VE6AB Mobile Ops
Stationary Mobile 2 meter SSB Operations
The tittle says it all, as the fact is that my Yaesu FT-897D temporarily positioned beside my radio-stack on this day, was required due to the fact that I was operating on the SSB portion of the 2 meter band that runs from 144.100 MHz to 144.275 MHz USB, and this requires an all-mode, all-band transceiver, and the Yaesu FT-897D fits that description.
The 2M SSB calling frequency is 144.200 MHz, so that is the first place that I looked for activity on the band.
One of the realities of 2 meter SSB operation is that many times, there is no one on the air, as there is just not that much activity out there compared to 2 meter FM.
Some hams may get discouraged, turn off the radio and and miss the thrill of working distant stations during a band opening. To get started on 2 meter SSB, the best time to get on the air, is the times when you know there will be activity during VHF nets and VHF contests.
Of course I had a reason to be on the air, as I continue to run tests with the antennas mentioned here, that I recently completed the building of in my shop.
I had the FT-897D connected to the log-periodic tri-bander positioned at the top of my Max-Gain systems push up mast mounted on the hitch insert adapter at the rear of my mobile, and also mounted in place on the mast, and below the log-periodic tri-bander, is my 6 meter DXing Halo, connected up to my Kenwood TS-480HX that covers 6 meters and the HF bands.
The required equipment for getting started on 2 meter SSB is pretty basic.....a transceiver capable of 2 meter SSB and a 2 meter antenna. If you own a all-mode all-band transceiver, then you are probably ready to go. The 2 meter antenna that you already have is probably vertically polarized since that is what is used for 2 meter FM, both mobile and base stations.
All of the 1/4-wave and 5/8-wave antennas that are commonly used for 2 meter mobile work are vertically polarized. Most omni-directional base station antennas such as those made by Cushcraft, Diamond, Comet, etc. are vertically polarized as well.
These antennas will work for SSB but most of the really active 2 meter SSB stations use horizontally-polarized antennas. Vertically-polarized stations can work horizontally-polarized stations but there will be a substantial signal loss (about 20dB).
If vertical is the only antenna you have, then give it a try. If you can acquire a horizontal antenna, then your results will be much better.
The most common horizontally-polarized antenna used on 2 meters is a Yagi mounted horizontally.
Operating on the SSB portion of the 2 meter band is somewhat different from operating 2 meter FM. You will learn more as you get into it and you will find that most of the ham's operating on 2 meter SSB, knowledgeable and helpful.
So fire up your rig, as you never know who might be listening or calling on 2 meter 144.200 MHz USB.
CQ....CQ....CQ.......
Click on the photo for a closer look.......
