ICOM IC-R20 - Newbie question

[bbg]

I have just bought an IC-R20 for a very specific purpose: to listen to SSB weather forecasts while I am sailing offshore (like mid-Atlantic).

I think I understand the frequencies, but I don't understand the modes.

For example, I know there is a voice weather broadcast on 6175 kHz at 1133 GMT.

I can tune the scanner to 6175 kHz by pressing and holding VFO/MHz then punching in 6.175. So far, so good.

But, above the frequency, I see the mode as either FM, WFM, AM, LSB, USB or CW. If I toggle back and forth between them, sometimes I'll get reception and sometimes I won't. What is the difference, if the frequency hasn't changed?

And for SSB reception, do I want to be on either USB or LSB always?

I have a feeling that any answers are just going to lead to more questions, so I thank you in advance for you patience.

I'm sure to some of you this might seem like a joke, but this is the first scanner I've ever bought, and it is really way more technical than I anticipated. Until now my radio scanning knowledge was limited to what my car radio can do.

 

[DickH]

...

And for SSB reception, do I want to be on either USB or LSB always?

SSB means Single Side Band. That is either USB, Upper Side Band, or LSB, Lower Side Band. Just try them both and you will know which one. There is no way to know until you hear them.

 

[skidplate]

You will want to be in USB to hear the weather broadcasts.

 

[nanZor]

But, above the frequency, I see the mode as either FM, WFM, AM, LSB, USB or CW. If I toggle back and forth between them, sometimes I'll get reception and sometimes I won't. What is the difference, if the frequency hasn't changed?

Welcome aboard! Since this might concern your safety immediately, I thought I'd bring some things up right off the bat...

Skidplate is right about using USB (Upper Side Band) for listening to the weather broadcasts. Note that you may not be able to hear it depending on time of day or location, since operations in these bands (HF aka High Frequency) use not only line of sight, but also reflection from the ionosphere. So don't get frustrated if you don't hear it at first.

You may also want to OPEN your squelch. If the broadcasts are weak, they may not be strong enough to break the squelch, but be perfectly usable otherwise. Holding down the squelch button will temporarily open it. Many HF operators run with an open squelch. OR, by holding down the squelch, and turning one of the knobs, you'll be able to set the squelch to OPEN, AUTO or 1-9.

I've covered some of this in the R20 WIKI here on RadioReference - you may want to check that out!

AUTO or the custom 1-9 are used more for the VHF/UHF bands. For now, I'd just stick to using OPEN for your HF weather broadcast monitoring, and AUTO for most everything else.

I'm sure to some of you this might seem like a joke, but this is the first scanner I've ever bought, and it is really way more technical than I anticipated. Until now my radio scanning knowledge was limited to what my car radio can do.

Don't worry - just take it easy. There are some similarities - I'm sure you have an AM / FM broadcast radio, along with presets or memories. You can manually tune it with a knob, so it really isn't so alien.

NOAA weather broadcasts - easy to do with the R20:

(Normally, you'd want to set your squelch back to AUTO if you've been doing HF monitoring)

TAP the [MR] button. (As you've probably already found out, there is a big difference between TAPPing a button, and HOLDing it). Keep on tapping it until in the lower right corner you see "WX". You can use one of the knobs to manually tune across the NOAA weather channels. Instead of manual tuning, you can force the R20 to scan all of them. This time, HOLD down the [SCAN] button. To stop scanning, just hit the [DUAL WATCH] key.

To go back to your VFO mode where you directly enter freqs, just TAP [VFO]

Getting a Bearing from your local AM broadcast stations:
Want to tune into say 640 AM while out at sea and get a bearing from it? Just use 0.640. BUT CHECK YOUR MODE so that it is AM. As you've found out, this is highly important. To get a bearing, be sure to set up the radio so that it uses the internal loopstick antenna. You'll find this setting using by HOLDING the [SET] key. (Tip - after setting it, to get out of the menu system, just TAP [Dual Watch].

VHF MARINE CHANNELS:
I've gone too far already, but on P.73 of the manual, you'll see the frequencies for the marine channels. How about trying CH16 - 156.800 and make sure it is in FM (NOT WFM!) mode.

 

[bbg]

Thanks all - I'll try the squelch and USB. And I'm sure I'll be back with more questions!

 

[ka3jjz]

Here is hertzian's R20 wiki...(note that anything in blue is a link of some kind, both here and in our wiki)

Icom R20 Quick Start Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

best regards..Mike