Eton E1 manual AM Antennas, Finding Antennas, Getting Started with Single Sideband SSB

APPENDIX - UNDERSTANDING SHORTWAVE BANDS continued

E1 MANUAL

APPENDIX - UNDERSTANDING SHORTWAVE BANDS continued

FULL-SIZED PASSIVE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS These normally give the best performance. Generically they have names such as dipoles, trapped dipoles, par- allel dipoles and slopers. They are characteristically fed with 50 or 75 ohm coaxial cable that leads to the radio’s antenna socket. Even if you build one of these using instructions from a book, these antennas are an ‘engineered system’, thus optimizing performance.

ACTIVE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS (usually small) Active antennas are much smaller than others and employ the use of amplifiers to compensate for their small size. There are many models to choose from. They usually do not perform as well as passive or non- amplified, professionally engineered models but are useful when a short, small size is needed.

levels may still be quite high. Such antennas are attached directly to the radio’s telescopic antenna with an ‘alligator’ clip or other secure attachment device.

AM ANTENNAS

We are often asked about AM antennas. Such anten- nas, usually AM-Loop antennas, are made by a variety of manufacturers and often work extremely well to boost signals. One brand, Select-A-Tenna, is a time- proven performer and includes models ranging from about $60-$200.

FINDING ANTENNAS

One way to find antennas is by performing a search on the Internet.

GETTING STARTED WITH SINGLE SIDEBAND (SSB)

Many high-end shortwave radios have a feature called SSB, a highly efficient way of electronically processing transmitted and received signals for two-way commu- nication. Examples of this are amateur radio (hams), maritime and aeronautical communication. Either upper side band (USB) or lower side band (LSB) can be used.

Receiving SSB signals is not always easy. Since this is two-way communications, transmissions are often very short and sporadic. Also, most two-way communica-

tions uses relatively low power, 50 to 1000 watts. The amateur radio operators are easiest to find; the others can be very difficult. Best results are experienced when using an outdoor shortwave antenna such as a dipole. Finding SSB signals can be like seeking a “needle in a haystack”, so be patient! The easiest place to find SSB communications is at night in the amateur band shown below at 3650-4000 kHz. Follow your radio’s instructions on how to engage its SSB feature. Below are some selected frequency ranges on which SSB communications can be found. All frequencies are shown in kilohertz.

SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS FOR USE ON BOATS RF Systems makes the model MARINE BALUN KIT (about $90 USD), which can turn a backstay or a long piece of wire into an efficient shortwave receiving antenna. McKay Dymek makes the model DA-100EM (about $200 USD), mountable on a mast or railing, the antenna being only about 1.5 meter high (4 ft. 8 in.).

LONG-WIRE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS

If your radio does not have an antenna socket, or if you want to take a simpler or less costly approach, this type of antenna can improve signal levels. Understand, however, that this not an engineered system and noise

Amateur Radio	Aeronautical	Aeronautical
	(usually USB)	(usually USB)
80m: 3650-4000, LSB, night.	2850-3155	15010-15100
40m: 7150-7300, LSB, day/night.	3400-3500	17900-18030
20m: 14150-14350, USB, day.	4650-4750	21870-22000
15m: 21150-21450, USB, day.	5480-5730	23200-23350
10m: 28300-28600, USB, day.	6525-6765
	8815-9040
	10005-10100
	11175-11400
	13200-13360

Maritime (usually USB)

4063-4438

6200-6525

8195-8815

12230-13200

16360-17410

18780-18900

19680-19800

22000-22720

25070-25110

TIME STATIONS

CHU-time (Canada)	3,330 kHz		Best at night
CHU-time(Canada)	7,335 kHz		Day/night
CHU-time (Canada)	14,670 kHz		Best during daylight
WWV-time/weather(US)	2,500	KHZ	Best at night
WWV-time/weather(US)	5,000	KHz	Best at night
WWV-time/weather(US)	10,000 kHz		Day/night
WWV-time/weather(US)	15,000 kHz		Best during daylight
WWV-time/weather(US)	20,000 kHz		Best during daylight

TIME STATIONS not SSB

CHU-time (Canada)	3,330 kHz		Best at night
CHU-time(Canada)	7,335 kHz		Day/night
CHU-time (Canada)	14,670 kHz		Best during daylight
WWV-time/weather(US)	2,500	KHZ	Best at night
WWV-time/weather(US)	5,000	KHz	Best at night
WWV-time/weather(US)	10,000 kHz		Day/night
WWV-time/weather(US)	15,000 kHz		Best during daylight
WWV-time/weather(US)	20,000 kHz		Best during daylight

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