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I have been looking for information about whether or not one can decode SSB signals in the various amateur radio bands. So far I have not been able to see any information on this. The BB60C has an audio player and I have read that it can decode USB, LSB, CW, FM, and AM. However, I also read that there is a limitation of the bandwidth but I am a little confused by the statement I heard in a video about that limitation. Can I listen to SSB signals on the various amateur radio bands using the audio player?
One more question – can the SA44B also allow one to listen to SSB signals on the amateur radio bands as well?
Hi John,
If you need a lot of configuration in decoding and playing audio, you might try using the HDSDR (software radio) application with our hardware. This is a free software application which is compatible with our analyzers. Check out the capabilities of the software here, http://www.hdsdr.de. We provide the necessary documentation and files for interfacing the software, which is found on our download pages. The SA44B will be capable of tuning and decoding audio across its full operating frequency range, 1Hz to 4.4GHz. The BB60C is limited to a lower frequency of around 20MHz.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Regards,
A.J.Hi John,
The BB60A is capable of being tuned down to 9kHz in the HDSDR application. If you have access to one, great. The SA44B is a good choice for low frequency audio decoding as well, and more affordable as well. If your only goal is low frequency audio, you might look into dedicated SDR hardware, but obviously, this is not possible if you still need a spectrum analyzer.
I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have on the SA44B.
Regards,
A.J.Hi John,
Both the BB60A and BB60C function as a spectrum analyzers down to 9kHz, but software limitations prevent the BB60C from being currently used in HDSDR down to 9kHz. We no longer sell or manufacture the BB60A, but I do know they show up on Ebay occasionally. Specs for the BB60A are at the bottom of this document, https://signalhound.com/sigdownloads/BB60A/BB60A-User-Manual.pdf
The BB60C improved on almost all RF performance metrics compared to the BB60A. Might be worth comparing them to ensure it will fit your task, BB60C specs here
https://signalhound.com/sigdownloads/BB60C/BB60C-User-Manual.pdfRegards,
A.J.Hi John,
The main reason one might buy a BB60A now is due to price. We do not sell the BB60A anymore and have not since the BB60C was released.
The BB60C hardware design is drastically different than the BB60A, as you noted. The BB60C uses a direct RF path for frequencies below 20MHz. The HDSDR application requires an input I/Q data stream to operate on. We have not developed the direct RF to I/Q code necessary for HDSDR. This only affects 20MHz and below. Our API is available to users and we do provide the code for our device to interface HDSDR, so if you have programming experience, it would be possible to fill in the missing pieces to get the direct RF into HDSDR. This would require C++ and signal processing experience.
Regards,
A.J.
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