea if you're just about to shove off on a long trip. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
Try a few of these..

0.198 Radio 4
11.700 & 15.300 Radio France
5.975 9.410 12.095 17.710 21.710 BBC World Service
5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 WWV Colorado

If you hear nothing on any of these it's not working.

(some of the World service frequencies may not have anything on and WWV may be too far away at some times of the day).

[/ QUOTE ]

The above stations are all broadcasters using kilowatts, so you should be able to receive them using wet string as an aerial. Try the ham bands between 7.05 and 7.1 mc/s on LSB - you should hear lots of ham operators mostly using the sort of power you will be. Try the same round 14.1 to 14.2 mc/s on USB.