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why no 2m ssb rigs?

Bearcat

Active Member
Oct 25, 2015
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Why aren't they're any 2meter ssb rigs....(not all mode like yaesu 817) just 2meter fm with ssb?
 

Why aren't they're any 2meter ssb rigs....(not all mode like yaesu 817) just 2meter fm with ssb?
 
You ONLY get 2m gear in FM only or multimode. The reason is you either want FM only for repeater and general chat use or you want weak signal mode which is SSB or CW or one of the digital modes. Unfortunately the only 2m multimode gear made today is incorporated into HF/6m/2m gear. AFAIK there is no 2m mono band multimode gear made today by the major manufacturers. Back in the late 70s and 80s all the big three made 2m and 70cm multimode rigs.
 
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Icom 211, icom 245, icom 275, Yaesu ft-126, Yaesu Ft-136, Kenwood tr-9000, Kenwood tr-700...etc. Many were made years ago as CK said. SSB on 2/70 has fallen out of favor and replaced with HT's.
 
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I have a an Icom IC-271A all mode 2m rig and I can tell you 2m ssb around here is dead. I used to use this exact radio when I was in the Navy stationed in Norfolk, VA in the 80's and there was always 2m ssb activity. Not any more so there's really no market for adding ssb to an FM mobile radio.
 
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I used to use this exact radio when I was in the Navy stationed in Norfolk, VA in the 80's and there was always 2m ssb activity. Not any more so there's really no market for adding ssb to an FM mobile radio.

I have an Icom IC746 that will do two meters on SSB. Not many people have that capability and if there is a repeater any where close the two meter people will be bouncing the signals through it. I can understand that. I was using a small handitalkie and talking over 60 miles.
 
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I have a an Icom IC-271A all mode 2m rig and I can tell you 2m ssb around here is dead.

I agree 2 meter SSB or weak signal is not nearly as active as it used to be. However amateur radio has a lot of different niches for people to enjoy.

Personally I have no use for HT's and working through a repeater. But for some people they have a blast and that is their thing.

I like working DX on HF. But at the same time 2m SSB can be a lot of fun as well. You have to be a lot more patient as it is not like HF with signals popping in from all over.

With a 12 element antenna at 25 feet and a few hundred watts I can hear and talk to guys 100 to 200 miles away on a regular basis.

Then when conditions open up it can get interesting. Just a few weeks ago I had a 2 meter SSB contact that was over 650 miles.
 
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