“I’m waiting for my ‘new’, very old IC-706MKII to arrive and test out on 2m SSB ahead of RSGB Backpackers and PW Contest next month! Woohoo! ”

“After having much fun on 2M FM with an old Kenwood TM-701e and missing out on the fun on 2M SSB I Managed to get hold of a FTV-707 transverter with 2M VHF module fitted. It is now set up on my trusty old FT-707 hooked up to homebrew 5ele yagi and tunes up quite nicely on 144.300 Always good to add another mode/band to the station and have another string to the bow. It is also handy to have FM on one radio and AM/SSB on another as both modes can be covered at the same time. Not bagged any long range contacts on SSB yet but will be giving it plenty the next time there is a bit of a lift on and can happily rag-chew on 2M FM on the ol' kenwood while keeping an ear on SSB portion of the band and put out a few CQ calls on 144.300 with the Yaesu FT-707 and transverter. It's all good fun and I now have a good excuse to build another antenna for 2M. 73 de MM7WAB 'Hairy' Paul, Ayrshire, S.W.Scotland.”

“I Monitor and call out on .300 quite a lot, get the occasional reply, but nothing much. Im on a vertical here which doesn't help, can only go horizontal when working /P but hey, ill take the db hit and keep calling... 73's”

“Hi.just dusted off my ft480/100w mm linear. Had quite good results years ago and have more time for radio now. Enjoyed all the comments, maybe catch a few on 144.300 best 73 all. Greg.”

“I also had a Belcom liner 2. I even tried a Belcom liner 430. I think I still have them both in my garden shed. On my desk, at the moment, is an FT991 monitoring 144.300. I do shout CQ every so often but hear nothing. GW6EWX”

“I am a serious 144.300ssb operator always have been, myself and a growing number of operators are on 144.320ssb most nights of the week. And it does get very busy most nights, so if you have a 2mtr ssb rig fire the bugger up and use it best 73 de m0dpx”

“I'm a new Foundation License holder, but been active in radio construction, SWL etc for 45+ years and failed the RAE in 1978. Had some real "boat anchors" in the past. I now own some old kit including a FT-757GX for HF, a FT-290R for QRP 2m SSB, a Baofeng UV-5R for FM & Repeaters on 2 and 70cm. I've also got an old Sommerkamp 788DX for mobile 10m SSB... And for the fun of it, my trusty old Trio R600 is dusted off and re aligned. I'm currently making J Poles, Slim Jims and a 4 ele beam for 2m and 70cm. My long wire has been up for donkeys years and now has a 9:1 UNUN so I could feed coax to the loft. And to my point... When I did the FL Exam (finished in 10 - 15 mins 25/26 coz I rushed) a lot of the "students" had no experience of SWL, construction or even CB radio operation in some instances. And that's the problem. They get the license and go out and buy a £750 "shack in a box." They connect it to a PC, press scan and then sit back and wait... And wait... And give up. Now... I'm currently building a classic Forty 9er, have an old WW2 Morse key at the ready to practise my "1978 4wpm" and I've got the Intermediate lined up for Febuary. Takes all sorts I suppose... But 2m SSB is a hidden gem!”

“Hi Gary, that's kinda the point of the article. It isn't 1985, so we need people to install suitable stations and monitor .300 to an extent that's beyond the critical mass needed to sustain it. Even so, if you have a good enough station with a reasonable horizontal antenna, a little bit of persistence will yield activity. No good shouting on your watson tri-band!. Also, check for tropo and call at optimum times (sociable hours!). 300 Usually gets busy during tropo, but if it's not, your CQ call will still cover a much larger area.”

“So wher are you all? 144.3 nothing heard no reply to my call”

“Very much agree with your article. I had great fun with my Liner 2 and a 10 ele beam. I have IC706 so will give it another go! Thanks.”

“Love the article and all the comments. Agreed. Here in the United States I'm working on getting others involved on 2M and 6M SSB. ”

“that's the spirit.there is no fun left on HF,it's all about the latest radios,fiddling with menus,maximum power,and big outlays,it's pathetic.let's get back to the old days & activate vhf & uhf SSB ”

“that's the spirit.there is no fun left on HF,it's all about the latest radios,fiddling with menus,maximum power,and big outlays,it's pathetic.let's get back to the old days & activate vhf & uhf SSB ”

“I'm going to get my vertical up and see what's happening on 2 ssb with my tr751e. I used to use but all the time. The introduction of crippling QRM from everything but the insoles in your shoes is driving more people to hill top mobile and portable, maybe back to 2 if there is no PLT noise there. We should reactivate 2 ssb!!”

“As an swl I to have noticed the decline, don't put this on the foundation licence shoulders, instead blame the older amateurs who sit "rag chewing " on 80 and 40 meters HF. also the blame must go to the " Radio " manufacturers , since the births of APRS , D-Star, 144 SSB has been ignored . The 706 radio is an excellent example ”

“As with G7FEK I was proudly licensed B Class in the Eighties and was happy to be restricted to 144Mhz and above (70cms). I lived in the Midlands and bought a FT290R and FT790RT. SSB was where I grew up and enjoyed every minute of it. Working most of the UK. I do feel that the demise of the B Class license and the freedom to use HF as soon as you get a FL has itself contributed to the under use of 2m SSB. It has also helped the move away from homebrew antenna. Suffice to say, 144.300 SSB is where you will still find me... With my FT817ND, a 2 element HB9CV while sitting on the top of the Preseli's calling out and hoping for a reply.”

“Hi, I think the thrill of amateur radio has gone. There is nothing you can make that can possibly match commercial products and computers and the internet are , sadly, far more interesting. Sex was never on offer with amateur radio. What little aquipment i have left is now in the garage and loft and will probably never be brought back to life. I had decades of fun home-brewing but thats gone now , never to return. I should shoot myself ! Love to all , Jonathan G8HHR. ( email me if you wish)”

“Hello, I would never have given 2M SSB a thought I only ever wanted to knock signals off the Ionosphere albeit QRP/817 and a little vertical wonder off that back of my bicycle that is until my other love the thought of hopping signals of spaceships bit deep, I bought a Dual band yagi 2nd hand that originated in the USA, SWR set(or so i thought) I mounted the yagi on a rotator on the chimney, SWR flat in the 144.300 range so I thought give it a go well Jersey UK, Belgium Germany later has got me Monitoring 144.300 slavishly loving it, 2M SSB Rocks. Cheers for now.73s”