Recent events have shown that even relatively modest radio transmitters can cause major problems. All it takes is one transmitter in close proximity to your favorite sports team or event, or one very powerful transmitter broadcasting at extremely high volume for some of us to become un-amiable.
On August 1st, 2017, just days before the Chicago Cubs made their historic World Series run against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a particularly loud broadcast was suddenly drowned out by another, much louder broadcaster.
The source of this interference was not known at first, but several theories were proposed. Some said that an Amazon service had gone down, causing many people to search for entertainment content via streaming services like YouTube and Spotify.
Another theory was that someone else’s smartphone battery might be running low, so they plugged theirs into power to make sure everything worked. Both of these could create noise in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, interfering with other broadcasts.
A third possibility is that someone may have been using a microwave oven, which can also produce RF energy. If this is the case, then there may be leftover heat from the bake mode that still has enough wattage to interfere with adjacent frequencies.
Whatever the source, the more powerful signal quickly overwhelmed The Game, drowning it out completely. Luckily, the broadcasters were able to switch to another channel, but not before most fans lost track of what was happening due to the interruption!
What is SSB radio?
SSB radio is a type of radio communication in which the bandwidth of the signal is reduced, allowing for more efficient use of the available spectrum. The reduced bandwidth also allows for more efficient use of the power amplifier, resulting in less distortion and a better signal-to-noise ratio.
SSB radio is commonly used for voice communication, but can also be used for data transmission. The most common use of SSB radio is for long distance communication, such as over the oceans, where the reduced bandwidth results in less signal attenuation.
The development of SSB radio began in the early 1920s, with the first demonstration of the technology by American engineer Edwin Howard Armstrong. Armstrong’s system used a process known as frequency multiplication to reduce the bandwidth of the signal and was the first to successfully transmit a human voice over long distances.
While SSB radio was initially developed for long distance communication, it has since been adapted for use in shorter-range applications, such as mobile and handheld radios. The development of digital modulation techniques has also allowed for the use of SSB radio in data transmissions, such as in the transmission of digital audio and video.
Should I buy an amateur radio device or an SSB marine radio?
There are many different types of radios on the market these days. Two of the most popular types are amateur radios and SSB marine radios. So, which one should you buy?
Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
1. What is your budget?
Amateur radios can be quite expensive, depending on the features you want. SSB marine radios, on the other hand, are generally more affordable.
2. What is your level of experience?
If you’re a beginner, an amateur radio might be a better option. They’re typically easier to use and have more features designed for beginners.
3. What are your needs?
Do you need a radio for general use or do you have specific requirements? For example, if you need a radio for emergency use, an amateur radio might be a better choice.
4. What is your level of expertise?
If you’re an experienced radio user, you might prefer an SSB marine radio. These radios are designed for more advanced users and offer more features.
5. What is your location?
If you live in an area with limited radio coverage, an SSB marine radio might be a better option. These radios have a better range and can often be used in areas with poor radio coverage.
Making the decision between amateur radio and an SSB marine radio can be difficult. But, by considering your needs and your level of experience, you can make the best choice for you.
Marine VHF radio
Marine VHF radio is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment that any boat owner should have on board. Marine VHF radio allows you to communicate with other boats in your vicinity, as well as with the Coast Guard and other emergency services. Having a marine VHF radio on board your boat is not only a smart idea but it is also required by law in many countries. Marine VHF radio is an essential piece of equipment for any boat owner, and it could one day save your life.
Range limitations
There are several things that can limit how far your radio will transmit. The most significant is a range or transmitter power. Most radios have a maximum range of about 1-2 miles depending on the frequency band and mode they use to communicate.
There are some very expensive handhelds with unlimited ranges but these are mostly technology toys that most people don’t need. Technology like this does not transfer over standard analog FM broadcast bands!
Why would you pay so much for something that doesn’t do anything more than play music? If you really wanted to go beyond that, there are ways to purchase an external antenna that could increase range.
But overall, unless you live in a very high-density area, I wouldn’t spend large amounts of money on a radio that doesn’t seem to improve much when you already have one that works well.
The effect of weather
In most cases, the effective range of an amateur radio station is determined by two things: how far the signal can be received without interference and what kind of weather conditions prevent the reception of the signal.
The first factor has to do with “receiving” equipment. Most radios have a certain amount of bandwidth that they are capable of using for transmitting signals. This limit is usually referred to as the receiver’s “effective radiated power (ERP) level.”
Most ERPs are expressed in decibels (dB). Therefore, the higher the dB reading, the more powerful the transmitter. Radios at or below 100 mW are considered low-power transmitters because they only have enough power to broadcast very weakly.
However, many types of radios cannot effectively use their full transmit powers unless there is no noise coming from outside sources. This means that even though the radio may not have enough power to send out a strong signal, it could at least make some sort of sound before losing contact.
Noise comes from various internal and external sources such as electrical devices like televisions and computers, other wireless technology such as cell phones or Wi-Fi networks, and atmospheric fluctuations. All these sources interfere with the transmission either by blocking part of the wanted frequency, or by adding his own frequencies to wash out the desired one.
Antenna size
Almost any length antenna you use with your radio can transmit at very low power levels. The lower the power, the shorter the range of the signal it emits.
The average person does not need an extremely long antenna to begin experimenting with wireless technology. There are many easy ways to get started!
There is one important thing to know about longer antennas though– they require more of a source of electricity to work.
This could be supplied by having a steady connection to power or through a portable battery that can be recharged. Having both of these is ideal as you will not have to worry about powering the radio up when needed!
Another option is to connect the radio to a larger transmitter via a cable but this will limit how close the radio can stay to the transmitter.
Frequency of operation
A very important part of any radio is its frequency range. The top band limit for most amateur radios is either 1 or 2 meters, depending on whether it is VHF or UHF. General use AM broadcast bands run from 530-1120 kHz and 5 MHz to 30 MHz. These are all relatively low-end frequencies!
Higher-end short wave (SW) broadcasting runs up into the hundreds of megahertz with some limited night time coverage. Long distance communication like phone calls requires much higher bandwidths than what most ham operators get in terms of transmitters.
Ultra high frequency (UHF) ratios typically operate at a lower power level but have larger transmitting ranges due to their longer wavelengths. Some even allow you to beam directly toward or away from another station which can be useful when seeking contact!
Beaming refers to using an antenna that has a tuned circuit such as a loop or coil to focus the signal more tightly. This removes interference caused by other signals radiating out. Most ultrahighfrequency (UHF) radiotransceivers also feature automatic gain control (AGC) to ensure consistent strength across varying input levels.
Time of day
The range of a radio transmitter is influenced by the time of day you are listening for signals. During daylight hours, your signal will decrease as the sun darkens the sky.
This is because less of the surface area of the antennae is exposed to space so it needs to be longer to produce the same amount of radiated power.
At nighttime, however, the moon and planets can cause enough scattering that reception may not be possible at all!
By using special radios with solar-powered backup batteries or those with an internal battery backup like FM receivers, this is not a problem. But most handheld radios do not have this feature.
Be sure to check out our article: Best Handheld Radios For Night Use before buying one if this is a concern for you.
The type of antenna
There are two main types of antennas used for radio communication– dish and vertical. A dish antenna gets its name because it looks like a large, flat plate that you can place in the ground or wall and connect to via a cable.
Dish antennas work best when there is a clear line of sight with the station you want to listen to, as well as enough space for the antenna to fully rotate. Dishes are typically very efficient at higher frequencies (higher MHz), but they lose efficiency as frequency drops due to how they focus energy into a certain area.
Vertical antennas stick out of the surface you put them in, creating an element that re-broadcasts the signal. These are more efficient than dishes at all frequencies, but they cannot broadcast as far since they do not have a focal point.
The equipment
Almost any radio can transmit up to 1,000 feet beyond its source! This is very important to know as there are many things that could interfere with your signal this far away from you.
Interference comes in several forms such as noise, other broadcasts, or wireless technology like LTE (cell phone networks) or WiFi. All of these create interference when most people use them!
Noise is one of the biggest issues when it comes to receiving a strong signal past 250-300 yards. Noise is actually everything else around you, such as cars, airplanes, street lights, etc. which drown out the weak broadcasted signals.
This is why having less urbanized areas for camping is better. There are ways to mitigate this, though. If possible, staying at quieter locations during nighttime hours may improve reception.
Transmitter power
The more powerful your transmitter, the farther you can broadcast with it! Obviously, the higher its power level, the greater the range of the radio signal it produces.
Just because something says it has X amount of watts on its label does not mean that is all it takes to broadcast for very long distances.
Interfering signals, terrain, distance, and other things play large roles in how far you can transmit with a radio.
Some radios have an automatic gain control (AGC) feature which will regulate the strength of the RF signal they produce depending on the strength of incoming RF signals. This way, even strong interference sources do not hurt the radio’s reception quality or require too much additional power to be used.
However, this cannot always work if there are no significant RF noise sources nearby.