Single Sideband is a very different source of live audio and it is not on any radio you probably own, or your smartphone!
SSB (Single Sideband) is an obscure but very important way to communicate via radio. It is used primarily for two-way voice communication by ham radio operators, aircraft and air traffic control (ATC), ships at sea, military and spy networks. Occasionally some shortwave broadcast stations use this format. A lot of interesting and sometimes exciting talk goes on every day on these bands. Here is what you need to know to get started listening to this special method of radio communication.
A Radio Receiver is Only As Good as the Antenna Attached to It
While the CC Skywave SSB 2 receiver is very sensitive and works quite well on the attached whip antenna, more signals can be received and signal strengths boosted by attaching a longer wire such as the included CC SW Reel Antenna or an outdoor antenna. The one drawback with attaching a wire to the Skywave SSB is that noise from things such as computers, fluorescent lights, fish tanks, etc., may actually make listening more challenging because the noise can block signals or make it very hard to receive them.
You will have to experiment to find the best location for both the radio and any external antenna. Generally speaking, the higher and further away from noise generating electrical devices you can place the external antenna, the better. Obviously, you also want to keep any external antenna far away from power lines both for noise and safety reasons.
If you are in a brick or concrete and steel building, the best reception will almost always be near a window. That goes for receiving signals on AM, FM, Weather Band, and AIR band, too.
Additional Tips for SSB Listening
Single sideband can be either UPPER (USB) or LOWER (LSB). You need to know which sideband is used by a given service to be able to listen properly, so make sure your Skywave SSB is set to the correct sideband.
Daytime Listening: During the daytime most activity will normally be on the higher frequencies like 10-30MHz (30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter ham bands). The exception is that you will often hear stations within 600 miles or so on 40 meters (7-7.300MHz) in the daytime, especially on weekends and holidays when more hams are on the air.
Nighttime Listening: At nighttime, the 80 meter (3.500-4.000MHz) and 40 meter (7000-7300 KHz) ham bands are normally full of activity in North America. 20 meters (14000-14350 KHz) may also be in use, depending on the radio conditions that day.
For Ham radio listening (Amateur Radio Operators), tune in the LSB on the 160, 80 and 40 meter ham shortwave frequency bands and USB on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter bands. Please see the Ham Radio frequency chart on the last page.
For aviation listening use USB. See the link in the last page for high frequency aviation frequencies to try.
Use the scanning feature of the Skywave SSB 2 and scan the SSB Band and tune around to see what you can hear.
After tuning in a frequency, use the fine tuning adjustment on your Skywave SSB 2 to help fine tune the frequency you are trying to listen to and achieve the most natural sounding voice.
Keep log notes of frequency, time, call sign and USB/LSB format for future reference.
Signal levels can change (and often do) from day to day on SSB/shortwave. A station you can hear loudly one day, might be weak or unreadable the next day. So, don’t be surprised or disappointed if you can’t hear your favorite frequency on a given day. They may be loud and clear tomorrow.
Applying the tips and information we have shared here will help you get the most out of your Skywave SSB 2 radio. Beyond these, you can get more help by checking Google™, Bing™ or other search engines on the Internet.
GREAT article(s)! A toast to the Spirit of Radio. (Marconi-ism) :))))
Print it and nail it to the wall!! Thanks very much.
I am living in an area that has little reception and have tried the reel, TERK and long outside wire to no avail. Had high hopes for my 5 CCrane radios.
Hi David; I want to know if your living residence is in a city,or you are in a subdivision or where? Just general basics!
I had been out of state when working ; now retired and found a group non profit club that skilled People helped and exchanged their knowledge ect with different skills types of things such as electronics, computer classes, sewing for women and or men ,a Short wave Radio club , carpentry ,welding and forge & blacksmithing , machine shop equipment lathes boring mill drill.press ect plus a jewelry makers classes aka Tinkermill!
Exchanging ideas as well as how to do … any activity we had several who were skilled in only 1 or more task!
I grew up in a small town and had 52 graduated from my Sr class. We all had multiple types of subjects studied as well as often collaboration with neighbors or relatives gained info from multiple sources!
That is a interesting must have Communication device when all else fails! Been there and had those experiences as well as findings a other way of …. That makes work out!
You are so right, a lot more to shortwave listening with SSB.
We need more hams, and SSB may peak the interest over ham band reception on this great portable radio from CCrane! Also, going to Single Sideband when turning in AM short wave stations will help improve readability to that station, and minimize selective fading from the normal AM double sideband mode. Listening to aircraft on SSB going over the oceans is also fascinating, and hearing the Coast Guard weather broadcasts on SSB gives us more low pressure weather warnings on incoming storm fronts! The CCrane Skywave 2 hears it all, well, especially with a simple long wire antenna! Gordon West, WB6NOA
I was hoping for a bit more technical explanation as to what single sideband is. If this explanation is titled “What in the World is SSB – Part 1”, is there a part 2?
Apologies for the delayed response. Here’s part two https://ccrane.com/what-in-the-world-is-ssb-part-2/ and here’s a much more technical explanation from ARRL https://www.arrl.org/files/file/General%20Class%20License%20Manual/About-SSB-Silver-QST.pdf
There was no Ham Radio Frequency chart on the last page as stated above
Hey Greg, Here is the latest chart (that I could find) that ARRL produced for ham radio bands (https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands%20vertical%20rev%20Feb-2023.pdf) Of course there are many other frequencies that also cater to Weather, Aircraft, businesses, CB, FSR, GMRS, etc. (that aren’t associated specifically with ham radio) that aren’t listed on this chart. But, a quick internet search will find lots on them too. Good luck.
Here’s a list, it’s in need of updating but it’s a starting place https://ccrane.com/ssb-frequency-lists/