[time-nuts] Spectrum Analyzer Suggestions

[Chris Albertson]

There are a lot of pre-build RF front ends that could be used for an a
spectrum analyzer and much of the software is general enough that it can
use more than one front end.  The problem always with the low cost hardware
is bandwidth.   SOme of these front ends are mixers that take the RF down
to baseband where it is sampled by an audio interface on the computer.
The best of these can handle up to about 100KHz bandwidth.   The other low
cost front ends are those designed for video signals.  These have much
wider bandwidth but worse dynamic range.

I'm looking at a project right now to build a solar spectrograph that would
work up to about 1.5GHz.  It is a science instrument for observing RF
emissions from solar flairs.  It turns out that the TV tuners inside the
typical Cable box have wide bandwidth because to need to decode the QAM
signal.   The tuners cost under $20 and can be driven by an external
oscillator.



On Sun, Jul 14, 2013 at 5:02 PM, Lee Mushel <herbert3 at centurytel.net> wrote:

> The SDR-IQ is certainly a great little receiver.   Simon Brown's
> "SDR-Console" software  satisfies my needs.
>
> Lee Mushel
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brooke Clarke" <brooke at pacific.net>
> To: "Perry Sandeen" <sandeenpa at yahoo.com>; "Discussion of precise time
> and frequency measurement" <time-nuts at febo.com>
> Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 3:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Spectrum Analyzer Suggestions
>
>
>  Hi Perry:
>>
>> You might consider the SDR-IQ Software Defined Radio.
>> This particular model is very capable and very reasonably priced.
>> http://www.prc68.com/I/Bats.**shtml#SDRIQ<http://www.prc68.com/I/Bats.shtml#SDRIQ>
>> http://www.rfspace.com/**RFSPACE/SDR-IQ.html<http://www.rfspace.com/RFSPACE/SDR-IQ.html>
>> 500 Hertz to 30 MHz coverage.  Useable down to 100 Hz.
>>
>> Not as good as the HP 4395A which goes down to 10 Hertz with a true RBW
>> of 1 Hz.
>> http://www.prc68.com/I/4395A.**shtml#SA<http://www.prc68.com/I/4395A.shtml#SA>
>>
>> Have Fun,
>>
>> Brooke Clarke
>> http://www.PRC68.com
>> http://www.**end2partygovernment.com/**2012Issues.html<http://www.end2partygovernment.com/2012Issues.html>
>>
>> Perry Sandeen wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> List,
>>>   I just purchased a HP 3585 spec analyzer on E bay
>>> for a reasonable price.  I wanted this
>>> instead of the 181 series as the range was more to what I’d be using and
>>> it was
>>> of a newer vintage.  The 3585a goes from
>>> 10 Hz to 40 MHz which is a most useful range for my purposes. so far, so
>>> good.
>>>   The problem is I didn’t know the beast weighed a svelte
>>> 88 pounds! Double Hernia time!
>>>   What I’d appreciate advice for a used spec
>>> analyzer in the $1,000 range that is at least much lighter.  A smaller
>>> size would also be a benefit.  I probably would never use it above 100 MHz.
>>> A
>>> slightly smaller screen would be OK.
>>>   Suggestions appreciated.
>>>   Regards,
>>>   Perrier
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
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-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California