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Crude frequency alignment of SSB using only a second radio....

144inBama

Sr. Member
Apr 22, 2020
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The title is my question. Is this possible, at least in theory? While I do understand the extreme crudeness of this idea, I can't help but think it's possible with somewhat decent (not perfect) results. With the clarifier on both radios in the center position, using the known good radio and an external 1K tone through the mic transmit and adjust 2nd radio RX pots until it is clear on the receiving radio. Then transmit the same 1K tone on the 2nd radio and adjust 2nd radio TX until it is clear on the known good radio. I'm asking this as a no other option, no techs, no equipment, kinda question.

Thanks for any input.
 

It is possible but not advisable. Yeah......I have done it in the past when in a real bind and only as a rough-in after repairing a dead radio. It got me close until I could put some real test gear on it. The only problem is you need to be 100% of the reference radio you are using.

Thanks.
I wanted to play around with the 148 a little. I found a guy fairly close that can do the needed work but kinda wanted to see if I could get it close this way before I took it to him, that way if I screwed the pooch, I haven't messed up his work,he can get it right and I know not to do that again.
 
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I concur with @sp5it - the object of the tuning is to develop the proper roundtable conversation level and quality of tone so you can have such a discussion with all being being tuned into the same -approximate- frequency.

You'll also learn how the SSB mode trims off the carrier and opposite audio side - and as you learn you'll gain better confidence in using your system.

When you get your TX and RX aligned using single source clarifier voltage that also takes on the TX side the same way - now RX and TX being both equal, your' TX and RX track together and you're far more likely to hit and maintain a QSO if your signal tracks RX and TX together.

There are benefits to doing this type of tune up - you don't have to worry so much about center slot - you just rotate the clarifier to meet the other operators signal and just talk - and in many ways you learn how heterodyne works

Many others with similar setups do this all day, and many will join in far easier to make the discussion and "net" more enjoyable - just listen in on 38LSB on a quiet morning as skip starts - you'll hear a nice chatter of from others until the "Niche Coffee café" turns into a roar of a stadium full of people working the "bowl".
 
Ok, I used a RS 22-305 to check freq on AM, USB, LSB..... AM and USB read dead nuts on 38 @ 27.3850 and 27.3860 respectively, LSB was a tad off at 27.3843, is this enough to cause it to sound off freq? If not, what else could be the culprit?
 
It sounds like you're trying to say only LSB was off and it was at 27.3843?

Yes if that's the reading for LSB you'll need to do an adjustment inside the radio.

BUT additional point - how were you using that frequency counter for your readings on SSB?

Really you should just do a quick alignment - if you have a frequency counter and bnc connector with leads it's not too difficult.
 
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If you're asking if 27.3860 USB or 27.3843 LSB will sound off frequency to someone on 27.3850 the answer is yes. That's pretty far off and you would not be understandable until they tuned you in with their clarifier.

If you were trying to shoot DX while that far off it's unlikely anyone would respond to you.
I'm assuming the people I'm talking to on LSB (27.384) are on LSB as well.
 
I'm assuming the people I'm talking to on LSB (27.384) are on LSB as well.

Sorry see my revised post above. If you're on LSB 27.3843 and they are on 27.3850 you will sound very off frequency and difficult to understand. Even just a little bit off at 27.3848 is when people will usually tell you you're off frequency.
 
Are you just wanting to bring it onto frequency or something deeper? I have done it several times when just bringing a radio onto frequency but only once after fixing a dead radio that needed a finer going-over.It got me close enough that using the test gear made sense instead of starting out lost. If all you want is to tune a radio to frequency sure go for it.
 
Sorry see my revised post above. If you're on LSB 27.3843 and they are on 27.3850 you will sound very off frequency and difficult to understand. Even just a little bit off at 27.3848 is when people will usually tell you you're off frequency.
The counter is used by antenna (*edit to add* counter antenna close to radio antenna), I only talk on LSB so assuming they're on 27.3840 and I'm on 27.3843, is that .0003 enough to cause the issue?
 
Bama - if you're talking about channel 38 it's 27.3850.

If you want to talk on channel 38 LSB your radio should be TXing as close to 27.3850 as possible, you can get away with 27.3849 or 27.3851 being high or low - but 27.3843 is quite off.

If someone is on 27.3840 (I don't know why they'd be TXing there) and you are 27.3843 - yes you would still sound off frequency to them but they could tune you in without too much difficulty.

Additionally - if you're using a frequency counter with a rubber duck antenna near the radio or coax to read the frequency it may not be giving you an accurate SSB frequency reading. It can work fine for AM but for SSB you really should get some leads and do a quick alignment at the test points inside the radio.
 
Bama - if you're talking about channel 38 it's 27.3850.

If you want to talk on channel 38 LSB your radio should be TXing as close to 27.3850 as possible, you can get away with 27.3849 or 27.3851 being high or low - but 27.3843 is quite off.

If someone is on 27.3840 (I don't know why they'd be TXing there) and you are 27.3843 - yes you would still sound off frequency to them but they could tune you in without too much difficulty.

Additionally - if you're using a frequency counter with a rubber duck antenna near the radio or coax to read the frequency it may not be giving you an accurate SSB frequency reading. It can work fine for AM but for SSB you really should get some leads and do a quick alignment at the test points inside the radio.

I'm pretty sure 38 LSB is 27.384 just like 19 LSB is 27.184
 

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