[time-nuts] Software defined spectrum analyzer

[Luis Cupido]

Tks, folks.
I saw the diagram on the manual, albeit a bit too simplified
but ok, indeed we can have an idea.


For LO I suspect that might be one of those clock generators IC with VCO 
+ PLL plus a a lot of programmable dividers and really would match the 
simplified diagram they have....
As for the digital part I have no idea, but would not be surprised of
that very simplistic single chip approach sound card chip and an USB 
micro to feed the control bits to the PLL chip...
It may well be a very very simple thing hardware wise.
...hence, I'm still curious ;-)

Luis Cupido.


jimlux wrote:
> Don Latham wrote:
>> Hi Luis:I, too, am curious. But I haven't opened it yet. I suspect
>> something like an FPGA feeding a fast a/d somewhere in the 50-70 MHz
>> range. That is, a decomposition.
>> There may be a synthesized LO and mixer to get to the 50 MHz.
>> The info on the website says or used to say something about an sdr
>> modified to act as a spectrum analyzer.
>> One of the things I like about the device that played a part in my
>> purchase is the availability of a 10 MHz reference input. as a good
>> time-nut that shows some serious engineering attention to accuracy.
>> Don
>>
> 
> I'm going to guess much simpler inside.. Essentially a programmable 
> receiver like the Icom PCR1000, but with better bandwidth, running into 
> a pair of 192kHz ADCs, for which easy USB interfacing is available.
> 
> The question is really what does the 4GHz LO in the front look like? 
> It's almost certainly some sort of VCO PLL scheme, probably with 
> multiple VCOs. But, do they use a DDS?  Probably not... They probably 
> have a fast PLL that settles quickly so they step through in 100 kHz 
> steps or so.
> 
> 
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