[time-nuts] Spectrum Analyzer Suggestions

Mon Jul 15 01:41:05 EDT 2013

I'm using a SignalHound spectrum analyzer on the bench and on the go for
some time. It's got a glitch or two, and for the price an old Hp might
be better, but the size and weight ratio is about 100:1. A Rigol does
cost a little more. But the Signal Hound is much smaller than a
breadbox, uses a PC for control, readout, and power, has receiver, phase
noise, and other functions besides spectrum. There's also a tracking
generator companion. The SH can also be driven by a precision 10 MHz
reference.
I've found that a good laptop, the Signal Hound, its tracking generator,
a USB oscilloscope and a pattern analyzer, can all fit in a small
briefcase. I also have USB controlled attenuator. Robot Basic is free
and controls a lot of stuff, and for low frequencies, the sound card and
Spectran or Spectrum Lab are incredibly cost effective.
BTW, if you decide to use a powered USB expander, check the external
power supply. Most are far too wimpy, and cause bad behavior. A Radio
Shack 7.5 volt RC battery pack and one of the Chinese dc-dc adjustable
converters, about $2, provides power for a 7-port expander.

Things have sure improved since I built my Eico VTVM kit in 1952!
Don

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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>>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>
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>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
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-- 
"Neither the voice of authority nor the weight of reason and argument
are as significant as experiment, for thence comes quiet to the mind."
De Erroribus Medicorum, R. Bacon, 13th century.
"If you don't know what it is, don't poke it."
Ghost in the Shell

Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
Six Mile Systems LLP
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