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1-10 of 94 messages
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by KC7YSF on March 7, 2003
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I appreciate what you are saying. It frustrates me to see that you need to buy an HF rig in order to get all mode access to 2 meter, 440 and 6 meter. Many of us have no intention of upgrading until and unless the rediculous Morse Code requirement is eliminated. And now with Echo Link and other enhancements, I wonder if HF is dying anyway?
In terms of an HT, I probably wouldn't buy the one that you are hoping for. I have grown frustrated with HTs that always seem to run out of battery life just when you push the transmit button! I would, however, like a mobile or compact unit that offered 2 meter, 220, 440 and 6 meter, all mode access. Wow, now we're talking!
This of course, is really a pipe dream, as manufacturers will never bundle 220 with a radio like this, because it would be restricted to sales in the US. Oh, well.... any other thoughts? Well, my friend owns a Yaesu FT-817, the QRP rig. That is bigger than an HT, but still easy to carry around. It has all-mode access at 5 watts, or so I have heard. Maybe that is a solution, in the short run?
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by N8VCL on March 7, 2003
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I don't think people would buy it. Why bother with SSB when you have FM? Sure, you can pack more into the bandwidth with SSB, but you need some really good antennas to work it.
If you can only talk to the guy on the other side of town with it, why not use FM?
Scott
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by K3RE on March 7, 2003
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Although a bit larger than a HT, Yaesu FT-817 is a good choice for all mode 50, 144, and 432.
A rig in Japan is at:
http://www.nishimusen.co.jp/mokuji_e.htm
I havn't been able to contact them, but it's a possibility. Lee
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by N5XM on March 7, 2003
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Nice thought, but how are you gonna load one up efficiently? The antenna would be bigger and heavier than the HT, unless I'm mistaken. How you gonna get an impedence match? Add a built in tuner, and with the mini-big antenna, you want to carry around a 7 pound HT? You'd just be fooling the radio anyway, and most of your power goes up in heat. It seems to me if you are willing to accept milliwatt output, even then you would have little luck unless propagation was really good, and we are moving out of the cycle.
Hey, what do I know? The only thing I know is how to make contacts, hi...
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RE: Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by N4GI on March 7, 2003
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Who are you going to talk to on 2m SSB? There are too many unused 2M repeaters anyway....what use they do get is a bunch of garbage.
WHY DO HT'S LACK CW CAPABILITIES????
Blake N4GI
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RE: Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by KB1FLR on March 7, 2003
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Actually, here in the Northeast, VHF sideband is fairly popular. From Massachusetts it is sometimes possible to check into 2 meter nets as in Pennsylvania using relatively modest equipment.
I agree with a previous post that the FT-817 is a fine choice getting your feet wet in the lower portion of the 2 meter band. Plus it has CW, which is surprisingly active on 6 meters.
To the poster who asks if HF is dying due to Echolink, I would say that HF is alive and well. I had a nice QSO last night with a station in Paraguay on 15 meters CW. He was even running QRP power. Can you get to Paraguay on Echolink?
73 de Rick, KB1FLR
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by K0CBA on March 7, 2003
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George, A reasonable question; I hope this is a reasonable answer. If the band plan was followed, the antenna would only be maybe 3/4 of an inch longer on 2 meters, tops. I think some of the reasons SSB H/Ts are impractical and not likely to attract a manufacturer's interest... 1) circuitry is more complicated 2) while squelches are on SSB rigs, they sure don't work well (don't work worth a darn to be more accurate) 3) tuning would be a pain; a kHz or two is hardly noticable on FM, while listening to a SSB signal even 30 to 60 Hz off your rx frequency is like fingernails on a chalkboard, and 4) in order to realize any of the advantages of SSB over FM you really have to tighten down the bandwith of the receiver while maintaining good sensitivity. That means more internal filters, coils and circuits among other things. Expense aside, physicial size would become a problem. 5) most people have learned that being "the first kid on the block" to buy something fairly new will have them paying the lion's share of the R&D....look at computer prices, calculaters, digital watches, etc. I agree that having to buy a full blown DC to light rig to get V/UHF all mode is a waste for those that can't/won't/don't want to use HF. Various 'stand alone' muliti band V/UHF combination rigs have come and gone but for even just a 2 meter/70cm all mode rig, the price is breathtaking and then the radio makers hear "why should I spend money on that when I can get a goes everywhere rig for close to the same price?". You're just trying to "milk a mouse" getting 222 standard on rigs for all the reasons we all know.
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by JJ1BDX on March 7, 2003
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Making SSB and CW rigs means you need to add a fine-tuning knob, which is a bit space-consuming. Also you need to build in a stable oscillator and a decent linear RF final stage, which is complex and energy-consuming. I've heard that Yaesu/Standard sells a SSB/CW-capable handheld receiver, but not transceiver yet (I think FT817 is not a hand-held one).
About V/UHF SSB/CW activities: in JA, fairly active in the Kanto plain (#1 district) and some 6m enthusiasts have been pursuing even DXCC on 6m. You rather hear less signals, however, in less-populated areas even in the Kansai region (#3 district), you don't hear much SSB/CW activities, though the bands are somewhat occupied by illegal FM users.
73 de Joe JJ1BDX/3 es AE6LI
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Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by K7LD on March 7, 2003
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Back in the early to mid 1980's a company called SANTEC made a 2m FM/SSB hand held. Here is a link for the review of the HT
http://www.qsl.net/n2ckh/SANTEC%20LS-202A.pdf
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RE: Why Do HTs Lack SSB Capabilities?
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by KE1MB on March 7, 2003
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HF dying? hello.. I don't think so.. this is not even worth saying anymore about. As far as SSB in a HT. Maby, but most VHF SSB requires a good beam array. What purpose would an SSB HT serve? You are going to be hell bent to make a contact on SSB with the limited range of an HT. A better idea would be inexpensive VHF/UHF SSB rigs with good output power. $700 is a lot to spend if you only want to use it on one or two bands.
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