[1000mp] Bandscope

[WD8ARZ]

Am not actually doing that at this time, but it is a simple matter of 
plugging and using it. I tend to use the SM-220 station scope on the 
Icom IC-720, some times on the FT-1000MP, but I prefer to use the SDR-IQ 
on the FT-1000MP. Can listen to two stations on the MP, and two more on 
the SDR-IQ. Makes it easy to find friends and to listen to dual 
frequency communications where there is an offset between transmit and 
receive ... such as our 10M FM and ship to shore communications.

Most of my time on HF and the ham bands is listening. So I frequently 
use the SDR-IQ on a laptop for my listening needs. Sometimes record a 
couple hundred kilohertz of band space to the hard drive when I am 
looking for certain activity I want to step through the recorded file 
spectrum later. Can find missed signals and allows for changing modes, 
band width, and other factors on the recorded signal as if it was live 
and in real time ... find that very useful on figuring out what it takes 
to decode certain digital modes. Even for DRM stations.

The SDR-IQ is not cheap, so your project is much needed. Dont let me 
change your mind, that wasnt my effort. Was just wanting to give you a 
reference that might be useful.

One pet peeve I have: I Dont Like SDR units that Must Use A Sound Card 
To Process The I and Q signals. That loads up the resources of the 
computer, is very dependent on sound card spec and performance. The 
sound card performance is also affect by a lot of activity on a computer.

All those concerns go away when the true processing of those I and Q 
signals are done out side the computer, and only the actual audio our 
ears need to hear goes to the sound card of the computer. Remember, my 
pet peeve ... and one that most others dont know about or will 
understand. They end up just saying such and such a SDR module and 
software wont work on my computer .... while others say it works just 
fine here, and yet they dont realize what the issues are that they 
really do have ....

73 from Bill - WD8ARZ

On 3/25/2014 10:37 AM, Tod Olson wrote:
> Thanks for the advice Bill.
>
> The first Law of Life is:
>
> "Trauma Teaches; but it doesn’t have to be your trauma."
>
> I hope I can avoid the front end problem you mention.
> I did plan to use a very small cap to tap into the IF chain rather than
> the RF antenna input.
>
> Are you still using the bandscope setup you describe?
>
> Tod
>
>
>
> On 3/25/14, 5:17 AM, "WD8ARZ" <wd8arz at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like you have a very worth while project idea there Tod. Am very
>> interested for sure.