Re: A round of applause!
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Hi Bill,
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I remember that big old spectrum analyzer from Hewlett-Packard. When I first started working after college, it was in the laboratories of COMSAT (Communication Satellite Corporation) here in Washington DC. The thing was a monster for sure. I remember the Hewlett-Packard salesman coming to visit us to teach us how to use it properly. That was probably back in 1966 to 1967. The system shown in the photograph had C band input which was down converted to the standard 70 MHz IF frequency. We would then tune to a carrier, switch in a 70 MHz filter and measure the power. We calibrated the system using Cassiopeia A as our known noise source. We also had an FM threshold extension receiver that was used to measure deviation. Those were the good old analog days. Now everything is digital. I bought the TinySA as a toy. It was after I got interested in software defined radios. I had dreams of tuning into the HF ham bands, but I would need a decent antenna. It works better on 2 m. Then I bought an AnyTone 878 DMR HT and I have forgotten about the HF bands. I've never had equipment for nor worked the HF bands. What the heck I am a microwave engineer. Or at least I was. Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Kind Regards, Dave Dave Reiser, WA3TRS Phone: 301-216-5394 Mobile: 301-802-1929 Email: davereiser@... 520 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bill Cromwell Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2022 2:24 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [tinysa] A round of applause! Hi, Thanks for the image(s). Parts of that remind me of the mil surplus spectrum analyzer I bought from Fair Radio years ago. It was about the size of a small refrigerator like the one some of us have in the shop for -umm- refreshments. It weighed a lot more than that fridge! I used up all the life that was left in that beast and was without an SA until the tinySA came along. It is worlds of improvement over that old clunker I had. I have two tinySAs (one to ruin and a spare) and now the Ultra model too. My sweet wife doesn't know it is her Christmas gift to me ;) In the intervening years I started a homebrew spectrum analyzer project and have some of the stages working. I based mine on a solid state TV tuner so you can well imagine it needed a lot more than a little extra circuitry. The whole thing is analog - no digital stuff whatsoever. I have been thinking now that I have the new devices (and nanoVNA too) that I might dust off the parts and see if I can complete that project. Not that I need it any more. It might be a fun exercise. The tinySA(s) and the info that has arrived with them will probably help with that project. There is no way it will ever be the size or capability of the tinySA but a fun exercise. 73, Bill KU8H bark less - wag more On 12/14/22 20:31, DAVE REISER X-WA3TRS wrote:
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DAVE REISER WA3TRS