Totally new to sideband.... need info

[CoalHauler]

Hey fellas

Nice site ya got here. Running a Galaxy DX 979 with the SingleSideBands. Love the radio. Its in a tri-axle dump truck I drive.

Ive always been a CBer but until now never had anything but an AM radio only.

I want to learn how to use these sidebands to my advantage.... but everything I read about SSB is totally greek to me. Maybe I am a moron, but if you could try to explain it to me as plain as you can.

First of all, this radio does not have a frequency counter installed....

I understand the basics of the differences of the AM and SSB as far as carrier, etc.
It has switch for Upper or Lower side band and then has a clarifier control. I dont know how to use any of this.

Heck Im so lost on this I dont even know what questions I need to ask to learn how to use this!

Any help is sure appriciated. Thanks again

Tyler in PA

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

Hey Tyler, Welcome to the forum! There are a couple of differences between how people use AM versus SSB - or at least around here there is. SSB users talk with a slightly different "lingo" then AM users. On AM people will say "break" or "breaker" and on SSB they will say "station", etc. It's a bit more organized as well. On AM people will key up over one another frequently, whereas on SSB they will usually patiently wait and key up when a conversation has ended or during a pause. The best way I've found to learn the "lingo" is to just listen in when others are talking and observe how they conduct themselves. The clarifier on your radio is used to fine tune in your receive. Sometimes you will hear a station that the voice may sound like "mickey mouse" (for lack of a better description) and by slowly adjusting the clarifier one way or the other you will be able to "dial in" their voice so it sounds "normal". If you do an online search for "SSB" or "SSB Operation" you will find several sites that will explain it in a lot more detail. Good luck, and enjoy!

[CoalHauler]

Thanks Twenty Two

What channels are most side band talkers often found on? Just playing a little I could never hear any on channel 19. Also I assume that two radios have to both be in sideband mode before they can communicate?

Thanks again... Ill probably have more questions

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

Most around here use 16LSB or 36, 37 or 38 either USB or LSB. Forgot to mention that switching to USB will allow you to hear stations on Upper SideBand and switching to LSB you will hear stations on Lower SideBand. You use your clarifier in conjunction with both of these modes...

[PONY EXPRESS]

Basically the digital display is a very nice feature but for many years people got along without them. back in the early 70's we used channel 16 for ssb .
I hear to many people say your off frequency because their display says 27.39500 when the display could be off .I just tune for natural voice and don't pay attention to the digital display
Now the digital display is nice if you have a radio modified and get extra channels added. That way you know where you are at on your radio flipping added switches.

I personally own over a bunch of radios and just the other day on ebay purchased a new in box Uniden Grant LT 40 ch ssb am radio because it doesnt have all the bells and whistles of the newer radios. Ease of operation driving down the road makes it much easier for safety and the lite up knobs .hard to operate a radio in the dark in a car. I haven't got it yet but should be here around the 4th of the month so maybe next weekend I'll install it.

You will find that local traffic wont have much ssb but when skip starts rolling there will be a bunch of traffic.
The regular ssb channels are 36-40 some people say 35-40 but we usually hear am on 35.
That clarifier , rit or voice lock control is how you tune in the ssb signals on either lsb or usb. Just a little practice and you will be tuning in signals like a pro.

THE Q codes on ssb here is a link as to what they mean [Please login or register to view this link] just not 10 codes like am

Sounds like you got a great radio and hope we catch you on 38 lsb one of these nights here in missouri.

This radio we have we don't even use. To complicated for mobile
[Please login or register to view this link]

[CoalHauler]

Thank you to both of you.
You have been most helpful. People like you make the web a joy and more importantly a tool.

I really like this new radio, and I look forward to learning more about the power of radio in a mobile unit.

Thanks again
Tyler Hall

[Jester]

Sup CoalHauler,

It's cool to see you finally discovered SSB. You'll find that a lot of your long-distance contacts will happen on the top of the band, around channels 37-40. LSB is usually the preferred mode, but USB stations can be found in there as well...

Back in the great heyday of CB, Channel 16 was the primary channel for SSB users prior to 1977, when the CB band only had 23 channels. In some areas it is still possible to find activity there (as evidenced by the other posters here) but the bulk of it will be found around 27.385 LSB when the DX is rolling...

Sideband is basically a "slice" of the channel. A channel is basically divided into 3 parts, the AM carrier, and a upper and lower sideband. SSB is sub-carrier based and takes up less bandwidth, and is viewed as a more "efficient" way to communicate in many instances. However, SSB isn't always the best choice (ie, when there is a lot of noise on the band, etc)

Another plus is you get 12 watts on SSB as opposed to the 4 on AM. DX seems to be a plot more prevalent on SSB for me than it does on AM, except when the bigger AM stations are on 6 or 11. Hope this helped!

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

Also I assume that two radios have to both be in sideband mode before they can communicate?

Oops...I guess I overlooked one of your questions. Yes, in order to communicate with others they will have to be in the same mode (usb or lsb) and tuned to the same channel as you are. It works the same way as AM...i.e. you can only hear and talk to people that are tuned to 17, 19, etc. when you are on that channel...

[Circuit Breaker]

I would love to explain SSB in more detail, but I think it would just confuse you and overwhelm you for now.

One thing that wasn't mentioned though, you'll be able to hear and understand people transmitting on AM while you're on LSB or USB. That's because an AM signal produces both LSB and USB signals. They are part of the AM transmission and carry the audio portion of the signal. You may hear a tone if you're on sideband and listening to an AM signal. That tone is the AM carrier. Just use the clarifier to "zero beat" your receiver. Simply put, turn the clarifier so that the pitch of the tone decreases and eventually disappears. Then your receiver will be on the same transmit frequency as the AM station and you should be able to understand them just fine...although they won't understand you if you remain on SSB.

As mentioned, when talking to another station using SSB, just use the clarifier to make the other station sound what you think is their natural voice. It might be hard to tell but go with what sounds good to you. If you're radio hasn't been modified then your clarifier will only change your receive frequency and leave your transmit frequency the same...otherwise, the two of you could find yourselves chasing each other up and down the band as each of you tries to tune the other in.

Also, as mentioned, SSB activity for the most is 16 and then 35 and up. While both modes are used, USB is predominantly Spanish, with some English mixed in. A majority of the English transmissions are on LSB.

[TX_Dj]

Not to hijack your thread here, Coalhauler... but what's the scoop on that old international in your avatar? That is an international ain't it?

I'm a nut about old trucks

[DX4fun]

@ Tyler

It can seem overwhelming at times as you are trying to learn something new. I won't add to what others have already said as they have given you plenty to work on for now. But I would make a suggestion that really helped me out.

I picked up a 3-4 amp power supply and brought my radio in the house where I could see the controls and read if needed. Makes it a lot easier to be comfortable rather then hunched over looking at the floorboards while your learning. I didn't have a base station antenna at the time so I pulled the car up close to the house and ran the coax in the window.

You probably won't be talking DX with it like that, even though it is possible, but you will be able to hear and right now hearing what is going on is the most important thing.

Feel Free to ask more as you learn more. - Dan

[Slim Jim]

you'll have a blast on sideband. I never even gave it any thought for the first few years I was in CB. Then I got curious one day after hearing folks on here talk about "38 lower" all the time. I tried it out and fell upon a local group covering the entire middle Georgia area. I love it and have successfully recruited several "strictly AM" guys to the sideband group, as well. For the most part, the conversations/content seem more organized, polite, and tasteful. I never have to worry when I leave my radio on while my family is around...lol

[TheTeZ]

all depends on where you are for what channels will be used, Mainley those 35 through 40 will have your hobbiest SSBers talking.

I know i talk on 39lsb with a whole bunch of guys, 38 ive turned to every now and then....

you should know "QSK" which is the same as am's "Breaker"
thats the very basic one you will need on a relaxed channel...

you generally operate with a "call sign" generally a 3 digit number... i go by 732.

normally the channels are referred to as frequencies instead of the channel numbers. each channel is a certain freq. as i am sure you know, 39 being 27.395 also called 39-50 or 27.3950 as well as the other channels in the same manor.

The last thing, you wanted to know how to work it, well lets say you want to talk on 38 or 39 turn the radio to your selected station, and listen, you will hopefully hear some noise... (you want the RF gain all the way up, you want to HEAR THE STATIC! this way you can pick up further stations (it will work with higher powered closer stations the other way as well)

hopefully you will hear some sort of alien sounding voices, or noises.... turn the clarifier clock wise if the voices are low pitch. if the voices are high go the other way. Hopefully that will work... it is much easier to tune people in with a frequency counter, you may want to look into getting one...


Hope you have been helped by everyone here, hope i helped as well.

Enjoy.

[998]

Welcome to the forum and sorry I don't do the side band thing just am i m way out of league for ssb

[Turbo-T]

I am considering getting myself an SSB radio, but wasn't sure on them.

So what is the upper side band usually used for?

Can ssb be used with a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna?

How much further out does an SSB radio transmit as opposed to the standard AM radio?

I also read somewhere that SSB side of the radio does not have a dead key but the AM side does?

[lonesome 500]

1....listen to others first....

2...use radio etiquette...be polite

3..on your first contacts...ask the other op to ''qsy'' or move to a clear ch or freq...explain to them you are new to ssb...

4...learn some q-codes


ssb is more than getting your name called....more personal

[Nightwing]

Hi all, sortof new to sideband. Just wanted to let you guy's know,I just learned a hek of alot from reading all the posts.

[Turbo-T]

Sounds like you got a great radio and hope we catch you on 38 lsb one of these nights here in missouri.

Where in Missouri are you?

[Circuit Breaker]

So what is the upper side band usually used for?

The same thing lower side band is used for. However, for some reason, here in the U.S., most activity is on LSB. A lot of the stations "south of the border" use USB.

Can ssb be used with a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna?

Any CB antenna can be used for SSB. SSB is just a mode and isn't affected by the type of antenna.

How much further out does an SSB radio transmit as opposed to the standard AM radio?

That depends, but I'd say you could probably talk twice as far as you could using standard AM.

I also read somewhere that SSB side of the radio does not have a dead key but the AM side does?

That is correct...SSB has no carrier...BUT AM has both upper and lower sidebands. The AM carrier is just that...a carrier. A signal source that your audio is superimposed upon. Your audio is what creates both the upper and lower sidebands on an AM carrier. Using filters, the radio suppresses the carrier and opposite sideband (depending on which mode you're using) and leaves just one sideband. The advantage of sideband is that it has a narrower bandwidth so it is generally quieter than AM. You also get more power on sideband...triple the power...12 watts instead of 4. The reason for this is because instead of the radio having to put power into a carrier and two sidebands as it would have to do for AM, it can concentrate all that energy into just one sideband.

[TheTeZ]

So what is the upper side band usually used for?

The same thing lower side band is used for. However, for some reason, here in the U.S., most activity is on LSB. A lot of the stations "south of the border" use USB.

Can ssb be used with a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna?

Any CB antenna can be used for SSB. SSB is just a mode and isn't affected by the type of antenna.

How much further out does an SSB radio transmit as opposed to the standard AM radio?

That depends, but I'd say you could probably talk twice as far as you could using standard AM.

I also read somewhere that SSB side of the radio does not have a dead key but the AM side does?

That is correct...SSB has no carrier...BUT AM has both upper and lower sidebands. The AM carrier is just that...a carrier. A signal source that your audio is superimposed upon. Your audio is what creates both the upper and lower sidebands on an AM carrier. Using filters, the radio suppresses the carrier and opposite sideband (depending on which mode you're using) and leaves just one sideband. The advantage of sideband is that it has a narrower bandwidth so it is generally quieter than AM. You also get more power on sideband...triple the power...12 watts instead of 4. The reason for this is because instead of the radio having to put power into a carrier and two sidebands as it would have to do for AM, it can concentrate all that energy into just one sideband.

Agree almost!! 100%
only part im going to disagree with (which isnt a full disagree) is the twice as far thing.... with a bairfoot radio, no extra power no nothing, i can talk a lot further than 2X the distance, probably closer to 4... MAYBE a little less...

i mean i talk to guys with no extra power over 25 miles away on a daily basis. it would be like flicking the switch on your AM CB and talking to some dude who lives down the road every day.

[Circuit Breaker]

Agree almost!! 100%
only part im going to disagree with (which isnt a full disagree) is the twice as far thing.... with a bairfoot radio, no extra power no nothing, i can talk a lot further than 2X the distance, probably closer to 4... MAYBE a little less...

That's entirely possible...I was just making a rough estimate. It's probably on the order of 3 times as far and more under ideal conditions.

[TheTeZ]

i think the 3 times thing is pretty standard. i mean it could be where i live... or where i drive anyway.....