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pogen
11-24-2015, 05:41 PM
It is possible to buy very inexpensive SSB receivers for $100 - $200 that should work for receiving voice weather briefings on 4 - 8 - 12 MHz bands, as well as decode weatherfax when hooked to a PC with suitable software. There are a bunch of guides on cruisers forums that show how to do this.

I have a Grundig radio like this:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xPNfUPkZny0/hqdefault.jpg

Like this one, http://www.amazon.com/Grundig-Globe-Traveler-Portable-Shortwave/dp/B001QTXKEW but not as nice and cheaper.

and it really doesn't work. I got if from Defender for about $120, and I as it was the only radio like that they carried, I thought maybe it was useful for marine comms. The front end is overwhelmed by noise anywhere near civilization, and the only way I ever got it to work was by going way up to the hills one time.

Does anyone have a better experience with low-end radios? I have heard Sangean or Kaito might be better, or there is a Sony model that many think is good.

I also recently got a FUNCube Donble Pro+ RF receiver (an SDR, or "software defined radio") to fool around with

http://www.funcubedongle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/P1000772acrop.jpg

but I haven't had time to mess with HF yet ; though the VHF works pretty well.

The issue with SSB weatherfax is that the reports you are interested in are only broadcast a couple times per day, and only last a few minutes, so you need to be alert and making sure you are on the correct frequency at broadcast time. It would be cool to have a cheap system that was collecting everything as it came in for later perusal.

svShearwater
11-24-2015, 06:17 PM
What type of antenna were you using with the Grundig. We've had good luck with ours connected to an insulated back stay.

Where were you when testing? I've heard even a good SSB rig doesn't work well around Pt. Richmond.

pogen
11-24-2015, 06:34 PM
The antenna on the Grundig uses a single pole audio jack as input, I had a long wire on a pole (12' I think). No ground. My backstay is not insulated, that would cost way more than the radio.

I've got a bunch of links to software and so forth for weather fax, no time to organize now, will post later.