Anyone using a portable to monitor aero HF SSB signals?

[KB2GOM]

If so, which one?

In evenings, I've tried to use my CCrane Skywave SSB, but, due to the small tuning knob and mute between steps, the only viable strategy is to put a bunch of frequencies into memory and click between them. Unfortunately, the constant clicking irritates my wife, so I am look for an alternative portable that has a decent tuning knob with no muting between steps.

Any ideas? Also, I would prefer something that can run off house power or standard batteries (AA, D, etc.) . . . not real fond of proprietary rechargeables.

(PS -- in my shack, I have an Icom 706 hooked to a 50 foot wire, so I realize the limitations inherent in a portable.)

 

[K4EET]

<snip> …strategy is to put a bunch of frequencies into memory and click between them. Unfortunately, the constant clicking irritates my wife... <snip>

Is the "constant clicking" sound that you refer to the result of the mechanical noise of the actual button/key presses (that is very good hearing) or the resulting "beep" after a button/key press is made? If it is the beep that you are referring to, that beep sound can be turned off. In the CC Skywave SSB manual, see Page 24 at the heading Disable Beep Sound. You also have the option of using headphones or earbuds. When those are plugged into the 20. Earphone Jack shown on Page 22 of the CC Skywave SSB manual, the front-firing speaker is disabled.

<snip> I am look for an alternative portable that has a decent tuning knob with no muting between steps. <snip>

If I understand what you are saying, that "no muting between steps" requirement might be hard to meet. But looking at the CC Skywave SSB manual on Page 16, Item 13. Fine Tune/Alarm Button, the tuning step is 10 Hz in the smallest increment. Muting that gap would be unnoticeable to the human ear.

The C.Crane CC Skywave SSB radio is a nice receiver and works on "AA" batteries which you prefer so I am trying to enable you to keep using that receiver. I may not have understood your post but at least I tried to answer it is part. As for another receiver that would not exhibit these characteristics, that may be a tough order to fill. C.Crane makes some nice equipment and others with similar specifications are probably going to function a lot like your CC Skywave SSB does now. I hope this is of some help...

73, Dave K4EET

 

[KB2GOM]

Is the "constant clicking" sound that you refer to the result of the mechanical noise of the actual button/key presses (that is very good hearing) or the resulting "beep" after a button/key press is made? If it is the beep that you are referring to, that beep sound can be turned off. In the CC Skywave SSB manual, see Page 24 at the heading Disable Beep Sound. You also have the option of using headphones or earbuds. When those are plugged into the 20. Earphone Jack shown on Page 22 of the CC Skywave SSB manual, the front-firing speaker is disabled.

If I understand what you are saying, that "no muting between steps" requirement might be hard to meet. But looking at the CC Skywave SSB manual on Page 16, Item 13. Fine Tune/Alarm Button, the tuning step is 10 Hz in the smallest increment. Muting that gap would be unnoticeable to the human ear.

The C.Crane CC Skywave SSB radio is a nice receiver and works on "AA" batteries which you prefer so I am trying to enable you to keep using that receiver. I may not have understood your post but at least I tried to answer it is part. As for another receiver that would not exhibit these characteristics, that may be a tough order to fill. C.Crane makes some nice equipment and others with similar specifications are probably going to function a lot like your CC Skywave SSB does now. I hope this is of some help...

73, Dave K4EET

Dave, thanks for your kind and informative reply.

Yes, I have disabled the beep; the sound is from the actual key presses. As to the fine tuning, it works with no muting just fine, but the display does not show the frequency, merely the amount -- plus or minus -- that the fine tuning has deviated from main frequency. You're right about the CCrane Skywave SSB; it has a lot of admirable qualities, including a bunch of SSB bandwidths that can be used to pull a signal out of the noise.

What I am looking for in a portable is a radio that behaves like my 706 or my Satellit 800: I can tune from 30 megs to the basement continuously without the pop-pop-popping of the muting. The 706 has the added advantage that I can select a fast tuning mode so I can merrily rotate the dial until something squawks in the headphones, and then I back-up, switch to fine tuning, and see what's there.

The Satellit 800, unfortunately, has no fast tune mode, so the tune-and-see-what's-there method is painfully slow. Also, it is as large as a Zenith Transoceanic, so it's not coming upstairs for evening DXing while the better half watches TV.

 

[ka3jjz]

Look at the Belka if you want ham-like performance....

Belka DX and DSP Receivers - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[W8WCA]

From everything I have read That Belka is the best - I want to get one before long!

That said they are a bit hard to get.

Many other portables would do fair for SSB HF Air (civ and mil) my ATS909X2 does a good job and no chuffing/muting when tuning.
It has 2 Weakness though Low Audio in SSB mode and only one SSB Filter - it is a fairly good one but still just one
Even with it's big weaknesses I still really like it bset of my Portables.

My PL880 does a OK job at SSB and has a few Filters I am not 100 % sure on muting - I hope someone else comes in on it
(I have not used it much for SSB)
If not I will check tonight when I get home and post back

 

[KB2GOM]

From everything I have read That Belka is the best - I want to get one before long!

That said they are a bit hard to get.

Many other portables would do fair my ATS909X2 does a good job and no chuffing/muting when tuning.
It has 2 Weakness though Low Audio in SSB mode and only one SSB Filter - it is a fairly good one but still just one
Even with it's big weaknesses I still really like it bset of my Portables.

My PL880 does a OK job at SSB and has a few Filters I am not 100 % sure on muting - I hope someone else comes in on it
(I have not used it much for SSB)
If not I will check tonight when I get home and post back

Yes, if you would check the 880 and get back to me, I'd appreciate that.

I'm a little surprised that no one has proposed the Eton Elite 750 although maybe it is too big to be considered a portable.

 

[ka3jjz]

I don't have one yet, but I understand the new Tecsun H501X does a very respectable job on sideband - and with all those memories, you're sure not to run out anytime soon

Mike

 

[PACNWDude]

If you can get around the small buttons and form factor, the Tecsun PL-365/CountyComm GP-5 SSB is a decent little handheld receiver. Works for days on three AA batteries, but benefits a lot with a better antenna that was is supplied with the unit.

 

[W8WCA]

I tried my PL880 and it does not mute while tuning.

I tried some Hams on 40 Meters. No problem tuning them in (LSB) A lot of activity right now

Listened to an EAM on 8992.0 USB also and it was easy and quick to fine tune it.

While doing those I also tuned in the same on my ATS909X2 and the S8800 I think they both could hear a little better than the PL880 for SSB

I think the S8800 Has the best Audio Notes on the S8800: My Remote is OK but missed some inputs, and the main tuning knob sometimes seems to go backwards at first start of tuning NOT always

For the price the PL880 is very good the ATS909X2 is 100$ more and while I like using it best, I am not sure the 909X2 is better on most signals I tuned in a very close call.

 

[krokus]

Many other portables would do fair for SSB HF Air (civ and mil) my ATS909X2 does a good job and no chuffing/muting when tuning.
It has 2 Weakness though Low Audio in SSB mode and only one SSB Filter - it is a fairly good one but still just one
Even with it's big weaknesses I still really like it bset of my Portables.

My RS World Receiver (an ATS-505 in disguise) has low SSB audio, too. That makes me wonder if it is a design issue, common to the brand.

 

[kc2klc]

The Radio Shack DX-400 / Sangean ATS-803A had the same chuffing problem, but there's a mod to eliminate it (I did it - it works). I haven't googled to find out, but I wonder if there's any chance there's an anti-chuffing mod out there for your radio?

 

[invergordon]

The only portable receiver if I needed one would be the Belka-DX. I've owned one and from my experience it proved to better than most table top receivers including Icom R-75, R-71e and AOR 5000 (but only on HF). I am an avid HF Aero geek and found the Belka-DX reception excellent on SSB with adjustable filters and sensitivity for your preferential listening habits. Very suited to its telescopic whip I found no overloading when coupled to my 34m delta loop within cooee of 3 x blowtorch AM transmitters. I did visit the coast once using just the whip and could easily copy Gander, Santa Maria and Shanwick from here in New Zealand.

If you are seriously considering a new portable that won't make a sound when tuning and is fatigueless when listening then for the price it is going to be hard to beat.

 

[mass-man]

+1 Belka

 

[commscanaus]

On the heavy side for a portable, but I still like my Lowe HF-150.
Added a back light for the display and it can run on AA cells.
Take along a home made aluminum loop and MLA-30+ amplifier on a speaker stand which can be deployed easily in an RF quiet spot.

Old school cool receiver but still works very well!

Commscanaus.

 

[W8WCA]

I wish that Eton would bring back the E-1 it was by far the best portable I ever had/used!
better than Drake SW8, Grundig 500 & 700 (700 was pretty close),Sattalit 800, Sony SW77 (or 2010) - etc.
It Even had Passband tuning

I saw some posts a year ago they were coming out with a Eton Elite Satellit that was the E-1!

Wow! Check out the new Eton Elite Satellit!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brent Levit, who notes a new Eton receiver in the latest Universal Radio print catalog: the Eton Elite Satellit. Raise your hand if you see the similarities…

swling.com

Eton Elite Satellit delayed until 2021

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who have pointed out the recent update from Universal Radio regarding the availability of the Eton Elite Satellit. Per Universal Radio: 05/11/20 Eton …

swling.com

 

[ka3jjz]

I think that died on the vine. I haven't heard any news about that in a long time. Too bad; it would have given the Tecsun H501X a run for its money. Particularly since sync detection worked on the E1 (Drake had its fingers in the design, after all), not so much on the Tecsun

Mike

 

[W8WCA]

I think that died on the vine. I haven't heard any news about that in a long time. Too bad; it would have given the Tecsun H501X a run for its money. Particularly since sync detection worked on the E1 (Drake had its fingers in the design, after all), not so much on the Tecsun

Mike

Wow I did not realize the H501 was so good - Guess I will re look at the reviews!

 

[ka3jjz]

The sync on the H501 is a weak spot, and if you're buying a radio for this, the H501 isn't for you. There are LOTS of positive reviews out there; shouldn't be too hard to find them. And you have this...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=h501x+tecsun

Unfortunately not as tight as I would like it, but it's easy to ignore the chaff...

Mike

 

[spacellamaman]

Yes, I have disabled the beep; the sound is from the actual key presses.

boy i laughed even before i read you answer cause i knew what it was going to be.

you oughtta count your lucky stars she doesn't put a pillow over your face, as i imagine this aint the first time.