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HF use of squelch

Aug 21st 2017, 20:43

wheelgunnut

Joined: Sep 2nd 2015, 10:49
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Knowledgeable about FM, repeater operation, nets and the like. Would like to expand my experience and purchase HF/6M transceiver. Viewing videos of HF operation it seems nearly everyone fails to employ the squelch, preferring instead to allow static to blast in between transmissions. What's up with that? Am I missing something here?

BILL KC3FRF
Aug 22nd 2017, 07:34

aa6e

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Bill -

Squelch is more useful with FM than with AM/SSB because FM signal quality falls to pieces very rapidly when it weakens toward the noise level. (Threshold effect) AM/SSB signals, on the other hand (particularly SSB), degrade more smoothly as they get weaker. You can still copy signals that are near the noise level. With effort!

Also, HF propagation is often more variable than VHF+. You might want to copy a signal that varies between S3 and S9 over a few seconds. Squelch might cut out the dips when you could still copy them.

You can reduce the "noise blast" after a transmission stops by adjusting your AGC or RF gain controls carefully.

It comes down to personal preference, but most ops seem to prefer to keep their "ears" open as much as possible on HF/MF.

73 Martin AA6E

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