I am a (total) SW neophyte, just bought a couple of decent radios, including a Sony 7600GR, but cannot figure how to use the selectable sideband feature. I have put the switch on Upper Sideband (USB?), then tried the scan function the same way I do to find other signals such as Radio Netherlands, etc. But all I have so far come up with using the SSB function is a lot of hiss and, when I turn the fine-tuning wheel, some screeching. Occasionally, I detect what sound like voices but they are distant and barely distinct, and fine-tuning via the wheel does nothing to bring them in any clearer. A dumb question, I'm sure; I've tried to Google to find some how-to link on how to use SSB, but have come up empty. I live in Portland, OR, apparently part of the western US world band Dead Zone, so that may be part of the issue/problem. Whatever, any advice/tips much appreciated.
SSB how-to question
- Thread starter rainguy
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There are alot of Hams who use nothing but SSB. I myself spen a fair amount of time on SSB. But understand this, It take a good antenna to hear stations far away on SSB. If you are using a standard scanner antenna then chances are that all you will hear is local traffic.
Here is a list of SSB nets that are on air
Local traffic
10 meter (28.380) Monday nighst starting at 20:00 - I think is is starting up for the 1st time this week?
2 meter (144.240) Monday nights starting at 20:30 - This has been going on for a long time.
If you want to check out how far you can hear then you should tune in to the noon time net on 40 meters. (7.268) Every day starting at 12:00
Good luck, there is alot to listen to out there so don't give up!
Here is a list of SSB nets that are on air
Local traffic
10 meter (28.380) Monday nighst starting at 20:00 - I think is is starting up for the 1st time this week?
2 meter (144.240) Monday nights starting at 20:30 - This has been going on for a long time.
If you want to check out how far you can hear then you should tune in to the noon time net on 40 meters. (7.268) Every day starting at 12:00
Good luck, there is alot to listen to out there so don't give up!
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Generally...
Upper Side Band is used by hams on 14 Mhz and up as well as the US Military.
Lower Side Band is usually found on the ham bands below 14 mhz such as the 7 Mhz (40 meter band) and 3.80-4.0 Mhz (80 meter band).
Upper Side Band is used by hams on 14 Mhz and up as well as the US Military.
Lower Side Band is usually found on the ham bands below 14 mhz such as the 7 Mhz (40 meter band) and 3.80-4.0 Mhz (80 meter band).
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
rainguy, the use of sync detection(selectable sideband) in any radio, including the 7600, is a somewhat advanced topic, best handled when you understand something about how a radio works. Let's take a very basic example, description, and how it would be used;
In a typical receiver, when a carrier (or signal) is injected into another signal, it creates at least 2 products - the original frequency plus the carrier, and the original frequency minus the carrier. The math is very simple - let's assume you are on 5000khz, and you inject a 455khz signal - the results are:
5000+455 = 5455 khz ; this would be thought of as an USB signal, since it's higher than the original; and
5000-455 = 4545 khz ; this would be thought of as a LSB signal, since it's lower than the original
Now let's assume that the 5000khz signal is being interfered with. If the interfering station is on the USB, you can use sync detection to listen to it on the LSB - if the receiver is selective and stable enough you should be able to get a clean signal out of it. The converse is also true - if the signal is being interfered with on the LSB, then listening to it on the USB should escape the interference. Using this technique takes practice, and patience. The tuning is very critical - even a 10hz error will produce a noticeable degradation of the signal quality. You must tune very slowly, and listen for the point where the signal is as clear as it can get. As you can see, this is a technique which can reduce interference, and sometimes fading problems which are endemic to HF. You can also use it to improve the fidelity of a clear HF signal, as you are attempting to do here.
This explanation does gloss over many important points, but it does draw a fairly accurate picture. How you tune a signal using this technique (often referred to as Exalted Carrier Single Signal - or Single Sideband (ECSS) - the 2 terms are almost synonymous) varies somewhat from receiver to receiver, since each receiver has different methods to implement the necessary controls. Too, some receivers don't tune fine enough (or are selective enough) to get rid of tuning errors and other factors, none of which are important for you to understand at the moment. There are 2 Yahoo groups for the 7600 which should be a point of reference for you (anything in blue is a link)...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600group/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600GR/
These 2 groups should be able to guide you through the how-to when trying to use ECSS with this receiver.
And as for stations, schedules, frequencies and other information - your neighbor to the south (California) has a very well known Yahoo group that started out as a club, and is very fondly remembered in the HF community, known as the American SW Listener's club...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASWLC/
and of course, more East Coast based, but chock full of DX information is the North American SW Association....
http://www.naswa.net/
Learning when, and how to listen to a HF station takes a basic understanding of a subject known as propagation - and our wiki happens to have an article with links for this very subject.
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/HF_Propagation
Study the AE4RV site first, with some care. We also have a HF forum where more of these questions can be addressed, if you don't find the answers in the places I've stated (but I'm quite certain you will, particularly from the ASWLC folks. Stu runs a good ship over there...)
73s and GL Mike
In a typical receiver, when a carrier (or signal) is injected into another signal, it creates at least 2 products - the original frequency plus the carrier, and the original frequency minus the carrier. The math is very simple - let's assume you are on 5000khz, and you inject a 455khz signal - the results are:
5000+455 = 5455 khz ; this would be thought of as an USB signal, since it's higher than the original; and
5000-455 = 4545 khz ; this would be thought of as a LSB signal, since it's lower than the original
Now let's assume that the 5000khz signal is being interfered with. If the interfering station is on the USB, you can use sync detection to listen to it on the LSB - if the receiver is selective and stable enough you should be able to get a clean signal out of it. The converse is also true - if the signal is being interfered with on the LSB, then listening to it on the USB should escape the interference. Using this technique takes practice, and patience. The tuning is very critical - even a 10hz error will produce a noticeable degradation of the signal quality. You must tune very slowly, and listen for the point where the signal is as clear as it can get. As you can see, this is a technique which can reduce interference, and sometimes fading problems which are endemic to HF. You can also use it to improve the fidelity of a clear HF signal, as you are attempting to do here.
This explanation does gloss over many important points, but it does draw a fairly accurate picture. How you tune a signal using this technique (often referred to as Exalted Carrier Single Signal - or Single Sideband (ECSS) - the 2 terms are almost synonymous) varies somewhat from receiver to receiver, since each receiver has different methods to implement the necessary controls. Too, some receivers don't tune fine enough (or are selective enough) to get rid of tuning errors and other factors, none of which are important for you to understand at the moment. There are 2 Yahoo groups for the 7600 which should be a point of reference for you (anything in blue is a link)...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600group/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600GR/
These 2 groups should be able to guide you through the how-to when trying to use ECSS with this receiver.
And as for stations, schedules, frequencies and other information - your neighbor to the south (California) has a very well known Yahoo group that started out as a club, and is very fondly remembered in the HF community, known as the American SW Listener's club...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASWLC/
and of course, more East Coast based, but chock full of DX information is the North American SW Association....
http://www.naswa.net/
Learning when, and how to listen to a HF station takes a basic understanding of a subject known as propagation - and our wiki happens to have an article with links for this very subject.
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/HF_Propagation
Study the AE4RV site first, with some care. We also have a HF forum where more of these questions can be addressed, if you don't find the answers in the places I've stated (but I'm quite certain you will, particularly from the ASWLC folks. Stu runs a good ship over there...)
73s and GL Mike
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No problem,
I made a small mistake however, the 10 meter net is on 28.388 not 28.380 (same day, same time)
Be sure and check in next Monday night, I will keep an ear out for your call!
If you are Interested, I know of a coupel of other local SSB nets as well.
I made a small mistake however, the 10 meter net is on 28.388 not 28.380 (same day, same time)
Be sure and check in next Monday night, I will keep an ear out for your call!
If you are Interested, I know of a coupel of other local SSB nets as well.
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