[TenTec] Band Scopes - SDR

[WD8ARZ]

Boy do I agree about the 'real time' band scopes being the way to go. Love 
my Kenwood SM-220 on the I.F. of a Icom IC-720. Will keep em both for a long 
time to come. Great for tuning shortwave and finding those elusive utility 
stations that pop up on the scope after you have just tuned through their 
frequency ... hi hi

For another real-time band scope, I use the SDR-IQ. The difference is I dont 
have to connect to the I.F. of any radio for it to work (though you sure can 
if you wan to). It is a full receiver of its own, with a configurable band 
scope / display for various configurations. I use it as a standalone or with 
serial ports connected to my FT-1000MP (or TS-480HX). This gives me four 
real time frequencies I can listen to (two with in the front end pass band 
with the MP, and two with in the pass band using the IQ - and doesnt have to 
be with in the pass band of the MP). As the MP is tuned, the IQ follows if 
you wish. Just have to be careful about not transmitting into the input of 
the IQ (tap the antenna inside the MP on the receive only line, or use 
external relays). Directly interfaces with Icom, Kenwood, Elecraft and Yaesu 
radios for use as a tracking panoramic adapter.

http://www.rfspace.com/SDR-IQ.html
"The hardware samples the whole 0.0001-30 MHz band using a high performance, 
14 bit analog to digital converter (ADC) running at 66.6 MHz. The digital 
data from the ADC is processed into I and Q format using a direct digital 
converter (DDC). The I and Q data is then sent to the PC for processing 
using a USB 2.0 interface. All of the demodulation and spectral functions 
are done on the PC side.

The SDR-IQT comes with a High Frequency (HF) amplified front-end with 
switched attenuators, switched filters and 1Hz tuning. The SDR-IQT  comes 
with the latest version of SpectraVueT software.  It supports AM, WFM, USB, 
LSB, N-FM, DSB and CW with fully adjustable DSP Filter bandwidths and FFT 
sizes of 2048 to 262144 points. The resolution bandwidth is as low as 0.031 
Hz." "High resolution spectrum display with higher resolution and speed than 
those in $10K radios."

Plus I can Record and play back spectrum segments up to 196 KHz wide with 
full demodulation and tuning capabilities. That means an RF spectrum 
recorded to a file that can be played back with full real-time options to 
change modes and filter parameters. Way cool!

Did I mention remote access / control of the IQ over my home wifi lan? Love 
setting on the back deck with my laptop and having full access to this 
system.

73 from Bill -WD8ARZ
http://hflink.net/qso/

>From the web site:

Features
======
-Smallest SDR with RF DSPT that samples the whole HF band at once and 
performs the initial filtering at 67 MHz sample rate with 23 bit accuracy. 
Uses a high performance Analog Devices 14 bit analog to digital converter.
-Sends 16 bits of I/Q Data to the PC via USB. No messy soundcard cables 
required.
-SDR-IQ is USB powered. No power supply is required. Works great with 
laptops running on batteries.
-Incredible receive performance.
-High resolution spectrum display with higher resolution and speed than 
those in $10K radios.
-RF preselection filters for great IMD performance.
-Serial port to directly interface with radios like the Icom IC-R8500, 
IC-R9000, IC-R9500, IC R7000, IC-R7100 and AOR AR-5000.
-50 ohm RF input that can be easily interfaced to antennas, Ultrasonic 
transducers, IR detectors, and other RF equipment.
-Open source ActiveX control and ActiveX sample program for easy software 
customization. SpectraVue (not open source).
-Windows, Linux and Mac OS drivers for developers.
-Network server that allows remoting of the SDR-IQT. Servers available for 
both Windows and Linux.
-Adds the best panoramic display features to transceivers like the Yaesu 
FT1000, FT2000, FT9000  and IC-7800 using the RX output connector or RX 
loopback