R20 on SSB

[K2KOH]

Anyone else notice that the R20's audio is a bit low on HF SSB?

 

[racin06]

Anyone else notice that the R20's audio is a bit low on HF SSB?

Yes, the audio on HF USB is a bit low on my R20. However, I have to say I am enjoying my R20.

 

[K2KOH]

Oh, believe me...I'm not knocking this rig at all, and actually, I hooked the radio up to my Cushcraft R6000 vertical, and guess what? Audio quality of the SSB signals skyrocketed. I guess it helps to have a signal to hear it...

My ACARS decode rate went up to almost ninety-five percent decode over the IC-R10. I picked up the Austin Condor at Lentini's yesterday, and that dramatically improved VHF/UHF reception on the rig.

Definitely, this one is a Mercedes Scanner!

 

[racin06]

Oh, believe me...I'm not knocking this rig at all, and actually, I hooked the radio up to my Cushcraft R6000 vertical, and guess what? Audio quality of the SSB signals skyrocketed. I guess it helps to have a signal to hear it...

My ACARS decode rate went up to almost ninety-five percent decode over the IC-R10. I picked up the Austin Condor at Lentini's yesterday, and that dramatically improved VHF/UHF reception on the rig.

Definitely, this one is a Mercedes Scanner!

Actually, my R20 is also a little weak on LSB audio. However, when hooked to my homemade loop antenna (tuned by my Vectronics AT-100), the SSB and LSB audio increases significantly.

I primarily use my R75 at home for my HF monitoring. However, I travel with my job often and take the R20 on the road with me for HF monitoring. It's certainly alot of fun to experiment to see what the R20 can do on HF. For a handheld, the R20 does a pretty good job on HF.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

Unlike FM where the audio is dependent on modulation index (deviation) AM and SSB depend on signal level up to the point where AGC takes over. Weak signal = weak audio, this is perfectly normal.

If all else fails, use an antenna and leave the rubber duck in the bath tub.

73 de Warren
Amateur Radio KB2VXA

 

[scannerhead3]

i was thinkin of buying the r20 and wanted to make sure that i would be able to hear marine and aeronauticle freqs in ssb. so will i hear them?

 

[K2KOH]

As Warren correctly pointed out, use a good antenna...chuck the telescopic whip that comes with the radio. I've heard that there were good results using the Maldol HF antennas that were made for the Yaesu FT817. Since it's being used for reception...I would think the 40 meter coil and whip could be adjusted and used across the board.

What do you think, Warren?

And the answer is, by the way, yes you will hear SSB on the R20...

Kieran
N2MWE