Help With Weatherfax And Seatty

[desierto]

Hi,

I started trying to get Weatherfaxes through my SSB receiver last week. The receiver is a portable Eton E5. It doesn't have a USB/LSB switch. I am able to hear the time signals and the Chubasco Cruising Net on it (I am in San Diego, California).

I think I am actually getting the fax signals into my computer but the image is messed up.

From looking at the resulting image (please see my attachment) it looks like there is some lack of synchronisation somewhere.

Also, the two frequency peaks of the signal seem to be slightly over 800 Hz appart, so I can never overlay both peaks with the vertical red lines...

I have set up (I think) the sampling frequency of my sound card at 11025 Hz (see my second screen print)

I am trying to receive from NOAA in Point Reyes at 8682 KHz, setting 120LPM, 576 IOC just like the NOAA website says.

Any ideas anybody? Please help!!

[Auspicious]

You need an SSB receiver - the difference between the received signal and the local BFO results in the audio signal that your software uses to generate the fax image.

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

You need an SSB receiver - the difference between the received signal and the local BFO results in the audio signal that your software uses to generate the fax image.

I just looked up his radio (cool little thing, btw) here's a link to the product spec .pdf

So, this little radio is an SSB reciever.

The owner's manual, here, on page 8 talks about SSB and using for weather fax. Not much info but does say that for best SSB place the DX/Local switch in the Local setting.

Can't help further than that. Hope you've figured it out by now...look forward to hearing about your success.

Brenda

[JeanneP]

It is too long since I've used SSB to receive WFAX, but the published frequency is not the frequency that you tune into to receive fax. It is 2 mhz higher or lower than the published frequency (or is it .2 mhz? - darn, these skills leave us really quickly when we're not using them daily). Try that tuning and see what happens.

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

It is too long since I've used SSB to receive WFAX, but the published frequency is not the frequency that you tune into to receive fax. It is 2 mhz higher or lower than the published frequency (or is it .2 mhz? - darn, these skills leave us really quickly when we're not using them daily). Try that tuning and see what happens.

Never having done it, we can't say, but David thinks that if its a true SSB receiver, you tune into the actual frequency and make sure that the radio automatically moves to either the upper or lower sideband. That's the shift. Some of the radios have a switch that you use to select upper or lower sideband. If not using a true SSB radio--like many marine radios--then you have to manually tune in the sideband.

That's our knowledge, not much, but there it is

[Nausikaa]

I am sure MMNSETSEA will be along soon to offer clarity on this issue but, until he does, I wonder what one does with a DSB receiver? Is the above post confusing a DSB with a SSB with the choice of upper or lower SSB, which makes it a DSB in my books? I don't know. I am not a radio technocrat but I am sure MMNETSEA can give us the answer.

Aye // Stephen

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

I am sure MMNSETSEA will be along soon to offer clarity on this issue but, until he does, I wonder what one does with a DSB receiver? Is the above post confusing a DSB with a SSB with the choice of upper or lower SSB, which makes it a DSB in my books? I don't know. I am not a radio technocrat but I am sure MMNETSEA can give us the answer.

Aye // Stephen

dunno...not a radio technocrat either. However, what I do know is that the original poster desierto should have been able to use his radio to get weatherfaxes without problems. Nifty little back up SSB radio that one is. List price something like $170 US which means street price of around $100 US. Good deal for back up SSB or someone who just wants weatherfax capability.

[MMNETSEA]

Hello Desierto,

The Eton E5 now discontinued is a SSB receiver covering both upper and lower side bands

(USB & LS

Noted that you are trying to tune on 8682 KHz (8,682 MHz) which is on the USB. Therefore set yours to USB.

The manual does not mention an additional antenna - other than the telescopic - which is probably no longer than a metre, when extended. If there is a female jack plug for an antenna on the rear of the set, get around 9 yards of single plastic covered 1 mm wire - plug that into the jack plug orifice and the other end string up to a spreader.

IF there is no antenna receptacle provided, then attach the wire to the telescopic by twisting a bared couple of inches of wire around the telescopic - then hoist the other end to the spreader. That will improve reception.

If you are still having problems speak to Eton - here is their Email : CustomerSvc#etoncorp.com

Good luck

Richard