ssb for Dummies

[admiralslater]

Our Outremer came equipped with a Icom 802 radio and an auto tuner (i think an At 140 or 40). I was going to remove it but someone I met in Dominica said it was a great radio and I should keep it . He showed me a few things and got me intrigued . He suggested a book with a witty name as being good to get for a neophyte like me . Does anyone have any idea what that book might be ? . Also the tuner seems not to be working (makes no noise when changing frequencies ) so I am looking for a teck somewhere from grenada to Antigua this winter . Any help would be great
David

[dlparch]

Marine SSB Radio for "Idi-Yachts", by Captain Marti Brown, 3rd edition
(a guide for using Marine Single Sideband Radio)

[sck5]

I believe there is another book by the same author specifically for the 802

[dlparch]

The ICOM M802 Radio Manual for "Idi-Yachts"

https://www.amazon.com/ICOM-M802-Rad...1975734&sr=1-1

[admiralslater]

That's the one thank you . Any advice on service in the Caribbean? I am an absolute beginner in this field

[Auspicious]

Marti Brown has simplified some issues to the point of incoherence. You don't have many options (Terry Sparks also has a book but there are some shortfalls there also). Just take what you read with a grain of salt.

If the tuner is not clicking (clicking is from relays switching capacitors and inductors in and our of the circuit to match antenna impedance to 50 ohms) it may be because it is not being told to do so. Touch the Tune button on the radio and see if the tuner clicks. If it does you can set the radio to tune automatically on a frequency change (see the manual).

Clean and tighten all the connections (both ends of coax from radio to tuner, and both ends of GTO-15 between tuner and backstay). If the connection of GTO-15 wire to backstay uses a hose clamp (*shudder*) check back and I'll help you with a much better solution.

[admiralslater]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

Marti Brown has simplified some issues to the point of incoherence. You don't have many options (Terry Sparks also has a book but there are some shortfalls there also). Just take what you read with a grain of salt.

If the tuner is not clicking (clicking is from relays switching capacitors and inductors in and our of the circuit to match antenna impedance to 50 ohms) it may be because it is not being told to do so. Touch the Tune button on the radio and see if the tuner clicks. If it does you can set the radio to tune automatically on a frequency change (see the manual).

Clean and tighten all the connections (both ends of coax from radio to tuner, and both ends of GTO-15 between tuner and backstay). If the connection of GTO-15 wire to backstay uses a hose clamp (*shudder*) check back and I'll help you with a much better solution.

Thank you Auspicious,my set up has a very tall whip antenna. I did do a cursory inspection of the tuner including taking off the cover and it was spotless.l did not go so far as to start checking the connections. Is the tuner powered from the radio or does it have its own source . The boat does not have enough breakers on the panel so it does not have one for SSB or tuner,just thinking about disconnecting before cleaning the terminals .
I am in Toronto and boat is in Grenada so lots of time for research
David

[Paul Elliott]

Here's an on-line intro to SSB:
Latitude 38 - Idiot's Guide to Marine SSB

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

Here's an on-line intro to SSB:
Latitude 38 - Idiot's Guide to Marine SSB

Rather irresponsible of Latitude 38 not to update that page - distress frequency 2.182 MHz has not been monitored by the USCG since 2013.

[sck5]

Auspicious has it right - The first thing to do is clean all the connections. 9 times out of 10 electrical problems on boats come down to a corroded connection. Even if it looks good to you, undo it, brighten it up and reconnect. As for the tuner not clicking, it is supposed to do its thing when you push the transmit button on the mike (at least mine does) or you can push the tune button. It gets its power from the transmitter. You can google and find an instruction manual online (google Icom At 140)

As for electical connections, standard advice is to wire the ssb separately from the main board so as to avoid the possible interference that can cause. A straight shot to to the battery is the thing. It may have its own circuit breaker and/or fuse somewhere else (that is what my boat has). Follow the wires.

Gary at dockside radio (google it) has useful stuff on his website together with step by step installation instructions. Anything I think I know I found out by following his instructions slavishly. They worked!! So I believe everything he says.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by admiralslater

Thank you Auspicious,my set up has a very tall whip antenna.

Very likely a 23' fiberglass whip. The fiberglass is just a radome (like the cover on your radar, if you have one). There is a metal antenna inside.

Power to the AT140 (and the older AT130 and AT120) comes over the control cable from the radio. There are four conductors: 12VDC, ground, ready-to-tune, and ready-to-transmit. It's all very simple switching, no digital stuff.

The Icom connectors fail. You can jump them to determine if the cable/connector is bad.

Originally Posted by admiralslater

The boat does not have enough breakers on the panel so it does not have one for SSB or tuner,just thinking about disconnecting before cleaning the terminals.

Power shouldn't be a problem. Just leave the radio off.

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

Here's an on-line intro to SSB:
Latitude 38 - Idiot's Guide to Marine SSB

A poor intro. Pass.

[sck5]

dielectric grease is your friend

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by sck5

dielectric grease is your friend

Just to expand that a bit, dielectric grease is an insulator both electrically and as a moisture barrier and not to be confused with conductive grease which, in addition to what it's name implies, is also a moisture insulator and therefore preferable to dielectric grease.

[davil]

David
as an added on,SSB let you access Weather Fax with proper software,I think that in itself justifies to keep the radio.
found this link,
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding...CF4EEA8P6PY143

Understanding Weatherfax: A Guide to Forecasting the Weather from Radio and Internet Fax Charts Paperback – September 30, 2005
by Mike Harris (Author)

Am sure there are other sources of info/education on this subject.
An of course the Email capability.

[sck5]

"therefore preferable to dielectric grease. "

I plead ignorance. Why do you suppose Gary at dockside specifically called for dielectric grease for the connection of the antenna lead from the At 140 to the backstay? I did what he said and it worked but I am imagining both he and you and have good reasons for what you say so I am curious.