[MRCA] [MMRCG] AN/APA-38 Panadaptor

[Tim]

Hi Steve - Yep that was exactly the basic idea from a 1980's Ham Radio mag
article.  The idea was to use one of those cheap TV tuner modules and drive
the VCO with a controllable ramp.  I did that, but added bells&whistles to
suit my needs. (Which was to train field radio operators on the obvious
consequences of simply pushing the Transmit button...)

It was a fun, useful project....
Tim
N6CC

On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 11:47 AM Steve KM4V <Highpwr at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Tim,
>
>
>
> Sounds like the old “Poor Man’s Spectrum Analyzer” from back in the 80s or
> 90s.
>
>
>
> Steve
>
> KM4V
>
>
>
> *From:* mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *Tim
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 4:33 PM
> *To:* MMRCG at groups.io; RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu
> *Cc:* mrca at mailman.qth.net; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* Re: [MRCA] [MMRCG] AN/APA-38 Panadaptor
>
>
>
> Hi Ray - Sounds like a fun project.  I don't have a display for my APR-1
> either but I needed a portable ESM spectrum analysis receiver that covered
> 30-500 mc.  Doesn't seem to be something available in "military surplus" so
> I built my own in an ammo can.  Based on an old analog TV tuner module
> driven by a ramp generator for the tuning sweep.  Works great with an
> external scope.
>
> http://www.n6cc.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0054-e1458011527563.jpg
>
> http://www.n6cc.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0059-e1458011757632.jpg
>
>
>
> "No signal goes unnoticed..."
>
> Tim
>
> N6CC
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 12:50 PM Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Is doing something completely pointless sane? I was recently so impressed
> by some of the aircraft radio dioramas at Gilbert that I have decided that
> I would like to try to attempt one myself.  First let me start by saying
> that one of the tools I use at work almost all the time is a spectrum
> analyzer, everyone knows that much has been rolled out in the past years
> from companies like Rigol with a line of spectrum analyzers with internal
> tracking generators for under one thousand dollars or the little Nano VNA
> vector network analyzers so today anyone can have a spectrum analyzer or
> VNA that would have easily cost five or ten grand ten years ago, and brand
> name analyzers like the HP ESA family and not out of the range of most
> people, but I want to take a giant leap backwards and build up my EW/ECM
> warfare “primitive” analyzer by kitting out my APR-4Y with a AN/APA-38
> panadaptor.  The old APR-1 and 4 all worked with a larger display, the
> APA-10 but never warmed to those old receivers being the 4Y had just one
> head for covering all four bands and had enough sensitivity to almost be
> called a receiver along with an added FM demodulator.  I have a APR-4Y with
> head and rack but lack the AN/APA-38 scope and think if I can come up with
> one that would be the good basis for a complete search receiver from the
> old days, a primitive spectrum analyzer.
>
> So if anyone has one that can be talked out of please let me know.
>
> Have already seen where a ARC-21 has shown up so there must still be more
> unicorns out there.
>
>
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
>
>
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