Crossing the pond

Morning all,

Hope you are having good weekends. 

I was wondering whether people could share their experiences about USA / Canada / America's contacts. I had a SSB radio but ended up selling it on. I currently have an AM/FM rig and 70W amplifier. 

I have managed a FM contact with Nova Scotia (Canada) however that was only the once. Recently the US have been booming in on AM and LSB. 

Has anyone had success on AM and what power is required assuming a good 1/2 wave or 5/8 antenna setup? I appreciate those on AM in the US have big power so I guess it will be difficult to be heard. 

By comparison, what chances do you have 25W LSB again assuming good setup and equivalent conditions. 

I am thinking either bigger amp and keep trying AM or just accept SSB is the way to go.


Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond. 

Regards,

Tony

26CT4488

Well you could buy a 1kw amp new rig, new twig, but if the sun not kind and the propergation not right don't matter how much you putting out, is it worth loosing all your setup and a fine????
I use legal power, silver rod and long wire, fm, usb, lsd & am had Canada, USA,( new Jersey seems to be the best for me at the mo) mexico, greenland
It's the old saying right place right time so don't give up, some days I struggle to get 15miles others across the pond.
If you want dx most the time get another ssb set up, there are loads to pick from, a good ariel helps (antron 99)ect ect spot on swr and good qual coax
And if all else fails just keep trying, I'm trying for my first 10m contact no luck yet but I'll keep calling on 29.600 untill I do, hard work with low power but (Victor ct admin) does ok
Good luck and don't give up!!!!!!!

Hi Peewee,

Thanks for your reply. You are spot on about power - not always the answer and to be honest I am thinking about selling my amp and one of my FM/Am rigs as a bundle to put towards a SSB radio again. I am looking at the new Superstar 3900 at the moment although I would probably expand it to get a few more bands. Max power is only 25W which is more than enough! Left standard is 12W but then I can only use band D (EU Cept/MIDs).

Best regards,

Tony
26CT4488

Got my alinco dx10 set up for UK fm cb, EU cb, lower mid n upper ssb & 10m ham band
I use am, fm, usb, lsb all legal power
There is a member on here that can sent you the set up to program what you get and most new radios you can wide band from shop or two or 3 buttons yourself
Bit diff for me as now have ham so can use 10m now(thank you ofcom) foundation weren't allowed to use it untill the update to freq ect ect and licencing conditions

peewee norfolk wrote:

Got my alinco dx10 set up for UK fm cb, EU cb, lower mid n upper ssb & 10m ham band
I use am, fm, usb, lsb all legal power
There is a member on here that can sent you the set up to program what you get and most new radios you can wide band from shop or two or 3 buttons yourself
Bit diff for me as now have ham so can use 10m now(thank you ofcom) foundation weren't allowed to use it untill the update to freq ect ect and licencing conditions

Hi Peewee,

The Dx10 is certainly a nice looking rig. I have had a 6900n before (didn't have it long and probably regret selling it). I am keen to try the superstar 3900 as looks great. I might buy it and keep it standard to start with and then wideband it when I get bored. Apparently you just cut the white wire and that unlocks it. 

I didn't know that about the Ham band. I thought as foundation you would have had no probs on 10m and below just limited to 10W. 

Regards,

Tony

peewee norfolk wrote:

Well you could buy a 1kw amp new rig, new twig, but if the sun not kind and the propergation not right don't matter how much you putting out, is it worth loosing all your setup and a fine????
I use legal power, silver rod and long wire, fm, usb, lsd & am had Canada, USA,( new Jersey seems to be the best for me at the mo) mexico, greenland
It's the old saying right place right time so don't give up, some days I struggle to get 15miles others across the pond.
If you want dx most the time get another ssb set up, there are loads to pick from, a good ariel helps (antron 99)ect ect spot on swr and good qual coax
And if all else fails just keep trying, I'm trying for my first 10m contact no luck yet but I'll keep calling on 29.600 untill I do, hard work with low power but (Victor ct admin) does ok
Good luck and don't give up!!!!!!!

As long as he doesn't interfere with air, military, marine etc, he would have about as much chance of platting fog as getting a fine and losing his setup for a burner.
Even if you are transmitting on legal power with your Alinco on 10mtr and 11mtr it is also deemed a no no .

Not having a go or being sarcastic, just saying

No probs sharpshooter I know what you mean, I have my foundation so can use 10m as for 11m don't laugh my binatone 5* serves me well @ 4w

A good rig for DX is the President Mc Kinley. Couple it with your amp and you Will get the US and more on a regular basis.

If the bands are open you really don´t need an big amp to get to across the pond or around the globe for that mater.

Have a good antenna system. Coax, antenna, free standing antenna and have good punching mike audio and you can work the world with just whatever you export CB radio gives you for output power.