KB2GOM
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is there such a thing?
HF radio with SSB squelch and ability to scan memory channels . . .
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Many HF transceivers wiil do that. Are you looking for a receiver only?
KB2GOM
Active Member
Receive-only would be fine, but I am willing to be flexible. I want to be able to plug in a series of SSB memory channels and then scan them. I figured squelch was necessary to do that. (Yes, I know that there an be noise floor issues, but I am willing to live with that.)
Due to the nature of HF radio it doesn't lend itself well to scanning at all. Noise is the biggest culprit, that would stop the scan almost constantly and sit on the noise sometimes for hours. Signal levels vary too much making the normal use of the squelch useless. This doesn't mean they don't make HF radio that scans but it's more of a marketing feature rather than a useful one.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Are you trying to follow ALE?
Many higher end HF radios have a squelch control and a memory scan feature. (Like the Icom R-75)
I have an old Icom IC-7000 ham radio. It has the ability to scan, and it also has an enhanced voice squelch feature. The voice squelch looks for 'speech products' in received signals. When speech is detected the squelch breaks.. This prevents the the scan from stopping on various unmodulated signals that might be present in a defined scan range.
I never really used it, so I can't comment on how effective it is.
I have an old Icom IC-7000 ham radio. It has the ability to scan, and it also has an enhanced voice squelch feature. The voice squelch looks for 'speech products' in received signals. When speech is detected the squelch breaks.. This prevents the the scan from stopping on various unmodulated signals that might be present in a defined scan range.
I never really used it, so I can't comment on how effective it is.
KB2GOM
Active Member
EAMs and HF-GCS.
KB2GOM
Active Member
By channels, I meant memory channels (or memories, ie, specific frequencies stored in a memory location).
ICOM 7100
For RX only you can get away with something as cheap as a CountyComm GP-5 or GP-7. 450 & 850 memory channels respectively with the latter featuring a full numeric keypad
Arkmood
Member
Used memory channel scan (some time back/east coast USA) for HFGCS feqs. Drake R8 and Scancat-Gold for Windows (Receiver Controller Software) - worked well monitored many comms (non-secure voice) and yes, Squelch/RF gain adjustments were needed...
majoco
Stirrer
I'm still hunting for a used cheap Codan transceiver so that I can rob the audio squelch board out of it.
Memory channels are not like in public service radios. A frequency may be great due to conditions one night and can be all noise the next day. Sometimes the low end of a band is best, and other times it may be the middle or high end. That is why most HF radios have some type of fine tuning in much smaller increments. There is also the problem of one person being slightly off frequency which requires the precise tuning.
The 991A will scan memory channels and also scan a range of frequencies. On memory scan with SSB, it will stop on a memory channel if the squelch is set high enough to filter out the noise and the signal is strong enough to break squelch. Of course, the frequency stored in the memory needs to be the same frequency which is being transmitted.
On the “frequency range” scan (I forget the term Yaesu uses) for SSB, it will only slow down when it encounters a strong signal. You need to manual stop the scan and adjust the VFO to sit on the SSB signal.
I scan all the time with the 991A but not so much for SSB. I use it for VHF/UHF repeaters and to scan the Dallas Police and Fire departments. Works great! Downside is the 991a only has 100 memory banks. I have frequency range scan set for repeater outputs, air band, railroad band, and even cb bands programmed in. It will even scan regular broadcast am stations if the squelch is set high enough. Squelch is key to making the 991a scan correctly.
On the “frequency range” scan (I forget the term Yaesu uses) for SSB, it will only slow down when it encounters a strong signal. You need to manual stop the scan and adjust the VFO to sit on the SSB signal.
I scan all the time with the 991A but not so much for SSB. I use it for VHF/UHF repeaters and to scan the Dallas Police and Fire departments. Works great! Downside is the 991a only has 100 memory banks. I have frequency range scan set for repeater outputs, air band, railroad band, and even cb bands programmed in. It will even scan regular broadcast am stations if the squelch is set high enough. Squelch is key to making the 991a scan correctly.
You really want a receiver with syllabic squelch, that's about the only way you'll be happy scanning HF. The Icom R8600 has a version called VSC which works ok but not as good as some Harris radios I've used. The Icom IC-7100 HF/VHF/UHF rig also has it but I've not played with it very much to see if its worthy of scanning.
Arkmood
Member
Yeah, mixed opinions/variables involved... my Monitoring Post was situated right between Andrews/Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst C130s,AF1/2, diplomatic flights, etc. - comms galore for years - phone patches were interesting...
KB2GOM
Active Member
Yes, I understand all of that.
KB2GOM
Active Member
Two things:
1. (Probably out of my price range) Which Harris radios?
2. If you own an IC-7100, could you give the VSC a try and report back?
Cheers, Jock
I own a 7100 and have used it exactly for the use you have in mind. It works.
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