[R-390] HP spectrum analyzer question

[Shoppa, Tim]

It's a dessert topping AND a floor wax!

The issue is, the HP Spectrum analyzers were not designed to be radios with spectrum displays.

The radios with spectrum displays were not designed to be HP Spectrum analyzers.

They both have similar to identical functional components, and they can sometimes be pressed to do each other's jobs, but they were designed with entirely different user communities in mind.

I do know people who use their radios as spectrum analyzers. And I also know people who use their spectrum analyzers as radios. But IMHO this is far from optimal, reminds me of using a butter knife as a screwdriver, and a screwdriver for a butter knife.

One issue is that superhet radios really have a dynamic range at the IF level of maybe 30 dB before they really begin compromising performance. That's not too bad ifyou're using it  as a radio and is why superhets almost universally have AGC. But it sucks if you're using it (for many purposes) as a spectrum analyzer.

Tim.