SSB Handheld Reciever for Weather

[sailorboy1]

Tried reading other threads, but too many unknown initials for my pea brain.

What is needed to receive the Chris Parker SSB weather forecasts while in the Bahama/Caribbean? Will those $50 SSB receivers really pickup the signal or will I need some "better" antenna system.

Please keep it simple for stupid.

[scargo]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Tried reading other threads, but too many unknown initials for my pea brain.

What is needed to receive the Chris Parker SSB weather forecasts while in the Bahama/Caribbean? Will those $50 SSB receivers really pickup the signal or will I need some "better" antenna system.

Please keep it simple for stupid.

I guess a multi band radio receiver like this one ? You may find a cheaper one though


https://www.amazon.ca/SSB-Shortwave-...s%2C153&sr=8-7

[mikeod]

Works fine. Get headphones and a cheap external antenna you can run up a halyard. The antenna is just a 20 something foot long wire with a plug on the end. My boat now has a real SSB and it's not much better receiving than my small receiver. Last time in the Bahamas cell service was so good I hardly needed the radio.

[Wotname]

If by handheld you mean small and portable then you can't go past a Tecsun PL-880 in my experience.

There are various Tecsun models out there and they are all slightly different but I ended up with the PL-880 after receiving a few recommendations for it from SSB savvy CF members.

I initially used it only for SSB receive (weather etc) but it became my goto small radio for general use.

https://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL880-.../dp/B00GJ51NVA

Of course there maybe newer (better?) models now!

[El Pinguino]

Quite a few out there which will do the job, Degen, Sony, Sangean.

And yes they will pick up decent stations straight off the whip but the 'long wire' included with most will make it even better.

Pick of the bunch just now.... the Tecsun 680 and Tecsun 880.

If you just want to receive SSB voice the 680 is good but if you want to also receive weather fax the 880 is worth the money.

'Why?'... I hear you ask

'On the knob' the 680 only tunes to the nearest kHz... beyond that you use the 'fine tuning' wheel and your ears. And it doesn't have 'line out'.

The 880 on the other hand tunes to 0.1 of a kHz.... and weatherfax stations typically transmit on frequencies like 13850.1 kHz...and it has 'line out' which means you can listen to the signal at the same time as recording it.

https://www.universal-radio.com/cata...able/0088.html

Not sure why Universal don't list the 680 but the 660 is almost identical

https://www.universal-radio.com/cata...able/2540.html

[Nicholson58]

We have a full blown SSB. Even so, reception is not a guarantee. Most harbors have morning cruisers nets on the VHF. Weather is always presented. If you can get to. WIFI hot spot you can get any of several reports. I like sailflow. My wife gets gribs from predict wind. If you are a PARKER subscriber you can get his assistance and reports by E-Mail.

Sailflow for Trinidad north of the Bocas. Select Detailed report. It’s free.

[sailorboy1]

Thanks. That PL-880 is more $$$ than I was hoping to pay. Anyone with experience of the $50 receivers?

[GILow]

You could always go seriously budget friendly...

http://vk3atl.org/technical/Build%20...eceiver_1b.pdf

[skipmac]

I have a Tecsun, don't recall which model, and the receiver seems comparable to my ICOM SSB.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by GILow

You could always go seriously budget friendly...

http://vk3atl.org/technical/Build%20...eceiver_1b.pdf

I'm pretty sure that would end up costing ME more money

[GILow]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I'm pretty sure that would end up costing ME more money

Actually, I kinda think you may be right.

Seriously, what happened to the good old crystal and a loop of wire? Radios have got harder.

[oleman]

We operate an ICOM IC-R75 receiver it covers 30 KHZ to 60 MHZ in all modes and 1 KHZ increments. I really like the dead-on digital tuning, various band width options and preset channels.. Not cheap but what is our survival worth?

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by GILow

Seriously, what happened to the good old crystal and a loop of wire? Radios have got harder.

Still have them. They're called LEDs.

[Seriously Slow]

Just want to say I Bought a new Tecsun PL600 in 2017 and I have stopped trying to hear Chris. I tried with the built in antenna and with the wire pulled up next to a shroud or laid out flat and nothing worked well enough to really hear and understand him. I tried in the FL keys and in Abacos, Exumas etc. Maybe my radio is defective but I have nothing to compare it to. No sense for me to subscribe unless I always have internet which I don't.

[sailorboy1]

Which highlights the thread question because if it isn't going to be able to receive in the Abacos and further south Bahama islands it isn't of any use to me.