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Specturm Analyzer
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I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing you are looking for but if you want to understand spectrum analyzers and the measurements that they can be used for I recommend the Spectrum Analyzer book in the Tektronix Measurement Concepts series. This was published in 1969 and focuses on the then style of equipment but the basics are still very relevant.
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You can download a copy from 062-1070-00 Spectrum Analyzer Measurements <> 108 pages. PDF, OCR, 5.2 MB Dan Welch 1969 Is the particular book. There are quite a few other very useful books at this resource also. 73 Martin, HS0ZED On 04/04/2020 08:11, David Hallam wrote:
Can someone recommend learning material for my information about the assembling? a SDR spectrum analyzer to cover about 100 KHz to 100 MHz? |
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Hello David,
Saturday, April 4, 2020 A Red Pitaya can be configured as a DC to 62MHz spectrum analyzer, and also as an SDR receiver or transceiver. Like most of these kludges it will never be the same as the real thing, and depending on whether you have a serious use for an SA or just an academic interest in using an SDR as a "sort of" SA will define the satisfaction such a device might offer. Best regards, Chris 2E0ILY mailto:chris@... DH> Can someone recommend learning material for my information about the DH> assembling? a SDR spectrum analyzer to cover about 100 KHz to 100 MHz? DH> David KW4DH DH> |
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I've gotten an RTL-SDR Blog V3 unit. In normal I-Q sampling mode, it tunes
about 24 to 1400 MHz. If you set your SDR software program for single-channel Q sampling, it tunes about 500 kHz to 24 MHz in that mode (according to their specs). I have been able to receive the local NDB station on 407 kHz with it. I also just got an ADALM-PLUTO unit from Digi-Key. This does not cover the whole range you want, but is an interesting unit. Amalog Devices was originally making the units with an AD9364 chip, which covers 70 MHz to 6 GHz. More recent versions use the AD9363 chip and cover 325 to 3800 MHz. However, there is a "patch" you can do (two software lines sent to the device) which emulate the AD9364. The unit I got had an AD9363, so I did the patch. It does indeed cover 70 to 6000 MHz now. I can tune the FM broadcast band just fine. And I also tried tuning signals from my 2304, 3456 and 5760 MHz transverters. It was able to receive all of them. Sensitivity at 5760 seems very poor, but at least it tunes that frequency, and as Paul Wade W1GHZ says, "gain is cheap." I am using SDR Console with the PLUTO SDR. Someone also pointed me to a program called SATSAGEN that will allow the PLUTO SDR to be used as a spectrum monitor. I downloaded it (free program) but haven't installed and tried it yet. My Softrock Ensemble II for LF seems to work quite well (better than the RTL-SDR Blog V3) in tuning down to about 150 kHz. I got an adapter board from KB9YIG that further divides the LO to tune an even lower range. I haven't used this yet, either. 73, Zack W9SZ On Sat, Apr 4, 2020 at 7:56 AM Chris Wilson <chris@...> wrote: Hello David,<> Virus-free. www.avast.com <> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> |
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David Hallam
I am looking for something to play around with.? I have retired and moved to a villa in a 55+ community.? I had a fairly complete electronics bench with a HP SA in my house but no room for that sort of thing here.? I am down to a Kenwood transceiver and a hidden antenna.? I just ordered a RTL-SDR Blog V3 from eBay that is supposed to tune 0.1 MHz to 1.7 GHz.? When it gets here, I will put something together and see what happens.? This will be a learning experience.
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73, David KW4DH On 4/4/2020 10:09 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
I've gotten an RTL-SDR Blog V3 unit. In normal I-Q sampling mode, it tunes |
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The SDRplay website has a "sponsored" spectrum analyzer project by Steve Andrew. It has advance to V1.04b :
Youtube blogger "tomtektest" has a 3-part series on the SDRplay as a spectrum analyzer. I recommend starting with Part 2 first to get right to the point, and then pick up with Part1 and Part3. He compares the SDRplay SA with lab spectrum analyzers. Astonishing, frankly. Universities are using the SDRplay units to provide more access to their EE students. Here is the link to Part2; that is where I started a few months ago. (I have an SDRplay1 that I bought just before the price drop:) -- Ted KX4OM |
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I wanted to 2nd that comment. That Was Indeed A Wonderful Recommendartion.
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Despite being a general class amateur and a professional softeare engineer; I never for formally studied electronics (other than self taught). I still consider myself a beginner. The Tectronix documents you pointed us to have amazingly well written summaries of important fundamentals - that I had not seen to-date. Thank You Again, Michael Fene KI6HEF On Apr 4, 2020, at 8:05 AM, Wes AE6ZM <wesbflyer@...> wrote: |
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I too can recommend the SDRplay SA. Airspy has a similar SA app for their SDRs.
Also for your consideration is the wildly popular VNA NanoVNA: a very competent vector network analyzer for $40, and variants up to around $100, a real bargain, with some wonderful open source software to do all sort of analysis, visualizations etc. DC-1GhZ for $40 how can you not love it! look for the NanoVNA group on groups.io, very active community around the unit. Tons of you Tube videos etc. 73 de k1jbd bammi |
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I hadn't heard of that one before. Have you used the SDRPlay RSPdx? How
does it compare to the Softrock Ensemble II receivers for LF, HF and VHF? How does sensitivity compare? Spurious image rejection? The one thing I haven't liked about the LF Ensemble II is the bandpass filters. They leave something to be desired. Signals show up in one band that are in another band. I have designs for better bandpass filters but I haven't built them yet. 73, Zack W9SZ On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 5:05 PM Ted KX4OM <wirehead73@...> wrote: The SDRplay website has a "sponsored" spectrum analyzer project by Steve<> Virus-free. www.avast.com <> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> |
I hadn't heard of that one before. Have you used the SDRPlay RSPdx? HowZack I do not have an SDRplay, I do have a Kiwi, 0-30MHz and some others. The main feature of these SDRs is their wide bandwidth. They are 12-14 bits so compare with a Softrock and 16 bit soundcard. Softrocks can use the same or similar software as the wideband SDRs, on HF performance will generally be comparable. As you say, maybe a few more spurii, some cleaned by a tighter BPF. Like you my LF Softock in particular is vulnerable to strong AM and Long Wave signals. I cannot comment on VHF, just that wideband SDRs do suffer from being wideband. From what I read and experience in general sensitivity is adequate for general coverage but specialised use will require preamps and filters. Of course I'm talking single signals, current software allows wideband SDRs to receive a large number of separate signals within their bandwidth. 73 Alan G4ZFQ |
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Thanks Alan. I wonder if any of the people who recommended the SDRPlay can
comment on how it compares to the Softrock Ensemble II units? So far, of the units I have, the Softrocks are best for sensitivity but the other units cover a wider frequency range. 73, Zack W9SZ On Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 3:36 AM Alan G4ZFQ <alan4alan@...> wrote: <>I hadn't heard of that one before. Have you used the SDRPlay RSPdx? HowZack Virus-free. www.avast.com <> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> |
Wes WB7BR
WS1M - bammi
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