HF-SSB COMMUNICATIONS: THE POWER TO LOCK IN THE WORLD. Globally, HF-SSB has literally changed the world. For a minimal investment, it has allowed millions of people - often in amazingly remote settings, often in emergency conditions - to reliably bounce clear voice and data signals across a state, across a continent, over an ocean, or around the world. Without satellites, relay stations, cellular nets, stadium sized antennas or huge user fees. Just some fine equipment, a smart operator and nature's own ionosphere make this possible. For nearly 25 years, the perfection of HF SSB has been the focus and the life of our company. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Today, SGC is a prominent choice of leading corporations, governments, relief agencies, paramilitary organizations, mariners, aviators, explorers, and scientists - all over the world. They trust our engineering and they value our experience. A vital part of our company's strategy centers around new product development, with an emphasis on providing quality equipment which remains rugged, reliable and competitively priced. We are focused on providing customer service of the highest standard. Our commitment is to product training and comprehensive after sales support. Today, SGC is recognized as a world class designer and manufacturer of HF SSB communications products. At SGC we build communications power tools. Next generation HF-SSB radios, antennas, amplifiers and coupler systems that squeeze more range and clarity out of every watt of HF SSB communications power, are the technology and innovations that have helped SGC emerge as a cutting edge player in the expanding world of HF-SSB. Actually, SGC was the first company to perfect and mass produce solid-state HF SSB radios, more than 20 years ago. Today, our focus is an ever higher level of HF SSB refinement and performance. All focused on creating HF SSB voice and data communications systems that are so user friendly and so powerful, they allow every SGC user to easily lock in the world. SGC - HF SSB Power Tools! Pierre B. Goral, President The SGC Building, 13737 S.E. 26th St. Bellevue, Washington 98005 USA © 1997 SGC Inc. P.O. Box 3526, 98009 Tel: (425) 746-6310 Fax: (425) 746-6384 CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 USERS OF LONG-RANGE RADIO EQUIPMENT HF SSB HIGH FREQUENCY SINGLE SIDEBAND ...................................................................7 WHAT IS SSB? ......................................................................................................................................................................8 SSB'S HIGH EFFICIENCY ...................................................................................................................................................9 HF SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS ....................................................................................................................................10 PROPAGATION ..................................................................................................................................................................12 NATURAL CYCLES THAT AFFECT PROPAGATION ..................................................................................................12 HF INTERFERENCE...........................................................................................................................................................14 SIGNAL PATHS ..................................................................................................................................................................15 OPERATING NECESSITIES ..............................................................................................................................................16 INFORMATION SOURCES................................................................................................................................................17 OPERATING MODES.........................................................................................................................................................19 MORSE CODE.....................................................................................................................................................................19 CW (CONTINUOUS WAVE) .............................................................................................................................................19 VOICE ..................................................................................................................................................................................19 AM (AMPLITUDE MODULATION) .................................................................................................................................19 SSB (SINGLE SIDEBAND) ................................................................................................................................................20 DATA ...................................................................................................................................................................................20 VIDEO ..................................................................................................................................................................................21 HF SSB vs. VHF/UHF RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS .....................................................................................22 VHF/UHF COMMUNICATIONS .......................................................................................................................................22 COVERAGE.........................................................................................................................................................................23 REPEATERS REQUIRED ON VHF/UHF ..........................................................................................................................24 NO REPEATERS WITH HF SSB........................................................................................................................................25 SECURITY ...........................................................................................................................................................................25 POWER.................................................................................................................................................................................26 INSTALLATION .................................................................................................................................................................26 COST ....................................................................................................................................................................................27 CHAPTER 2 HF TRANSCEIVER SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES................................................29 HF TRANSCEIVER SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES .............................................................................................30 MODES.................................................................................................................................................................................30 TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER BANDS AND FREQUENCY RANGE..............................................................................30 POWER OUTPUT................................................................................................................................................................30 FREQUENCY STABILITY AND CRYSTAL OVEN........................................................................................................31 1 The SGC Building, 13737 S.E. 26th St. Bellevue, Washington 98005 USA © 1997 SGC Inc. P.O. Box 3526, 98009 Tel: (425) 746-6310 Fax: (425) 746-6384 FREQUENCY STEP ............................................................................................................................................................31 SENSITIVITY ......................................................................................................................................................................31 SELECTIVITY .....................................................................................................................................................................32 OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE ...........................................................................................................................32 POWER REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................................................................32 CURRENT DRAW...............................................................................................................................................................32 DUTY CYCLE .....................................................................................................................................................................33 DISPLAY AND ILLUMINATION......................................................................................................................................33 METERING..........................................................................................................................................................................33 MEMORIES .........................................................................................................................................................................34 SCAN....................................................................................................................................................................................34