How to set up Pactor HF SSB Email amateur radio 1

Of course you need a radio first. This itself has been discussed on the internet ample times. If you do not care about money then i strongly advise to go for a professional radio like ICOM 710 or 802. Otherwise the cheapest option is an IC-718 from ICOM.
I decided to go for the 706 since i want to use also VHF and UHF maybe and i can seperate the control from the backbox and it is neat and i know how to use it.
It might not be the best choice though








You also need a PACTOR modem if you want to use email. The box on top of the power supply is a Pactor USB modem from SCS in Germany. If you think about updating blogs via HF on the ocean you should directly go for the software upgrade to Pactor III, which is just a license key that needs to be entered.

As you can see i have build up everything at home prior to the boat installation. By that you make sure that you know how it works and all cabling etc is proper.
Why fumble around on the boat with basic things when you can try it out at home :-)




You need an antenna also. On LinoCat a vertical whip was the way to go and we decided for a 7-8m long antenna.
Since i had not purchased that yet i just used a wire of the same length inside a plastic fishing rod (not kevlar please).

Some sailors on monohulls use their isolated backstay which is also a nice option.
The fishingrod and cable you might wan to keep as an emergency antenna on the boat.













A PC is also needed. It should have a USB port and if possible it is nice to even have and old fashioned RS232 serial port of some applications.




















An antenna tuner is also needed. Most people either go for the SG238 or the CG3000. I decided for the El Cheapo version, the CG3000.

You also need a counterweight or "earth". I uses long radial wires for that. On the boat you might put copperfoil inside the engine area and then connect this to the ground jack.


Then you need cables to connect all things and also i suggest a "TUNE RITE" for the back of your tranceiver so the antenna is automatucally tuned or you can force the tuner to tune by pressing the corresponding button