Topband: spectrum scopes, swling and contests

[Sam Morgan]

the following message from Victor to topband
has triggered my reply found
below the reprint of 'parts' of Victors post

Victor A. Kean, Jr. wrote:

> and from: [CQ-Contest] Using spectrum scopes in contests
>> Anybody seriously making use of spectrum scopes in contests? If yes, how do
>>  you use them?
snip
> Many of you are bored by my numerous soapbox comments about my phased array
> and software defined radio "receiving system" (its an antenna *and* a radio
> at the same time).  One of the benefits of this system is the constantly
> available  spectrum display.  I've hacked some software together so that I can use the 
SDR as the
>  receiver and my IC765 as the transmitter with the transmitter tracking the
receiver.
> (It hacking because the 765 is connected to a different computer and
> nominally being controlled by WriteLog.)
> 
> So, if I see an interesting signal on the SDR screen, a single mouse click
puts that
> signal in the center of the receiver passband and also puts the transmitter
on the
> same frequency.
> 
> On the spectrum display, weak signals are thin and dim, while strong signals
> are fat (usually quite fat from the key clicks) and bright.  When its time to
> S&P, rather than crawl across the entire band verifying that each fat line is
> someone I've worked before, I just click on all the dim lines because they
> are frequently interesting.  Furthermore, on 160 the interesting signals
> often congregate in the 1830-1835 region.
> 

I have a similar setup here. I use an Elecraft K2 using the Clifton Labs
Z10000-K2 buffer amplifier, to output the K2's ~4915 KHz IF signals, to a
Softrock SDR and then through a Delta 44 sound card to my computer. I use HRD to
control the K2 and PowerSDR-IF software to display the panadapter. I am quite
fond of the combined Panfall display where I get the best of both worlds by
viewing the panadapter as well as the waterfall.

I have to agree with Victor to the amazing ability to dig signals out of the
noise. As you may know by now, for my antenna I have only a 13 foot tall Hi-Q
5/160 vertical at 20 feet with 16 radials each 13 foot long. That is for rx as
well as tx, and I live in the middle of a shopping center/suburban homes area
with a substation to the N. about 2-3 football fields away, and lets not forget
the two 12kv and 19kv (forget that number but 19-24kv or so) lines running
about 400-500 feet to the NE. My noise floor is a constant S7 on good nights.
Enough of that sad story, it was only to set the stage for the following
comments.....

Using the above setup and throwing in the MRP40 cw decoding software, I am able
to copy signals that I didn't even know were there when scanning the band by
ear. I can find them on the pan as well as the waterfall displays and then
squeeze down all the filters and copy signals using MRP40 that just sound like
noise to my ears, even though they barely show in the panfall display. I realize 
there are many pgms that will decode cw, but MRP40 seems (imo) to be best at 
weak signal decoding. Anyone have another pgm thy would recommend for this 
please do so.

Can I dig out the Europeans or other dx, not with my current antennas, but I am 
able to hear stateside signals that are otherwise undetectable for me. No I 
don't work them with my 65mw, but hey hearing them is half the fun. Now just 
imagine what that kind of setup could do with real 160m antennas.

Oh, getting back to contest related, this gave me no real edge, as signals that
weak were already so far down in the noise that they were also unable to hear
me. Seems I was only heard by stations that had signals well above the noise
floor (S-8 and above). But it did make my s&p much easier, as I just had to 
click on the next signal in/on the display

Should anyone wish to play with something like this, here are a few details,
first the pricing, about $50.00 for the CL interface, $13.00 for the softrock
SDR, and then the big ticket item, the Delta 44 for about $150.00 Show me
another pan adapter on the market for $213.00, I couldn't find one. Besides it
was fun to build this one.

References:
http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/using_softrock_as_a_panadapter_for_the_k2.htm
http://www.kb9yig.com/
http://www.wu2x.com/sdr.html
http://www.polar-electric.com/Morse/MRP40-EN/index.htm

Hope some of you found this interesting and may give it a try with your *real*
160m rx antennas. Let me know how it works out for you, even if it will break my
heart, hi hi. Especially if you find a better cw decoder for really weak signal 
work.

P.S. Best wishes for a Prosperous Healthy Happy New Year to all.

/me slithers back into my RF proofed blackhole.
-- 
GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan