Welcome to the SSB Phone Station, your gateway to voice communication across the airwaves! Here, we’re all about making connections using the power of sound.
What is HF and Why are We Using It?
“HF” stands for High Frequency. In amateur radio, HF refers to radio waves that operate roughly between 3 and 30 Megahertz (MHz). These frequencies are special because they can travel incredibly long distances by bouncing off the Earth’s ionosphere – a layer of charged particles in the upper atmosphere. This phenomenon, known as skywave propagation, allows us to communicate with stations hundreds or even thousands of miles away, even across continents, without needing satellites or repeaters.
For Field Day, HF is critical! It allows us to simulate emergency communication scenarios where traditional infrastructure might be down. Our ability to establish long-distance voice contact without relying on commercial power or internet is a core demonstration of amateur radio’s value to the community.
The Bands We Use
We operate across several HF frequency bands, each with its own characteristics that affect how far and how clearly our signals travel:
- 160 Meters (1.8 – 2.0 MHz): Often called the “top band,” this is great for relatively shorter distances at night, but can be susceptible to noise.
- 80 Meters (3.5 – 4.0 MHz): A workhorse band for regional and national contacts, especially during the nighttime hours. Our Full Wave 80 Meter Loop antenna is specifically designed for excellent performance on this band.
- 40 Meters (7.0 – 7.3 MHz): A very popular band, good for both daytime regional contacts and longer-distance (DX) contacts at night.
- 20 Meters (14.0 – 14.35 MHz): Often considered the “DX king” during daylight hours, providing consistent long-distance contacts across continents.
- 15 Meters (21.0 – 21.45 MHz): Excellent for long-distance communication during periods of higher solar activity.
- 10 Meters (28.0 – 29.7 MHz): When the sun cooperates, this band can open up for truly global contacts with surprising signal strength.
Our operators constantly monitor and adapt to changing atmospheric and solar conditions, choosing the best band to ensure consistent global reach when possible.
What is SSB (Single Sideband)?
SSB stands for Single Sideband, and it’s the most common and efficient voice communication mode used on HF. To understand it, let’s briefly compare it to older AM (Amplitude Modulated) radio:
- AM (Amplitude Modulation): An AM signal consists of a central “carrier wave” and two “sidebands” (one upper, one lower) that carry the actual audio information. A lot of the radio’s power is wasted in transmitting the carrier wave, which doesn’t contain any unique voice information, and both sidebands transmit the exact same audio.
- SSB (Single Sideband): SSB technology is much more efficient. It suppresses the carrier wave and eliminates one of the sidebands (usually the lower sideband on HF, though this can vary by band or specific communication needs). By doing this, all of the radio’s transmitted power is focused into just one sideband, which contains all the necessary voice information.
Why is SSB superior?
- Efficiency: Less power is wasted, meaning your signal travels farther with the same amount of power, or you can achieve the same distance with less power.
- Bandwidth: An SSB signal takes up much less “space” on the radio spectrum compared to an AM signal. This means more conversations can occur simultaneously on the same band without interfering with each other.
- Clarity: With power concentrated in one sideband, SSB signals often sound clearer and are easier to understand through static and interference, especially over long distances.
This technology was significantly refined during World War II for military communications, proving its effectiveness in challenging environments where clear, reliable, and efficient communication was paramount.
Our Setup
At the heart of this station, you’ll find the Yaesu FTDX-10 Transceiver. This powerful radio is your link to the world, capable of operating on all the HF bands mentioned above. It’s connected to a Full Wave 80 Meter Loop antenna, strategically positioned at the soccer field behind us to maximize our reach.
One of the coolest things about Field Day is demonstrating our ability to operate independently. This entire station runs on battery and generator power, completely off the commercial electrical grid. This highlights amateur radio’s crucial role in emergency communications.
Making Contact
Our experienced operators regularly use this station to make contact with other amateur radio enthusiasts around the globe. With the right band conditions, we can reach:
- All 50 U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
- International operators across multiple continents.
Want to Learn More?
Feel free to ask our station captains, Mark Fowler (wa1nip@nfarl.org) or David Bisciotti (ko4usa@nfarl.org), any questions you have about SSB operation, HF radio, or amateur radio in general!
