General Category > Amateur Radio
2M SSB
Matt285:
I recently got a new FT-818 and am able to listen again on 2M SSB. I have tuned into a couple of Florida nets and actually hear activity up and down the East coast (In state so far) and even heard a QSO a few nights later between a guy in Miami and one in Jacksonville. I'm listening on a 135' dipole, so it's not the most effective. It's been a lot of fun listening and I'm glad theres still activity. Makes me want a 13B2 and Mirage 160 amp (Reasonable dreams) Maybe one day.
ThaDood:
Heck... Put that rig to a VHF/UHF TV antenna and rotate that around, with a +20dB VHF/UHF preamp, and then you'll really see what you can hear on 144.200USB and even 432.100USB / CW. If you should use a TV antenna to TX, minus the preamp in place, you may get away with around 20W PEP. Higher than that and most likely the 75 / 300 Ohm TV baluns will fry. Can be done, though. It wouldn't be hard to construct your own 3 element 2M SSB beam, or even an Omni, https://www.sekarc.net/2016/01/easy-2-meter-ssb-loop-antenna.html , http://www.hamuniverse.com/2ssbyagi.html Yeah, that shows 6 element, but 3 can be done. I make a 4 element PVC and copper #10AWG beam in the mid-90's and talked all over the NE USA States and Canada with 140W behind that.
Matt285:
Yeah. I think if I were going to get a Yagi for 2m, I'd go with at least 5/6 elements. I have an Elk 2m/440 log periodic I'm planning on using for satellite op's. I suppose that might work a bit better than the dipole. I have noticed 6m being open more often lately, so I'm trying to figure out what to do. I can only have one directional antenna up at a time. Not to mention the financial factor. I used to work 6m QRP using a homemade Moxon. It worked fairly well. I think I would go with a 3/4 element yagi this time around though.
Matt285:
I made my first 2M SSB contact on Monday. Distance was only about 42 miles, but I thought it wasn't too bad considering I was running a Yaesu ft-818 at 5 watts in to a Elk log periodic 2m/440 typically used for satellite op's about 8' off the ground. Saving and looking for a larger Yagi now!
Monophonia:
All this 2M SSB talk is making me want to get a 2M beam for my 50' tower build coming up. I'll have more than enough wild load and rotator capacity to put a sizeable 2M beam under the hexbeam.
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