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  • Spectrum Analyzers and the Like

    From k9zw@700:100/69 to All on Mon Oct 17 18:48:15 2022
    A decent Spectrum Analyzer can be obtained surplus or if one understand the limitation can be bought in an almost generic form as an import.

    Modern electronics version range from the sub $100 to about $1400 for consumer models, and there are professional duty ones in the $4-10k range.

    Decent surplus can occassionally be found in the $800-3000 range.

    What can you do with a S.A.?

    Mostly look for unanticpipated RF emissions.

    What is special about a S.A. over a general receiver? An S.A. lets you look deeply into the signals received, often finding signals that would have been obscured and masked by other signals when observed by a conventional receiver.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze4V6Qp1mK8 is a nice video to get the basics.

    Quite a piece of equipment!

    --- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: SPOT BBS / k9zw (700:100/69)
  • From debian@700:100/69 to ALL on Wed Oct 19 12:45:44 2022
    Allot of modern HF transcievers have a S.A. built in, so not only can you scan the band, but you can demodulate it too! Some oscilloscopes such as the Rigol DS1054 Z have a built in (and slow, but still gets the job done) S.A.

    You can use some cheap SDRs as broad band spectrum analyzers as well.

    I think some of the RCA Receiving Tube manuals have spectrum analyzer schameatics in them. Those are worth checking out as well!

    73, de KG7UJH
    Debian

    How ya gonna do it? PS/2 it!

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: SPOT BBS / k9zw (700:100/69)
  • From k9zw@700:100/69 to debian on Wed Oct 19 19:35:45 2022
    On 19 Oct 2022, debian said the following...

    Allot of modern HF transcievers have a S.A. built in, so not only can
    you scan the band, but you can demodulate it too! Some oscilloscopes
    such as the Rigol DS1054 Z have a built in (and slow, but still gets the job done) S.A.

    You can use some cheap SDRs as broad band spectrum analyzers as well.

    I think some of the RCA Receiving Tube manuals have spectrum analyzer schameatics in them. Those are worth checking out as well!

    Sort of, maybe. There is a significant capabilities-gap between a pro-grade Spectrum Analyzer and other devices that have some Spectrum Analyzer attributes.

    I've seen techs use the equipment to ferret out datastreams masked by oridinary & expected transmissions, using techniques not available on any of the other equipment mentioned.

    --- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: SPOT BBS / k9zw (700:100/69)