At 01:18 PM 2/4/2011, k6yk wrote:
I saw a mention of an issue of folks not wanting to make a big investment in satellite stuff to work SSB/CW.
ALL of the original ham satellites were SSB/CW birds. No FM. And most hams already had enough equipment to get started. The uplinks were on 2 meters or 70CM (that took a little more doing), the downlinks were on HF or 2 meters. Some of the RS birds where HF up and HF down, and HF up, 2 meters down. Interesting stuff!
70cm SSB radios weren't common here, only the serious UHF DXers and satellite operators had one. Thankfully, this situation has changed over the last 10 years, thanks to the all in one radios that are on the market. I myself have gone from no 70cm SSB capability, to no fewer than 3 suitable radios in the last year. 2m SSB was a lot more common here, has been for many years. I've had 2m SSB myself for over 10 years, and have at least 4 radios now that can do it.
As you'd expect, HF is common down here, but are VHF/UHF FM only radios, both mobile and HTs, especially near the major cities.
Most folks had HF gear to start off in ham radio. I did not have an HT until I was a ham for probably 20 years.
I was the opposite. Economics made it easier for me to start with a 2m HT. I didn't have an all band HF transceiver until 2000, when secondhand prices had come down enough, and I had the money to pick one up secondhand. Still got that radio too. :)
Nowadays there is a LOT of VHF/UHF multi mode gear floating around the used market for reasonable prices. Also the antennas are available, sometimes for real cheap, or haul it away for free. Keep your eyes and ears open.
Many more opportunities now. There has never been a better time to try SSB on the birds.
Hams are supposed to be resourceful and innovative!
And I went and sold my FT-847 which was about the most expensive rig I ever bought! Don't need it for these FM birds, I just use a dual-band mobile rig, works just as well.
I've just upgraded and got radios with VHF/UHF SSB capabilities. This will be used both terrestrially (I have used one to gather telemetry from a balloon launch on 70cm) and hopefully on the sats. These days it's good how a simply HF upgrade can give one so much more. And there's the bonus FT-736 as a "hand me down" from a ham friend, in appreciation for the help I've given him over the years with antennas and other projects. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com