| Author |
Message |
    
Dcobb
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 10:51 pm: | 
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Okay guys - I now have my first SSB radio, but I can't find any action! I've been searching the normal 1-40 band and concentrating on 35-40, but not much luck. I've heard a couple of conversations, but nothing much. Any suggestions on time/channel/etc. to look for SSB comms? (For ref, I'm in SE Ohio).
I'll admit one thing: it's harder to tune the clarifier than I expected. I guess I'll have to train my ear a little. |
Antennadude
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 11:41 pm: |
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Look on 38lsb and you will find someone to talk to
Tune your clairfer till the other person sounds normal
I can give one piece of advise LISTEN LISTEN then talk |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 11:54 pm: |
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Dcobb,
concur with above. When the skip gets rolling, 38 LSB (lower side band) is like the highway. Many times when it's "dirty" some will drop to 37 LSB. Any channel can be open for sideband but these are some of the main channels (for sideband) in my area. Friday night it was rolling hard but tonight it's all quiet. Don't give up, come the fall season you'll shoot so much skip you'll be sick of it and wish for the quiet times. Keep trying man and enjoy! |
Deadly Eyes
| | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 11:56 pm: |
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Re D and Ant....
Ant is correct. Locally between 34 to 40 and 15 to 17 are the general SSB locations.
Dont worry about hearing little activity. When the skip rolls in you will hear plenty enough to keep you happy.
As to clarifier well it is an acquired skill. Just practice and have patience. Turn slowly untill the voices sound almost normal.
Also remember that when using SSB you transmit with 12 watts rather than 4 watts on AM. Your signal will travel farther.
DE |
Znut
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 12:06 am: |
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Dcobb,
Be patient, many folks talk on the predominant SSB channels. However, many use radios which can tune between the given channels on CB. I have had good luck on USB, less traffic. 36, 37, and 39 have some activity on USB, esp. channel 36.
I'll tell you though, nothin' like that first DX to Nova Scotia on 38 LSB at 10am on a barefoot rig hearin' that still slightly Scot/Yankee accent and givin' 5 s-units!
Hang in there.
Znut |
Marconi
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 12:34 pm: |
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eDcobb, you might be aware that the clarifier on your rig may not be fixed so that it will move your transmit and receive together. It is common that many CB type SB radios do not allow you to move your transmit at all. In these cases the clarifier only allows you to move your receiver.
In either case it is very important that the transmit and receive both work on exactally the same frequency. Many rigs, right out of the box, do not do this. This may be hard for a first timer to figure out so take note and if you continue to have trouble picking up folks on 36-40 of sideband then have the rig checked by a qualified tech. This is assuming everything else is fine of course.
Some have already mentioned that communications at this particular time are hot and cold. When that happens you will have times when you hear little or nothing on the air and in particular on SB. You should be hearing some readable skip at times though.
Don't give up, hang in there.
Marconi |
Hoosier Cardinal
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 6:51 pm: |
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SSB is a lot of fun when you have a radio thats setup the right way to talk on SSB. One thing to always keep in mind is to always run your radio center slot. It is very, very, very, important to be on freq as most seasoned SSB users almost never will acknowlege a person thats not 100% on freq most of the time they will ignore you. |
Dcobb
| | Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 12:55 pm: |
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Thanks for all the responses.
From reading here and the Usenet CB newsgroup, there are two schools of thought on unlocking the clarifier. My Grant is brand new (and unopened), so mine is still locked. Some people are very adamant that people should leave them locked.
At one time, it seemed pretty obvious to me that I should unlock the clarier so my rx and tx frequencies tracked together, but now I'm not so sure. It made some sense, but then people who argue for a locked clarifier also make a good argument.
Opinions? |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 8:11 am: |
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I'd say with a brand new radio and trying to figure out the clarifier and SSB, leave it alone for now. As you begin to master sideband, then you can think about unlocking it if you so desire. I prefer to keep mine locked so I know I always transmit the same but fortunately it's very stable on Freq. |
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