Re: Copper's Uniden Sale - SSB

[jlandry@domain.elided (John A. Landry)]

The aliens commander decided Curt Cleavinger <rcleavin@domain.elided> would
make a perfect specimen for dissection, and he yelled...

>OK John, now that you got me looking at nicer CBs, I need to 
>ask - has anyone on the list actually used SSB? I know it's 
>nice to know you could if you wanted to, but I'm still not
>convinced that I'd ever actually use the SSB capability.

Curt,

I have used SSB both in CB radios and military short wave radios, and it
works very well.  But like others have said, you need a little
pre-coordination among other users to be able to talk to someone.  If the
person you're trying to communicate with it actually has it *and* knows how
to use it... then it's very effective at extending your range.  But in
typical situations like commuting, trail rides, or calling for help, SSB is
*generally* not used.

You'll notice that none of the Uniden mobile CB's (and probably other
makers as well) offer both SSB *and* NOAA weather radio in the same unit.
Don't ask me why... maybe just too much stuff to easily cram inside.
Anyway, I decided that having NOAA weather broadcasts and NOAA's weather
alert alarm would be more useful to me than the little I'd ever use SSB if
I had it.  Of course that's just me.  If you live in a remote area where
there are no NOAA broadcast stations, then SSB might be a better choice as
you, as you could actually get some use out of it.

It's like anything, there's no right or wrong with your choice.  You just
have to make a mental list of which features will get used the most and
which ones won't.  Then you try to get the best use / value for the money.

Have fun,

John L.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
jlandry AT halcyon DOT com      | 
Conservative Libertarian        |  "The road to  tyranny, we must never
Life Member of the NRA          |   forget, begins with the destruction
WA Arms Collectors              |   of the truth."
Commercial Helicopter - Inst.   |                     William J. Clinton
http://www.halcyon.com/jlandry/ |    10-15-95, speech at the Univ. of CT