This video which had been created wayback in 2011 is still so helpful. You explain things so well that differentiates what several training camps teach. And thats the reason ever since I discovered this CZcams channel it has become my mentor. Thank you Dave for all the hard work you put in bringing these brilliant videos. Greetings from New Delhi, India. 73 VU2TQT
Another great U-Tube posting. Thanks Dave! BTW, I learned 33 years ago, that slow tuning for SWLing or Amateur Radio work, is more easily accomplished by placing your "pointer" finger inside of the VFO knob "hole", if your VFO knob is so equipped. Much faster, and more ergonomically comfortable during a 36-48 hour contest, than "riding" the edge or "flat" of the knob. 73, N7MZW Wyoming
This video is very old, but at 6:03 he just recommended to run the RF GAIN wide open. This confirms the suspicions of many that people actually run their radios in this inefficient way. People, don't do that. This is all wrong. Lower your RF GAIN, raise up your AF GAIN, and use it as a volume control to reduce background noise. You CAN still pick up weak signals doing this, even better than before.
I've been doing this method for several years myself and am surprised at how many operators just default to max RF gain and use the AF for volume as if they were using a VHF or UHF FM transceiver. I'm assuming that's where this practice came from.
Not wanting to sound like a shill but I passed my Tech and General in one shot largely watching these vids and practice tests. Now I’m really in trouble, ha, ha, ha. Thanks Dave.
Excellent explanation. Thanks so much. Most ham videos I’ve seen so far just assume you fully understand SSB already. So now I need to put acTen-Tec Jupiter on my watch list!
Hello Dave, finally mailed the technician license, missed the general by 3. There's always next week. I joined my local club to wall into dirty looks and definitely bad vibes. Maybe it's the pony tail hair. Maybe it's the ex state patrol car I drive but o wanted the best radio friendly vehicle in my budget. Certainly am not going to find any help there. I do get my father's old call sign. K2GFI. It'll take a couple of weeks. But being a junior helps. Apparently I get first dubs on it. I've much to learn and very excited where I can take this. Physics and astronomy have been my focus of learning for the past 4 or 5 years. Thanks for all your hard work and being the type of person you are. Willing to teach and share knowledge. I got one am very grateful for your help and hope you keep your videos coming. Just make sure you take some time for yourself. You've more than earned it. Thanks again. Robert J Lackey soon to be K2GFI. 📡
Sorry to hear about the club experience. If it doesn't improve within the next few visits, go club shopping. Glad to hear you can get your father's callsign. Perhaps will meet on the air soon.
Excellent presentation! I have a General license but little actual experience on the air. I'm trying to get up to speed. Thanks for the very helpful video.
Very useful, thanks. Suggestion: A little more depth on AGC and the differences in technique between SDR tuning and traditional superhet tuning. I know a lot is the same but there are also differences. It would be great if you could explain those.
Is there a book that explains in detail what each knob represents and does? I love your videos but I still prefer in addition a document I can review until the concept is clear. All your videos are great introductions to various topics. Thanks and keep those videos coming. Also a book should contain background info for the newbie
The owner's manual. This one should be on the internet for download somewhere, maybe from Ten Tec. Most manuals are available this way. Or are you referring to each general function? Maybe an ARRL operating manual or similar.
hi Dave the other night while tuning the HF Bands with my IC751 that I just received, by chance I came across a group of hams from my home town. they were operating SSB on the 80 meter band. tuning my receiver very carefully, it looked to me that the frequency of operation was 3.550. i called in and was heard but reported by the other end that I was off frequency and should try again at 3.560 - which I did. it was confirmed by the 4 other operators that I was now properly tuned. my RIT and XIT both were off. i am very inexperienced in the world of SSB as I normally operate CW mode. my question is - what could I have done differently so that I could have nailed their exact operating frequency in the first place? not knowing the correct procedure makes me a bit hesitant of calling other SSB stations.
It looked like it was 3.550 but how did it sound? It should sound perfectly clear, no shift in pitch, almost broadcast quality in some cases. I'm surprised at how many operators tune SSB signals off frequency and have horrible shift in pitch, even at field day operations where we demonstrate our abilities. Trust your ears, then your eyes. With that said, there is a chance that your radio might have an issue, maybe be off frequency a bit.
Thanks! This was exactly what I have been wanting to understand at this early stage of using my HF radio. The tip on using RIT will be helpful. Is your Bandwidth and Pass Band Filter controls the same as my Lo/Width and Hi/Shift Filter controls?
David, I'm glad you found the video useful. Without knowing your specific radio model, I'd have to say that your Low/Width and Hi/Shift are likely similar to Bandwidth and the Passband. 73
Thanks again David. My rig is an inherited 1996 - Kenwood TS-870S with no documentation or an Elmer to teach me how to run it. Yours is the first I have found showing actual operation. I printed the Owner's Manual and have been pouncing in SSB contests the past few months. I am not an EE, just an appliance operator. ;-) enjoying HF. P.S. In your video, you had 14.255.2 tuned at 11:36 AM (?) to what sounded like a military net. Is that an actual net for military vets?
I use a FiFi SDR I purchased from www.funkamateur.de, plus the excellent SDRConsole (V2) software from v2.sdr-radio.com/. Re the software, be very careful you're downloading the right thing.
Actually the Jupiter is an SDR. It's a control panel & display version of the Pegasus which is a conventional SDR. It can even be operated in Pegasus mode.
so, when I tune into a frequency the number displayed is the carrier wave. and the radio listens to a range on either side (upper or lower)? so I may be able to listen to LSB using USB but if I try to tune in I would transmit on the opposite side of the carrier wave, and no one would hear me?
I have a older Kenwood. It has a mode button that just says LSB/USB.......... is there a way to tell when I need to use what? or do I just use what ever works? Thanks
Open up the bandwidth. You can aim for a 3 kHz bandwidth for SSB reception. Some signals sound muffled simply because the transmitting operator is using a bad mic.
@@davecasler I'm using an ICOM 745, which doesn't have a bandwidth control. I can almost never understand SSB transmissions, no matter how hard I try to tune them in. Is it possible my radio is malfunctioning, or is it just my technique?
@@kisho2679 SSB is specified by its frequency? Not sure that makes any sense. Still the mode has no direct effect on range or propagation, to answer your question. It's frequency that determines range, line of sight dependency, propagation, etc. Some HF frequencies will skip over the 80 mile range while 40, 80 & 160 meters would likely do that range well. VHF and above generally would not make the 80 mile range (without ducting). At that point you can pick SSB or any other mode without it affecting range much if any.
@@davecasler maybe when this new cycle starts we will here more on 2m and people can go back to using it as much as the old days lol I keep it on there all the time and monitor it :)
I never could figure out why they wait to teach space weather in the general when it is just effective in the 2/m band :P My parents where Cb fanatics in the 70's and 80's but i learned a lot then about space weather and propagation I was and still am loving the ham as i study for my general but i got a buddy who was a fellow cber back in the day fixing to take the ham test soon so that rocks the education alone is worth the time...KG5CUO
This video which had been created wayback in 2011 is still so helpful. You explain things so well that differentiates what several training camps teach. And thats the reason ever since I discovered this CZcams channel it has become my mentor.
Thank you Dave for all the hard work you put in bringing these brilliant videos.
Greetings from New Delhi, India.
73
VU2TQT
Dave, I keep finding your older basic information videos and they're SO VERY HELPFUL in understanding ham radio. Thanks so much!
Brand new to HF and SSB this helped tremendously. Thank you for such a well made video and explanation
Another great U-Tube posting. Thanks Dave! BTW, I learned 33 years ago, that slow tuning for SWLing or Amateur Radio work, is more easily accomplished by placing your "pointer" finger inside of the VFO knob "hole", if your VFO knob is so equipped. Much faster, and more ergonomically comfortable during a 36-48 hour contest, than "riding" the edge or "flat" of the knob. 73, N7MZW Wyoming
That is the best explanation of SSB signals and tuning that I have seen!
This is a great video. I shared it with my friend who is taking his exam soon. You do a great job explaining SSB, thanks!
This video is very old, but at 6:03 he just recommended to run the RF GAIN wide open. This confirms the suspicions of many that people actually run their radios in this inefficient way. People, don't do that. This is all wrong. Lower your RF GAIN, raise up your AF GAIN, and use it as a volume control to reduce background noise. You CAN still pick up weak signals doing this, even better than before.
I've been doing this method for several years myself and am surprised at how many operators just default to max RF gain and use the AF for volume as if they were using a VHF or UHF FM transceiver. I'm assuming that's where this practice came from.
A most informative video in your usual enthusing and happy way Dave. Thank you.
Not wanting to sound like a shill but I passed my Tech and General in one shot largely watching these vids and practice tests. Now I’m really in trouble, ha, ha, ha. Thanks Dave.
Congrats and welcome to ham radio! Check out the reference station at www.dcasler.com/reference.
Excellent explanation. Thanks so much. Most ham videos I’ve seen so far just assume you fully understand SSB already. So now I need to put acTen-Tec Jupiter on my watch list!
This was really helpful, exactly what I needed, thanks!
Just got my general and your videos are EXTEMELY HELPFUL!!!
Thank you Dave. Keep it up. I am studying for general now.
I'm kind of poking around. This explained this topic (and features on radios I'm looking at) VERY well! THANK YOU!
Thanks very much David! This video was very helpfull to me as a SWL...73..
Very useful video; thanks Dave! I've dabbled in SSB so far, but this really helped clear up a lot of the concepts of tuning.
I'm glad you found the video useful! Get on the air lots and keep those bands warm!
Thanks a lot! Your explanations are easy to follow, and well laid out. 73 de SA5FTP
I learned a LOT from this video! Thanks!
Thank you, Dave. Another winner!
Great video Sir.
Hello Dave, finally mailed the technician license, missed the general by 3. There's always next week. I joined my local club to wall into dirty looks and definitely bad vibes. Maybe it's the pony tail hair. Maybe it's the ex state patrol car I drive but o wanted the best radio friendly vehicle in my budget. Certainly am not going to find any help there. I do get my father's old call sign. K2GFI. It'll take a couple of weeks. But being a junior helps. Apparently I get first dubs on it. I've much to learn and very excited where I can take this. Physics and astronomy have been my focus of learning for the past 4 or 5 years. Thanks for all your hard work and being the type of person you are. Willing to teach and share knowledge. I got one am very grateful for your help and hope you keep your videos coming. Just make sure you take some time for yourself. You've more than earned it. Thanks again. Robert J Lackey soon to be K2GFI. 📡
For one*
Sorry to hear about the club experience. If it doesn't improve within the next few visits, go club shopping. Glad to hear you can get your father's callsign. Perhaps will meet on the air soon.
Keep on keeping on and stay with your own beingness. 73, K0VY
Very good explanation, very understandable for beginners.
Thank you so much!
Excellent presentation! I have a General license but little actual experience on the air. I'm trying to get up to speed. Thanks for the very helpful video.
Appreciate this excellent video!
Very useful, thanks. Suggestion: A little more depth on AGC and the differences in technique between SDR tuning and traditional superhet tuning. I know a lot is the same but there are also differences. It would be great if you could explain those.
That's a nice Ten-Tec Jupiter :)
73s de KD4ADV
I am using a Yaesu FT-757 GX II (CAT) with an MFJ Tuner and an HF5B / Butternut antenna.
What were the calls for those two people talking? One of the guys sound exactly like my uncle Marty K1PIG.
Is there a book that explains in detail what each knob represents and does? I love your videos but I still prefer in addition a document I can review until the concept is clear. All your videos are great introductions to various topics. Thanks and keep those videos coming. Also a book should contain background info for the newbie
The owner's manual. This one should be on the internet for download somewhere, maybe from Ten Tec. Most manuals are available this way. Or are you referring to each general function? Maybe an ARRL operating manual or similar.
This video is informative for me.
Can a single frequecy be used in AM and in SSB mode both by two different stations simultaneously?
What if a SW radio has SSB mode but no upper or lower option , which one does it go to? Like on the grundig yaught boy 400.
Good job Dave.
easy to understand. thank you
Well explained, thank you.
You're welcome!
EVERY GOOD KNOWLEDGE
hi Dave
the other night while tuning the HF Bands with my IC751 that I just received, by chance I came across a group of hams from my home town. they were operating SSB on the 80 meter band. tuning my receiver very carefully, it looked to me that the frequency of operation was 3.550. i called in and was heard but reported by the other end that I was off frequency and should try again at 3.560 - which I did. it was confirmed by the 4 other operators that I was now properly tuned. my RIT and XIT both were off. i am very inexperienced in the world of SSB as I normally operate CW mode.
my question is - what could I have done differently so that I could have nailed their exact operating frequency in the first place? not knowing the correct procedure makes me a bit hesitant of calling other SSB stations.
It looked like it was 3.550 but how did it sound? It should sound perfectly clear, no shift in pitch, almost broadcast quality in some cases. I'm surprised at how many operators tune SSB signals off frequency and have horrible shift in pitch, even at field day operations where we demonstrate our abilities. Trust your ears, then your eyes. With that said, there is a chance that your radio might have an issue, maybe be off frequency a bit.
Thanks! This was exactly what I have been wanting to understand at this early stage of using my HF radio. The tip on using RIT will be helpful.
Is your Bandwidth and Pass Band Filter controls the same as my Lo/Width and Hi/Shift Filter controls?
David, I'm glad you found the video useful. Without knowing your specific radio model, I'd have to say that your Low/Width and Hi/Shift are likely similar to Bandwidth and the Passband. 73
Thanks again David. My rig is an inherited 1996 - Kenwood TS-870S with no documentation or an Elmer to teach me how to run it. Yours is the first I have found showing actual operation. I printed the Owner's Manual and have been pouncing in SSB contests the past few months. I am not an EE, just an appliance operator. ;-) enjoying HF.
P.S. In your video, you had 14.255.2 tuned at 11:36 AM (?) to what sounded like a military net. Is that an actual net for military vets?
David Hill The net was that of the radio club of a veteran's hospital. They asked each contact if he/she is a veteran.
Thank you. Question: what is that horrible squealing noise we occasionally run into while tuning?
Sometimes it's an AM signal, or could be CW, other sources could be RFI.
Have you played with a Royce with DSB Double Side Band, it Transmit on both Upper & Lower at the same time
That's essentially AM. SSB is half of AM, less the carrier.
My 5555N has a clarifier knob and for the life of me im not sure how to use it.
That should be like a fine tuning knob, mainly used when the normal tuning steps won't get you to the exact frequency you are trying to listen to.
What type of SDR setup do you use, David? Thanks for another excellent video.
I use a FiFi SDR I purchased from www.funkamateur.de, plus the excellent SDRConsole (V2) software from v2.sdr-radio.com/. Re the software, be very careful you're downloading the right thing.
Actually the Jupiter is an SDR. It's a control panel & display version of the Pegasus which is a conventional SDR. It can even be operated in Pegasus mode.
@@GearHeadHam Wow, my comment was 7 years ago.
so, when I tune into a frequency the number displayed is the carrier wave. and the radio listens to a range on either side (upper or lower)? so I may be able to listen to LSB using USB but if I try to tune in I would transmit on the opposite side of the carrier wave, and no one would hear me?
Oh, they would hear you-but so distorted as to be indecipherable
I have a older Kenwood. It has a mode button that just says LSB/USB.......... is there a way to tell when I need to use what? or do I just use what ever works? Thanks
The rule of thumb is LSB below 10 MHz and USB above 10 MHz. The only exception is 60 meters, which is USB.
Hi David, my receiver only has a mode for 'SSB' and not USB or LSB. What do I do?
You're fine. It will pick the correct sideband for the band you're working.
@@davecasler thank you David
New music
Hey does these has vhf and uhf ?
can you advise what video capture software you use?
I use lots of software. I do my main editing in CyberLink PowerDirector 17. For screen capture I usually use Faststone Capture.
I get a muffled signal on reception and I cannot understand what they are saying. What do I do?
Open up the bandwidth. You can aim for a 3 kHz bandwidth for SSB reception. Some signals sound muffled simply because the transmitting operator is using a bad mic.
@@davecasler I'm using an ICOM 745, which doesn't have a bandwidth control. I can almost never understand SSB transmissions, no matter how hard I try to tune them in. Is it possible my radio is malfunctioning, or is it just my technique?
@@JaySDunham Try the opposite sideband. For example, if USB isn't working, try LSB.
@@davecasler Tried that, to no avail. But thanks for the suggestion.
That was a great help video but mind I ask what is VSB?
USB means upper sideband. LSB is lower sideband. Look at my General Class playlist, and there are explanations of these types of signals.
no no not usb . I mean vsb stand for vestigal sideband
It's a sideband that has been only partly cut off or suppressed.
does SSB reach 80 miles?
It's not SSB or any other mode that determines range, it's the frequency.
well, SSB is actually specified by its frequency ;-)
@@kisho2679 SSB is specified by its frequency? Not sure that makes any sense. Still the mode has no direct effect on range or propagation, to answer your question. It's frequency that determines range, line of sight dependency, propagation, etc. Some HF frequencies will skip over the 80 mile range while 40, 80 & 160 meters would likely do that range well. VHF and above generally would not make the 80 mile range (without ducting). At that point you can pick SSB or any other mode without it affecting range much if any.
I LOVE MY JUPITER 73 DE K9IOU CHICAGO
+Joe Weis I had very good luck with mine. I just replaced it with a Yaesu FTdx-3000. The Jupiter was very good to me for many years. 73, Dave
PLEASE MORE TECH TIPS DE K9IOU K
5:24 what is PBT ? Peanut Butter Tuner ? Lol. Just kidding. I know what it is 😆
hey dave what about 2m band usb 144.200 USB surly as a tech they can talk there as well :) KG5CUO
Yes
@@davecasler maybe when this new cycle starts we will here more on 2m and people can go back to using it as much as the old days lol I keep it on there all the time and monitor it :)
I never could figure out why they wait to teach space weather in the general when it is just effective in the 2/m band :P My parents where Cb fanatics in the 70's and 80's but i learned a lot then about space weather and propagation I was and still am loving the ham as i study for my general but i got a buddy who was a fellow cber back in the day fixing to take the ham test soon so that rocks the education alone is worth the time...KG5CUO