SSB RECEIVER 4 WEATHER

[charleshagen]

Trying to post this with my phone. Hope it's not a duplicate. I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive SSB receiver that I can use to receive weather reports while I'm in the bahamas. I don't need a transmitter I just need to receive the information or data. Is anyone know of any affordable options?

[kmclemore]

There was a duplicate - I removed it.

As for the SSB radio, why would you not want to transmit? It’s vital to have a VHF radio on any vessel that’s going offshore. Heck, my boats are only lake-bound vessels and they both have VHF radios.

[Russ]

I don't know much about SSB, but a quick Amazon search turned this up

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Shortwa ... r_1_7_sspa

[charleshagen]

nothing there in the way of a link. Does it have the frequency needed?

[NiceAft]

Hopefully this helps; scroll down.
https://xhdata.com.cn/products/2023-new ... 0177697086

I am in full agreement with Kevin about having the ability to broadcast.

Traveling about 35 miles* off shore without the ability to broadcast should be be rethought.



* It’s about 70 miles to the Bahamas.

[Russ]

nothing there in the way of a link. Does it have the frequency needed?

Click the Amazon link to get to the listing.

I'm not sure what frequency the weather stuff are on. It says

FM: 64~108 MHz
SW: 1711~29999 kHz
LW: 153~513kHz
MW: 520-1710kHz/522-1620kHz


Ray, I believe he wants a Shortwave radio in ADDITION to the VHF. The shortwave would be for those local Bahama weather forecasts and that's why he doesn't need the thing to broadcast.

[NiceAft]

I guess that wasn’t clear to me, and apparently, to Kevin either.

[Hamin' X]

Ray, I believe he wants a Shortwave radio in ADDITION to the VHF. The shortwave would be for those local Bahama weather forecasts and that's why he doesn't need the thing to broadcast.

Yes, there is confusion by the use of SSB (Single SideBand). Although SSB is used throughout the radio spectrum, for sailing it refers to HF (High Frequency, sometimes called SW, or ShortWave) and the normal marine frequencies are from 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz. Voice is almost exclusively USB (Upper SideBand). If tuned into the Ham Radio nets, voice will be on LSB (Lower SideBand) below 10 MHz and USB above that. More info can be found at: https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/HF_marine

WEATHER NETS - Bahamas, Florida coastal and tropical weather information can be obtained daily as follows, all times local: On SSB freq 4003 USB at 07.00; on amateur radio, freq 7096 or 3696 LSB at 07.20; on the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club daily net, including S.W. North Atlantic offshore weather on freq 7268 at 07.45. Weather information on VHF is available in various places at different times and on different channels, ask locally for details. Available daily in Nassau area on channel 72 at 07.15.

[charleshagen]

Yes, a LOT of confusion. I have a full VHF suite. Planning to do Bahamas and/or Great lakes for next 5 years but I need to be able to get GOOD WEATHER in Bahamas and was told "get a SSB short wave" which was hardly detailed instruction.

I hope this clarifies my request for information adequately.

[Hamin' X]

The radio posted above will not do what you want. You need an HF receiver that will demodulate SSB. The following unit would be suitable and gets pretty good reviews. It's nothing fancy and would not be considered a "communications receiver", but for your needs in the Bahamas, it should work well

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BM9 ... 5DLZ&psc=1

I am an Extra Class ham and spent a good portion of my life working on radios.

N7ZH is my ham call.

[charleshagen]

no link posted. please message it

[Russ]

no link posted. please message it

Click the Amazon image to follow the link.

[NiceAft]

If you click the link in my original posting, you will get the info you wish. As I stated, scroll down.

[OverEasy]

Hi Charlehagen!

The SSB SW (Hi & Lo) is a great idea for extended travel!
Thanks for bringing up the topic.

As at SW Hams will do a much better job of explaining it than I ever could ( SW Hams please jump in here ) there are a LOT of advantages to having an operable Short Wave radio for receiving as well as transmitting!

With VHF one is limited to line of sight for the most part and at best.
What the term “line of sight” means is that transmission is limited by the curvature of the earth…not what you can personally see .

With just a Short Wave receiver one can have the capability to hear/receive broadcasts from literally around the world.
With a Short Wave transmitter one can have the capability to actually transmit around the world (depending upon one’s setup and atmospheric and solar conditions… the SW Hams can do a much better job of explaining the how/why/wherefore/therefore of it all)

One thing, here in the United States I believe you still need to have an FCC Short Wave Operator’s certification license to legally transmit.
I also believe they’ve relaxed the rules some to allow one to qualify with just voice transmission ( used to require learning Morse Code but I believe that has been dropped from the requirements)…. SW hams please correct (at any time) me if I’m mistaken.
Personally I think it would be cool to know Morse Code but half the time I have to work toremember my own name

There are oddness of true stories of people who have reached out halfway around the world to pick-up, relay & respond to those in distress.
SW Ham operators have often been the first and primary communication links in domestic and international incidents where the rest of the communication infrastructure has gone seriously AWOL … just sayin’ that there is a lot of good capability within the Short Wave radio genre.

If yer planning on placing yerself out there in the midst of the Saltwater Oceans or Freshwater Seas (like the Great Lakes) having the full capabilities of a complete Short Wave setup could be handy as well as enjoyable. The vast majority of the world is an interesting place filled with good people to meet and share with.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[charleshagen]

Nice. Got any AFFORDABLE suggestions?

On a tight budget.