Hi:

Recently got an ICF-SW7600GR. Wanted to be able to listen to HAM
stuff, but no luck so far. I am in downtown Toronto if that makes a
difference. I have tried scanning on SSB - USB, but I don't seem to
be able to find anything - whenever I think I've found something, it
ends up being a regular station (I switch back to regular mode and
it's there it is another normal station.) I have been able to get
some morse code like sounds but that's not what I am looking for...

Any tips, ideas, or frequencies to try in the Toronto area. I am just
getting frustrated with the whole thing and was thinking about just
taking the radio back today...

JS

I'm in Michigan and just received an ICF-SW7600GR for Christmas. Most of the
HAM stuff I've picked up was pretty faint unless I used the AN-LP1 loop
antenna, purchased seperately. I did, however, hear some HAM chatter during
some brief scanning this afternoon with only the built-in antenna.

I wouldn't give up quite yet. The ICF-SW7600GR is one of the highest rated
portables out there and, unless you plan on spending alot more cash, I doubt
you'd be happier with something else.

To hear Hams you will need to tune the "ham" frquencies, VERY SLOWLY.
Try 7.150 to 7.30 in the afternoon (especially Saturdays and Sundays).

Also around the 3.750 to 3.900 area in the evenings. LSB for both. If
you go to 14.200 to 14.35 during the day, you will need to switch to
USB.

Like I said before, you need to tune slowly. Without the set in the
SSB mode, the signal (ham) will sound a little like a duck trying to
talk, really, that would be a SSB (single sideband) signal. That is
when to switch to USB or LSB and begin the slow tuning.

Hopes this helps (I have tuned them in on my 7600GR, so I know it
works in that mode. Good luck.

juny

On 29 Dec 2003 12:48:40 -0800, (jstass) wrote:

Hi:

Recently got an ICF-SW7600GR. Wanted to be able to listen to HAM
stuff, but no luck so far. I am in downtown Toronto if that makes a
difference. I have tried scanning on SSB - USB, but I don't seem to
be able to find anything - whenever I think I've found something, it
ends up being a regular station (I switch back to regular mode and
it's there it is another normal station.) I have been able to get
some morse code like sounds but that's not what I am looking for...

Any tips, ideas, or frequencies to try in the Toronto area. I am just
getting frustrated with the whole thing and was thinking about just
taking the radio back today...

JS

said ---



Like I said before, you need to tune slowly. Without the set in the
SSB mode, the signal (ham) will sound a little like a duck trying to
talk, really, that would be a SSB (single sideband) signal. That is
when to switch to USB or LSB and begin the slow tuning.


Yes, and once you tune in to an SSB signal, you'll probably notice that the
audio sounds off-pitch, at which point you need to use the fine-tuning
thumbwheel on the side of the radio.

And, yes, the 80/75 meter ham band (3.750 to 4.000 mhz), usually comes in very
well on winter nights. If you're in a concrete/steel building, try the radio by
a window.

Usually....amateur radio SSB is LSB below 10 Mhz and USB above 10Mhz...

You can hook your receivers up to the sound card in your PC, with some free
software and decode RTTY, PSK31, SSTV, and Packet as well. Don't forget
capturing WeFAX and some other digital stuff as well.

73 de KB9BVN

www.arrl.org has the complete list and band plan for US Amateur Freqs



"juny57" wrote in message
...
To hear Hams you will need to tune the "ham" frquencies, VERY SLOWLY.
Try 7.150 to 7.30 in the afternoon (especially Saturdays and Sundays).

Also around the 3.750 to 3.900 area in the evenings. LSB for both. If
you go to 14.200 to 14.35 during the day, you will need to switch to
USB.

Like I said before, you need to tune slowly. Without the set in the
SSB mode, the signal (ham) will sound a little like a duck trying to
talk, really, that would be a SSB (single sideband) signal. That is
when to switch to USB or LSB and begin the slow tuning.

Hopes this helps (I have tuned them in on my 7600GR, so I know it
works in that mode. Good luck.

juny

On 29 Dec 2003 12:48:40 -0800, (jstass) wrote:

Hi:

Recently got an ICF-SW7600GR. Wanted to be able to listen to HAM
stuff, but no luck so far. I am in downtown Toronto if that makes a
difference. I have tried scanning on SSB - USB, but I don't seem to
be able to find anything - whenever I think I've found something, it
ends up being a regular station (I switch back to regular mode and
it's there it is another normal station.) I have been able to get
some morse code like sounds but that's not what I am looking for...

Any tips, ideas, or frequencies to try in the Toronto area. I am just
getting frustrated with the whole thing and was thinking about just
taking the radio back today...

JS

(jstass) wrote in message om...
Hi:

Recently got an ICF-SW7600GR. Wanted to be able to listen to HAM
stuff, but no luck so far. I am in downtown Toronto if that makes a
difference. I have tried scanning on SSB - USB, but I don't seem to
be able to find anything - whenever I think I've found something, it
ends up being a regular station (I switch back to regular mode and
it's there it is another normal station.) I have been able to get
some morse code like sounds but that's not what I am looking for...

Any tips, ideas, or frequencies to try in the Toronto area. I am just
getting frustrated with the whole thing and was thinking about just
taking the radio back today...

JS

Since you live in Canada, you might try the following web sites, which
contains listings giving times and frequencies for Canadian nets:

CLARA: Canadian Ladies Amateur Radio Association.
http://www.qsl.net/clara

Radio Amateurs of Canada: http://www.rac.ca

Trans Provincial Net: http://www.tpn7055.ca

For a list of amateur radio voice nets, which includes nets from both
the US and Canada:
http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html

In article ,
(jstass) wrote:

Hi:

Recently got an ICF-SW7600GR. Wanted to be able to listen to HAM
stuff, but no luck so far. I am in downtown Toronto if that makes a
difference. I have tried scanning on SSB - USB, but I don't seem to
be able to find anything - whenever I think I've found something, it
ends up being a regular station (I switch back to regular mode and
it's there it is another normal station.) I have been able to get
some morse code like sounds but that's not what I am looking for...

Any tips, ideas, or frequencies to try in the Toronto area. I am just
getting frustrated with the whole thing and was thinking about just
taking the radio back today...

JS

Try tuning in USB mode between 14.000 and 14.350 during the day. Should
get CW at the lower end and SSB farther up.

Dave K9SW

Thanks for all of the replies. I think I am getter better at this: I have
been able to pick up a few stations over yesterday and today. Thanks again.

JS