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--- using_sdr [2025/03/17 02:46] – Step by Step m7tox
+++ using_sdr [2025/04/27 19:56] (current) – removed the footnote for ssb because i missed it on the previous edit m7tox
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 == Bandwidth ==
-This bit is potentially the easiest bit to get wrong as a beginner. They are arranged in columns, if that wasn't evident, and you probably want to avoid the wider/narrower ones on the left in most instances. 'CW'((Continuous Wave)) is for morse, 'LSB'((Lower Side Band)) is used for frequencies below 10MHz, 'USB'((Upper Side Band)) is for frequencies above 10MHz, AM and FM are probably self explanatory. You may find that for these various options, the wide/narrow options improve how well you can hear the signal, though generally it's fine on the 'standard' setting rather than the 'narrow' one.
+This bit is potentially the easiest bit to get wrong as a beginner. They are arranged in columns, if that wasn't evident. The left 'wider' and 'narrower' change the width of the yellow bandpass selector, although generally you won't need to very often. 'CW'((Continuous Wave (Morse code) )) is for morse, 'LSB' is used for frequencies below 10MHz, 'USB' is for frequencies above 10MHz. AM is twice as wide as SSB, for reasons that you can discover yourself by researching what SSB is (I recommend you do so, you'll need to for getting your license), so if you see something that looks twice as wide as the SSB signals, it might be regular AM. Some bands use FM more readily than AM modes, especially VHF. You can tell if something is FM because it will be symmetrical and looks like how a voice audio waveform looks on programs that show you the audio visually. Some of these have wide/narrow options, which may improve how well you can hear the signal, though generally it's fine on the 'standard' setting rather than the 'narrow' one.
 == Waterfall view ==
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   * Move up the band a little to between 7030 and 7060. You will probably see some signals here, they might be quite wide, or they might be thin. Switch to LSB and tune to it. The LSB bit doesn't really matter because this area of the band is for data and so it will sound robotic and strange, but having it on LSB will let you hear what that sounds like.
   {{data.png}}
-  * The rest of the band from 7060-7200 kHz is for SSB((Single Side Band, (LSB/USB) )) and is where you'll hear people talking. Have a scan around and look for vaguely rectangular columns. Use LSB because the frequency is below 10MHz and that's the accepted convention. You'll notice the signals are about the same width as the yellow bandpass bit. Try and tune to them, and adjust with the buttons rather than dragging for best results. You will find that using SSB modes you have to be a little more precise to stop the voices sounding distorted.
+  * The rest of the band from 7060-7200 kHz is for SSB and is where you'll hear people talking. Have a scan around and look for vaguely rectangular columns. Use LSB because the frequency is below 10MHz and that's the accepted convention. You'll notice the signals are about the same width as the yellow bandpass bit. Try and tune to them, and adjust with the buttons rather than dragging for best results. You will find that using SSB modes you have to be a little more precise to stop the voices sounding distorted.
   * Here is a signal I found, The horizontal lines are interferance and aren't significant for what we're doing. The yellow bandpass set to Lower side band mode and placed over the signal in a way that the audio is readable. Note the vertical bar on the right is placed just on the side of the signal, whilst the horizontal line is approximately the width of the signal.
   {{lsb.png}}
@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
   * Here is a stronger signal beside another signal that is very close to it on the left, making it look a bit like one signal that's thicker than the others. You may have to adjust the left side of the bandpass to stop picking up the one to the left.
   {{stronger_lsb_signal.png}}
+===== In closing =====
+That's all there is to it! Most WebSDR sites are similar but may have slightly different interfaces and options, so have a play and see what happens. You can't break anything so you might as well try out all the buttons.
+Next, maybe try out the Hack green VHF site, particularly the 2m band as this often has some chatter during UK daytime. Then have a look around some other sites, maybe in a different country to you, or on different bands. If you are using a WebSDR in ITU region 2, the 40m amateur band can be wider up to 7300MHz so there may be more space to look around. Also, 7200MHz is somewhat infamous in the US for being the target of disruptive behaviour, so if you hear weird goings on around that frequency, that's why.
+Remember to have a look at the bandplans to see which frequencies to look at, and remember <10MHz = LSB, >10MHz = USB.
+If you haven't already, consider joining the OARC discord server, which is incredibly active and full of helpful and knowledgeable people who can answer any questions you have.
+I hope you enjoyed this guide and found it useful, I made it because I couldn't find a similar guide aimed at beginners when I was starting out. If you enjoyed it, please let me know in the OARC discord. Also, it probably goes without saying, but feel free to add to this guide if you see fit. :)
+\\
+'s - M7TOX (Connor)