I have a Radio Shack DX-398 that I bought in '97 or '98. Whenever I try to
listen to anything in either usb or lsb, it sounds sort of like the
chipmunks. The pitch just sounds wrong and unintelligable.

I don't have a lot of experience with swl, so I don't know if this is
normal or not. I would expect normal AM broadcasts to be distorted, but
signals that I'm sure are ssb also sound bad.

(This problem comes to mind now because I was attempting to pick up the
pirate broadcast on 6925 mentioned on this newsgroup just a few minutes
ago, which I'm pretty sure is usb. I can pick it up. I even recognized
the old David Crosby song they were playing. But it's still un-
intelligable.)

You should be able to tune it in.
I have used my DX398 and have had no trouble.
Try tuning slowly above and below.
I am receiving the 6.925 pirate (now Underground radio)
in USB, so tune below it.

Terry

I don't quite know what you mean by "tune below it," but I wonder if
there's something wrong with my radio. It's always sounded like this in
SSB.

BTW, I'm in Fort Wayne, IN. Know where they're transmitting from?

I just dug out my DX398 and hooked it to my
VHF diskcone and have tuned the 6.925
signal. You will have to push the "step"
button to change the tuning step.
I can get the signal tuned very clearly.

Terry

Well, I've got it tuned. I can recognize the music, but it's far from
clear. A few minutes ago there was a man's voice speaking that was pretty
clear, though. Probably the best results I've gotten from ssb. Generally
speaking, should usb be less understandable than regular am?

In article ,
"Scott A." wrote:

I have a Radio Shack DX-398 that I bought in '97 or '98. Whenever I try to
listen to anything in either usb or lsb, it sounds sort of like the
chipmunks. The pitch just sounds wrong and unintelligable.

I don't have a lot of experience with swl, so I don't know if this is
normal or not. I would expect normal AM broadcasts to be distorted, but
signals that I'm sure are ssb also sound bad.

(This problem comes to mind now because I was attempting to pick up the
pirate broadcast on 6925 mentioned on this newsgroup just a few minutes
ago, which I'm pretty sure is usb. I can pick it up. I even recognized
the old David Crosby song they were playing. But it's still un-
intelligable.)

The DX-380 does not have a BFO or SSB ability so you won't be able to
make this type of transmission understandable.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Thanks, but mine is a DX398.

I suspect it will take some time to "master"
the art of SSB. On most receives SSB will
never be as clear as AM, but it should be
close enough so that you can listen to
and enjoy music.
Try hunting arround 14 MHz and listen
to the hams.
I am in, just south, of LExingtonKY, and the current
pirate, Underground Radio is giving a ~S8
On the DX398 I had no reading, but I was using my
scanner antenna. I plan on bringing my antennas
out to a patch panel so I can rapidly change from one
radio to another. I had such a panel, but I am rewiring
my radio desk, so it will have to wait awhile.
I am going to drop him an email and see what happens.
Terry

The DX-398 Manual is on line at URL:


Since it is in pdf I can't copy it and don't care to type it, but the
procedure is quite clear for LSB and USB tuning --- see page 25 of the
manual

--
Caveat Lector



"Scott A." wrote in message
...
I have a Radio Shack DX-398 that I bought in '97 or '98. Whenever I try to
listen to anything in either usb or lsb, it sounds sort of like the
chipmunks. The pitch just sounds wrong and unintelligable.

I don't have a lot of experience with swl, so I don't know if this is
normal or not. I would expect normal AM broadcasts to be distorted, but
signals that I'm sure are ssb also sound bad.

(This problem comes to mind now because I was attempting to pick up the
pirate broadcast on 6925 mentioned on this newsgroup just a few minutes
ago, which I'm pretty sure is usb. I can pick it up. I even recognized
the old David Crosby song they were playing. But it's still un-
intelligable.)

DX398 not DX380.
Terry