How common is SSB on 2 meters and 70 centimeters?

[Turbo T]

I've heard people do run sideband on either of these frequencies, but how often? I'm beginning to wonder if I should sell off my FT-7900 and my FT-2800 and buy a sideband rig for 2 M/70 CM?

Also will they sound like Donald Duck on either 2 M/70 CM like they do on 11 M CB when someone is on SSB and you're on basic AM?

 

[office888]

It's not worth killing yourself over.

However, by all means, upgrade to an FT857!

All-mode HF/VHF/UHF.

Also, if they sound like donald duck, you're not centered on their TX frequency. Use the RIT/Clarifier, that's what it is there for.

 

[RatsoW8]

Amateur 2m ssb equipment is generally well made and you're not going get that cheesy CB, no ALC SSB sound. It will sound like SSB on a good hf ssb rig.

A 2m ssb rig isn't worth it to me. Very few people running 2m ssb to begin with and you really need a tower, directional antennas and an amp to get a decent signal out there.

 

[Turbo T]

Thanks, I understand the "Donald Duck" thing....when I used to do 11 meter CB, anytime I stumbled on channels 36-39 and heard "Donald Duck" meant someone was on SSB and I needed to flip over to sideband. I just wans't sure if it sounded the same on 2 meter as it does on 11 meter.

 

[Moleculo]

The number of people on SSB on VHF/UHF varies greatly depending on your area. Remember, most SSB VHF/UHF work is on a horizontally polarized antenna. You can do it with anything, but cross-polarization attenuation on VHF/UHF is a killer. Ask around on some on some of your local FM frequencies to see if there are others that use SSB. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[towerdog]

I had a friend that was real into 2m SSB, he could talk hundreds of miles, far beyond line of site, with less than 100 watts. basically everything I thought I knew about VHF, well I had to rethink it. I know for 2 meters they made several rigs that are now discontinued, and seems like I recall seeing an old rig from the late 70s with SSB, however I have never seen a SSB rig for 440, only transverters, which I think would be the cheapest way to go for SSB. Typically they HF rig on 10 meters with transverter to get to 2m and 70cm. A re purposed CB might work nicely to drive the transverter also.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

my IC-7000 works great on VHF & UHF SSB
Yes it is possible to talk a couple hundred miles easily.

So long as a good antenna..
Height works well..
Decent radio/mike..
No real need to have more then 100 watts ( i don't )

However it also depends on the area you are in.
But if you can easily get out a 2-300 miles..then you should be able to hear ( especially on contests .. although i am not much into those )

 

[IMD262]

I had a friend that was real into 2m SSB, he could talk hundreds of miles, far beyond line of site, with less than 100 watts. basically everything I thought I knew about VHF, well I had to rethink it. I know for 2 meters they made several rigs that are now discontinued, and seems like I recall seeing an old rig from the late 70s with SSB, however I have never seen a SSB rig for 440, only transverters, which I think would be the cheapest way to go for SSB. Typically they HF rig on 10 meters with transverter to get to 2m and 70cm. A re purposed CB might work nicely to drive the transverter also.

Yaesu also made a UHF version of this portable radio:

 

[doctor]

SSB

It depends what part of the country you live in for ssb on 2 meters. When I ran ssb I ran 75 watts to a 8 element beam if I remember from Southern INDIANA, and could work..Tenn, Alabama, Florida in the evenings, and the antenna was at 45 feet....A few big storms took the system down, but I always found it fun to have a distant qso on 2 meters...by all means I would own a FT857d all mode, all band..I have had one for 3 or 4 years..it does all I want..
Doctor/795

 

[NeoHam]

I am interested in home-mobile simplex communications. If I've got a gain antenna about 30' up can I get better reception on sideband rather than FM? Both antennas will be vertical. I am having trouble finding ssb rigs other than Yaesu FT8xx. Does Icom make any?

 

[FatHam]

I am interested in home-mobile simplex communications. If I've got a gain antenna about 30' up can I get better reception on sideband rather than FM? Both antennas will be vertical. I am having trouble finding ssb rigs other than Yaesu FT8xx. Does Icom make any?

IC-7000 currently and IC-706's. Both mobiles. The 706's were replaced by the IC-7000, but there are still plenty of new IC-706's on dealer's shelves.

They used to make some all mode base units. Not sure if they still do.

 

[Mudfoot]

We have several 2 meter SSB nets during the week in my area. If you miss the nets you pretty much have to bribe someone away from the repeater to QSY.

When I started out, I used my Dad's Gonset GSB 900A Sidewinder for 2 meters and on 6 meters we had a Gonset GSB 910A. Both had 20 watts input. Still have both units.

There were plenty of people to talk to. Then our first permanent 2 meter repeater came online in 1977 and just about everyone hung out on it and still do today.

I just never got the fascination with 2 meter repeaters and pretty much avoid them. The guys that check into the nets are old timers and are dwindling away. I haven't heard any new guys check in for awhile. It's a shame cause you hear a lot of repeater junkies running mult-mode rigs, but you can't drag them away from the "machine".

You should at least find out if SSB is active in your area, and if so, give it a whirl.

 

[doctor]

2 METER SSB

Try this webpage has some info on nets on ssb, times,days.
I would purchase a ft 857d for vhf/uhf it also has 10-160 and all modes, have had one for years, works great
DOCTOR/795


KC9BQA » Blog Archive » All SSB and FM 2 meter nets *ON* tonight & tomorrow

 

[WA8ZYT]

The attached PDF file is emailed out DAILY. Synopsis of US VHF/UHF activity from the previous day. You will be surprised. I look foward to reading it every day. Lots of neat pictures of stations, antennas, etc.

Stan will gladly add you to his email list.

 

[Lefty]

I have 30 states, and 10 DXCC on 2M SSB using a Yaesu FT-857, a home made 5 element Yagi, and a 160W Mirage amp.

The antenna was from an old QST article on converting a 6 element Radio Shack FM antenna to 2M use. Works great, and all though that antenna is no longer made, it's very easy to make a nice Yagi from old TV antenna parts.

Activity will depend on your location.