Neeves
Well-known member
Most SSB need an insulated backstay, (maybe only if you want to transmit?) and an 'in water' earth plate (connected to the earth terminal of the SSB or tuner (I forget 
). None of this is difficult but the insulated backstay, or the insulators, are not cheap and you would need a new (or altered - shortened) back stay
In our original installation we used insulators that were 2 shackles back to back with a tiny plastic sheave, maybe 10mm diameter, separating them, top and bottom of the backstay. They were quite short maybe 100mm each) and we did not invest in fancy insulators. These shackles were sold as insulators for the wires through stanchions and were available through many chandlers (and were cheap). I 'filled' the shackles with transparent silicone to keep them 'flexible' but allow them to retain their 'length' as 2 shackles could easily flop over and touch each other. Don't ask for photos - this was 30 years ago! Ir worked very well.
To emphasise - we still use the SSB, it has been robust and useful for weather forecast, vocal, and we log into the cray fish SSB net when we are crossing Bass Strait and transitting along Tasmania's coast.
Our ICOM M800 was a radio, tuner (AT120 ?) and control box. The control bow was a bit like a command mike, but large. It controlled the frequencies and had the speaker and mike. Most ICOMs are a radio, incorporating all the controls, and tuner. - I think M700 The advantage of the M800 was that the controller was much smaller than the radio and could more easily be installed and the radio itself could be located in a cupboard, out of the way. I don't know what eebygum is offering. The M800 was not a success as later models were similar to the M700. The connection between the 'command' box of the M800 to the radio was a fibre optic cable - that was easily damaged (we damaged 2)
Jonathan
). None of this is difficult but the insulated backstay, or the insulators, are not cheap and you would need a new (or altered - shortened) back stayIn our original installation we used insulators that were 2 shackles back to back with a tiny plastic sheave, maybe 10mm diameter, separating them, top and bottom of the backstay. They were quite short maybe 100mm each) and we did not invest in fancy insulators. These shackles were sold as insulators for the wires through stanchions and were available through many chandlers (and were cheap). I 'filled' the shackles with transparent silicone to keep them 'flexible' but allow them to retain their 'length' as 2 shackles could easily flop over and touch each other. Don't ask for photos - this was 30 years ago! Ir worked very well.
To emphasise - we still use the SSB, it has been robust and useful for weather forecast, vocal, and we log into the cray fish SSB net when we are crossing Bass Strait and transitting along Tasmania's coast.
Our ICOM M800 was a radio, tuner (AT120 ?) and control box. The control bow was a bit like a command mike, but large. It controlled the frequencies and had the speaker and mike. Most ICOMs are a radio, incorporating all the controls, and tuner. - I think M700 The advantage of the M800 was that the controller was much smaller than the radio and could more easily be installed and the radio itself could be located in a cupboard, out of the way. I don't know what eebygum is offering. The M800 was not a success as later models were similar to the M700. The connection between the 'command' box of the M800 to the radio was a fibre optic cable - that was easily damaged (we damaged 2)
Jonathan
