Scanner with SSB

[acl777]

Hi
In looking for a base scanner that lets me use any mode on any frequency with good selectivity and sensitivity. Obviously it must have SSB as I live in the UK and like to hear Dutch propagation beacons on VHF. It would be good if it tuned in 10 Hz steps and had good filters for adjacent channel rejection . I know I'm asking for a lot on a small budget but any suggestions or ideas would be welcomed. I used to run an Icom R7000.

[gewecke]

The only one that comes to mind is a AOR but not sure of the model number, but they marketed one with a BFO to tune SSB although I never owned one so not sure about the specs.

73,
n9zas

[bearcat012]

Originally Posted by acl777

Hi
In looking for a base scanner that lets me use any mode on any frequency with good selectivity and sensitivity. Obviously it must have SSB as I live in the UK and like to hear Dutch propagation beacons on VHF. It would be good if it tuned in 10 Hz steps and had good filters for adjacent channel rejection . I know I'm asking for a lot on a small budget but any suggestions or ideas would be welcomed. I used to run an Icom R7000.

Take a look at the AOR8600 or if you can still find one a Yaesu VR5000 for a budget radio. If you have big bucks to spend look at the Icom R8500 or AOR 5000. These radios are communications receivers not scanners. They lack the ability to trunk but they will scan frequencies and have the ability to receive VHF SSB. Good Luck

[acl777]

Thanks for the feedback. The scanning part is important but so is the SSB so the AOR as a scanner rather than a comms receiver for VHF and UHF is probably the way to go.

[ab3a]

You may consider FUNcube Dongle | A radio that's out of this world! as a cheap, entry level alternative.

[acl777]

Thanks ab3a for the link . I'm still thinking along the lines of the aor 8600. I know it doesn't do trunking but its still a scanner in the VHF/UHF ranges and would also allow me to Dx and use SSB. I'm more interested in Dx than following strong local communications so trunking probably isn't that important for me.

[maalox]

u can try find a used yaesu vr500 thats has ssb...

[lindsay34654]

Originally Posted by acl777

Thanks for the feedback. The scanning part is important but so is the SSB so the AOR as a scanner rather than a comms receiver for VHF and UHF is probably the way to go.

Do they use trunking nets in your area? If there is AOR will not be able to handle it. It they just use Conventional communications then you should be fine

[acl777]

I don't think there is any trunking in my area. User groups use standard frequencies. As there are no trunked systems and all digital is encoded the aor 8600 should pretty much tick every box as a scanner.

Edit; apparently a card can be added to allow it to have trunking capabilities. Does anybody know when the AOR 8600 was originally released ?

[eorange]

Originally Posted by acl777

apparently a card can be added to allow it to have trunking capabilities.

Not quite...the card allows decoding of P25 transmissions, but it doesn't trunk. See this:

AOR P25-8600 Adapter APCO25 Adapter for AR8600MkII

[acl777]

Thanks. I must have misread the persons review.

[carmelof]

Hi the Aor-8600MK2 is an excellent wideband receiver main intrest for me is monitoring aircraft on hf antenna is a
Wellbrook-ALA1530 active loop for vhf antenna is an Icom-AH7000 discone there are some other excellent receivers
Aor-50001D,Icom-PCR15000,Icom-R2500,Icom-R8500 better off getting a dedicated hf receiver and vhf/uhf receiver remember without a decent antenna you aint going to hear anything regardless what you get and do you have an idea what youre willing to spend..

Regards Lino..
MY SHACK:
Alinco DJ-X11,Alinco. DJ-X2000,ALINCO DX-R8 (2)
Aor-3030,Aor-5001D,Aor-8200Mk3,Aor-8600MK2
Drake-R8,Drake-SW2
Gre-PSR400,GRE-PSR500
Grundig Satellit-750
Icom-PCR1000,Icom-PCR1500,Icom-R3,Icom-R20,Icom-R75 (2),Icom-R2500,Icom-R7100,Icom-R8500,Icom-RX7
Kinetic SBS-3
Palstar-R30A
Realistic-PRO2035
Rfspace SDR-IQ (2)
Sangean-ATS909X
Tec Tec-320D
Uniden-BCT15X,UnidenUBCD396T,UnidenUBCD396XT,
Uniden-UBC780XLT
Yaesu-VR5000

[acl777]

Hi. I've got an Alinco Dx r8e for HF connected to a Wellbrook ALA 1530. It's just the VHF/ UHF dedicated scanner that I need to get and the fact the AOR can scan and has SSB makes it seem ideal. I think its only about 10 years old.It's a tough decision and I'm glad I've got some good advice from other posters. £600 is my maximum . I see it as a long term once in a life time purchase.

[acl777]

One last question to anyone who's used the 8600, what is it like tuning wise on SSB in VHF/ UHF regions. The reason I ask is because the 8200 apparently had what's been described as chuff sounds when tuning SSB and I've been advised before purchasing the 8600 to see if it has the same issue as its smaller brother.

[bearcat012]

Originally Posted by acl777

One last question to anyone who's used the 8600, what is it like tuning wise on SSB in VHF/ UHF regions. The reason I ask is because the 8200 apparently had what's been described as chuff sounds when tuning SSB and I've been advised before purchasing the 8600 to see if it has the same issue as its smaller brother.

Just did a quick VFO A and B scan on my 8600 (or search as AOR likes to call it) in VHF and UHF in LSB and USB. I did not hear any chuffing.

[acl777]

Thanks. It must just have been an 8200 issue.

[N2PYS]

You might also want to consider the now discontinued (you would have to get lucky to find a dealer with one in a box or a ham crazy enough to part with theirs) the ICOM IC 910 AH UHF/VHF 100 Watts output computer controllable all mode Base station it's even got a built in TNC if that matters to you but you should be able to pick one up for around 900$ and they are IMHO worth every cent AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW you name it this puppy is ready to roll Multiple antenna inputs u+u V+V U+V Crossband repeat, presets for antenna array to work satellites,dual VFO's scans, channel scans it would be a good rig.

[eorange]

For what it's worth (which is probably nothing)...I tested the VHF/UHF tuning on SSB with my 8200 MKIII and didn't notice it either.

[acl777]

Thanks a lot for all the feedback and suggestions . It's good to get info from people who have actually used these types of receiver/scanner.