SSB listening to Herb Hilgenberg

[carisea]

I am learning to use the ssb on my boat and I found on a web page about Herb Hilgenberg who broadcasts the weather every day at 2000GMT That is 3or4 o clock in Jacksonville Fl. where my boat is docked. I believe he is in the Bahamas or is that incorrect. My second question has to do with reception. I was able to pick up his broadcast but it was very noisy with background static. I tried squelch adjustment, clarity adjustment, volume adjustment and turning everything else on the boat off so that no motor interference might effect the reception. I have an auto-tuner with this ssb. The equipment came with the boat so it is not new. My question has to do with frequency changes. If Herb is broadcasting on 12359 and I am only 250-300 miles away am I too close to use that frequency. If I shift to a 2000-4000-8000 to lessen the propagation what good does that do me if he is only broadcasting @ 12359

 

[Norm Fontaine, sv cruising too]

where ohwhere

Herb actually broadcasts from his basement in Canada. He covers the whole world but most of his clients are in the south Atlantic hence the Bahammian influence. SSB's are subject to weather phenomenom as well as distance. The reception one day can be quite different the next. The frequencies which are effective are a function of distance and weather (and time of day).Herb provides his service for free buyt receives donations from many gragteful cruisers. A truly knowledgeable guy you can trust his advice better than anyone else I have listened to. Although he too is of course not perfect.

 

[Jack Tyler]

In addition...

You'll see more info replying to you on the Sailnet BB, Carisea. I'd suggest you try to use another SSB rig in your marina or area at the same time/day you're using your own. Compare signal strength readings on both sets. Three would be much better but perhaps harder to do. That will put you in the ballpark re: performance of your new/old rig.Keep in mind that Herb sticks with UMT or Zulu time, year 'round. Right now, sign-ins start after 3:30 p.m. were you are and his net begins at 4 p.m. - but that will shift this fall to 5 p.m./1700 local. Good luck!Jack

 

[Jim Maroldo]

SSB propagation..

...has everything to do with the ionosphere, sunspots, weather (to a lesser extent), and your antenna ( assuming of couse the radio is OK!). 1) If Herb is broadcasting on 12359 MHz, then that's where you must be as well (all radios work this way)2) In this frequency range, signals "skip" off the ionosphere and bounce off the earth's surface. The length of the bounce changes constantly with the time of day (among other things).Therefore, you have to be in the "zone" where Herb's signal is bouncing off the earth's surface in order to hear him! 3) If Herb's signal is very weak at your location, then the only way you MIGHT be able to improve reception is with a better (usually means BIGGER) antenna. Again, this is assuming your radio is good! Otherwise, just wait until fall or winter comes... it'll all change again!Just for an example, I used to be an active ham radio operator. For quite a long time, myself and about 6 other local guys would meet up each evening with a bloke from Australia on the 20-meter band. Now this guy was half way around the globe, and at 7:30 PM or so, he sounded like he was sitting next to us. Heck, sometimes he would peg the signal strength meter! But after an hour or so, his signal would just drift away to nothing. We went on for months like that until atmospheric conditions changed again. We didn't hear him again for about 6 months. Strange stuff, huh?Jim Maroldo (A.K.A. :N2BBK)s/v:Lil" Wass Ett

 

[carisea]

Thanks for the feedbak

Trying to coordinate with somebody else in the marina and thier ssb is a good idea. Thanks

 

[Ron]

You should hear him in Florida

but propogation has been very bad lately and is always down somewhat in the summer. Unfortuneatly, we are on the downward side of the eleven year sun cycle so it will only get worse. The high was in 2001.. but you will still get those days when Herb pops right in so keep listening.... Ron/KA5HZV