I'm not sure if I am in the right forum

[DrDiablo]

I have Grundig Globe Traveler G3.The question is,since I am able to listen to ham operators on my shortwave radio ralking but I have a hard time understanding them.It sounds like robots to me.I tried using my tuner by going up and down.What can I do to be able to understand them while tuning into ham frequencies?Or is it just my shortwave radio?your advices are greatly appreciated.Peace be with you all.

 

[nd5y]

I'm nor familiar with that particlular radio but the manual should have instructions for tuning in single sideband (SSB) stations.
You need to select the correct sideband and use the smallest tuning steps or fine tuning control to tune in a SSB station.
Hams normally use lower sideband (LSB) on frequencies below 7.3 MHz and upper sideband (USB) above 7.3 MHz.

 

[majoco]

You probably don't have selectable sidebands but you will have a BFO knob - the problem is getting that knob set right. To do that - tune to a broadcast band station that you know the exact frequency - or better still WWV or WWVH on 5,10 or 15MHz. Set your frequency to exactly 5.000MHz or whatever. Turn to SSB and you will/should hear a tone - turn the BFO control until the tone reduces the tone frequency to zero beat - turning the knob too far will bring back the tone increasing again. With the knob set to zero beat, put a small dot on the centre of the knob - nail polish works well in the groove. The voice announcement on WWV should be understandable. Leave the BFO knob alone and tune to the ham bands, you should find that the SSB voices are intelligable, if not a slight tweak of the BFO knob should bring them clear. I don't know what the tuning steps are on your G3, 0.1kHz would be good.

 

[kb2vxa]

Good grief, if you weren't confused when you asked the question I'm sure you are now. (;->) Go right to the source and ask the horse http://www.etoncorp.com/upload/contents/307/G3_manual.pdf and if all else fails read the instructions.

 

[elk2370bruce]

I have Grundig Globe Traveler G3.The question is,since I am able to listen to ham operators on my shortwave radio ralking but I have a hard time understanding them.It sounds like robots to me.I tried using my tuner by going up and down.What can I do to be able to understand them while tuning into ham frequencies?Or is it just my shortwave radio?your advices are greatly appreciated.Peace be with you all.

The G3 does not have the capability of SSB reception - hence the robotic or "duck talk" reception.

 

[hamstang]

The G3 does not have the capability of SSB reception - hence the robotic or "duck talk" reception.

According to the posted manual the G3 indeed does receive SSB

 

[ka3jjz]

Yes, indeed it does - see the description on the Universal Radio website

Grundig G3 Globe Traveler Radio Receiver

Mike

 

[ridgescan]

You probably don't have selectable sidebands but you will have a BFO knob - the problem is getting that knob set right. To do that - tune to a broadcast band station that you know the exact frequency - or better still WWV or WWVH on 5,10 or 15MHz. Set your frequency to exactly 5.000MHz or whatever. Turn to SSB and you will/should hear a tone - turn the BFO control until the tone reduces the tone frequency to zero beat - turning the knob too far will bring back the tone increasing again. With the knob set to zero beat, put a small dot on the centre of the knob - nail polish works well in the groove. The voice announcement on WWV should be understandable. Leave the BFO knob alone and tune to the ham bands, you should find that the SSB voices are intelligable, if not a slight tweak of the BFO knob should bring them clear. I don't know what the tuning steps are on your G3, 0.1kHz would be good.

This^^
your "robot" voices are due to not being 100% dead on frequency-you're slightly off either side.
Like Martin suggested,
1-tune in with tuner to what you see is center of ham's voice
2-use BFO knob to fine tune till voice becomes non robotic.

Like was also said, your instruction manual best describes the process

 

[SCPD]

Well, in the OP's defense the instructions are terrible. Eton needs to hire a proper tech writer. This is nothing more than a leaflet. Not even a basic drawing of the radio's switches, etc.

It also fails to mention what tuning steps the radio has... if it has only 5khz tuning steps then there's a large area to fine tune. If it has 1khz tuning then at least that's something. It shouldn't be as hard to tune in.

 

[majoco]

We need to know a couple of things...
Smallest tuning step - 1kHz or 5kHz?
The advertising blurb says tweak the fine tuning knob for the best sound - if it's a fine tuning knob it will tune on SW band AM transmissions too - does it? What is it's frequency range?
...or is it a true BFO? Given that it has a USB/LSB button I suspect that it is a fine tuning control.

Maybe you bought a dog. My Degen/Kaito does a great job on SSB and the frequency indication is spot on in 1kHz steps - no fine tuner, it's a BFO control.

Agreed the manual is poor, but then they are written by people who know how to work the radio!

 

[nd5y]

Go to Youtube and search for "Grundig Globe Traveler G3" there are several videos like his one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l72mdLe3JQ8 that show people tuning in SSB stations.

 

[DrDiablo]

We need to know a couple of things...
Smallest tuning step - 1kHz or 5kHz?
The advertising blurb says tweak the fine tuning knob for the best sound - if it's a fine tuning knob it will tune on SW band AM transmissions too - does it? What is it's frequency range?
...or is it a true BFO? Given that it has a USB/LSB button I suspect that it is a fine tuning control.

Maybe you bought a dog. My Degen/Kaito does a great job on SSB and the frequency indication is spot on in 1kHz steps - no fine tuner, it's a BFO control.

Agreed the manual is poor, but then they are written by people who know how to work the radio!

For the SW and AM,it has a tuning knob.Frequency range for the SW are from1711 to 29,999.AMis from 530 to 1710.It has a USB/LSB.Since we are on the subject of radios,my radio is able to start on the frequency of 76 megahertz on the FM,what are the chances of picking up a station let's a FM station from London,England if the condition is right?Your answers are greatly appreciated.Peace be with you.

 

[DrDiablo]

To all of you guys

I greatly appreciate your answers and suggestions.Peace be with you all.

 

[majoco]

The FM band is from 76 to about 92MHz in Japan so your radio covers that and the other bit up to 108MHz. VHF FM from London? - I doubt it. VHF tropospheric ducting usually gives freak reception in the North to South direction.

 

[k9rzz]

If the conditions are 'right', then absolutely it's possible. But the chances of that are slim to none. I believe a DXer in Scotland has received FM stations from Prince Edward Island, Canada a few years ago, but that's a shorter distance and still VERY rare.

Poke around here if you like reading about that sort of stuff: http://forums.wtfda.org/forumdisplay.php?24-Got-FM-DX&