ZS2EZ SSB OPERATIONS
Although nowadays primarily a digital operator, I still make the occasional foray onto SSB, and still have a higher DXCC tally on this mode than on either Digital or CW . Whilst primarily using SSB to hunt for new DXCC entities, every now and then I get the urge to give a few voice calls on the HF bands!
Whilst I can not claim to be much of a ragchewer (far preferring quickfire DXing), I do on occasion enjoy the opportunity to chat to DX stations. I have had several lengthy and pleasurable conversations with American stations on the 20m band.
I do very little local SSB operation, as the vast majority of local SSB activity takes place in Afrikaans. Whilst able to understand the language quite well, I stumble badly when attempting to speak it. As a result, my 40m phone operation is generally restricted to the occasional DX contact and a few contest cameos. The only local contest that I have taken seriously in recent years was the 2008 Boland 40m Phone contest, which I won!! I don not operate 80m SSB at all.
For my SSB operation I make use of a Heil Proset Plus headset attached to my Kenwood TS-870S. I also have a Kenwood MC-60 desk microphone connected.
For the morbid curiosity of those interested in such things, my band breakdown of DXCC entities worked/confirmed on SSB is displayed below:
BAND |
WKD |
CFM |
80 |
7 |
7 |
40 |
29 |
22 |
30 |
- |
- |
20 |
215 |
178 |
17 |
87 |
61 |
15 |
184 |
154 |
12 |
74 |
48 |
10 |
97 |
73 |