Spike

Is there any way to keep the horizontal marking to read MHz instead of GHz so that the 1 Hz resolution is maintained in the readout for frequencies above 999.999999 Mhz? Or better yet, is there any way that the 1 HZ frequency resolution can be maintained when switching over to GHz from MHz? When it switches over to GHz from MHz on the display the frequency resolution switches to 1 KHz!

Hi John,

This is something we have discussed and may implement in a future release. If you need Hz or sub Hz resolution on a CW, something like zero-span will give you precise results.

Steps:
– Enter Zero-Span mode
– Change to center freq of interest
– Enable AM/FM Modulation analysis, check box near bottom of control panel
– View RF Center (very fine resolution)

Regards,
A.J.

Are there plans to have the Spike software open sourced so that we, as users, can tailor it to our specific needs?

Hi John,

It was nice talking to you on the phone. Let me know if you need anything else.

Regards,
A.J.

Hey Everyone,

We released version 3.0.22 of Spike today. It adds a number of features and bug fixes. The major additions are CISPR defined resolution bandwidths and the ability to load multiple path loss tables and an antenna factor correction table. There are a few new sections in the manual that detail the use of these features.

http://www.signalhound.com/Spike

Regards,
A.J.

Hello Signalhound Team,
Just got my Spike/SG124/TG124 up and running. It is quite a easy to use program, however as a fresh one I like to give you some feedback:

In sweep mode:
There is on way to RF on/off the Tracking generator. Also Spike does not check if TG settings are realy set e.g. I got no RF output and 10 MHz-Reference settings did not function. I verifyed this with my osciloscope. The old TG-Standalone SW gave me a hint and after USB disconnect and reconnect everything worked.

In Scalar Network Analysis mode:
– Tracking Generator Controls: Center Freq and Freq Step Up/Down should be disabled as Frequency (Controls) has the lead.
– Amplitude (Control): Ref Level units should change to dB, linear (V) and not keep dBm.

Regards
Guenther

PS: I used V3.22
Guenther

Hi Guenther,

Thank you very much for the feedback. I like all of your points. I will make note of them, and maybe we can get them into future releases.

Regards,
A.J.

Hi A.J.,
Some hints to consider on Tracking Generator functions (in case you change it):
# Allow an offset e.g. 10.7 MHz to test mixers
# or allow to add a LO frequency with a sign to test also converter with LO = RF+IF e.g. on LO >= 0: RFtrack = LO +RFin; on LO < 0: RFtrack = LO -RFin. You could reuse the frequency field on TG.
# Allow tracking generator to run at a fraction of RF-in to test frequency multiplier e.g. RFin = RFtrack * n (n = {1,2,3,4 …})
# Use up and down arrows like in Frequency (control) instead of large “Step up” and “Step down” Buttons
# Add an “RF on” tick box
Regards
Guenther

Thanks for the feedback. We actually have a “mixer offset” in the legacy 2.18 software, but it is difficult to “store thru” without a reference mixer, so it definitely had some shortcomings. I have also wanted to add doubler and tripler testing, but this is limited by the harmonics of the TG itself. Still, this could be overcome with a low pass or something. Definitely good things to consider…

Hi Justin,
I fully agree that a “store thru” is difficult and in my mind makes no sense. I would disable it if an offset entered and display dBm values.

On multiplier you have anyhow a lowpass filter on the input and in most cases an amplifier to lift -10 dBm up. So I think there is no harm in this.

Regards
Guenther

Hi Everyone,

Today we are releasing version 3.1.0 of the Spike software. With this comes EMC pre-compliance measurements and features for the BB60A/C users, frequency difference meter utility, temporary time base adjustment utility, ability to hide control panels, and we moved the API files out of the installer into their own separate download. Check out the change log on http://www.signalhound.com/Spike for more details.
Also keep an eye out for the next update where we will be attempting to resolve many of the text scaling issues for high DPI displays.

Regards,
A.J.

Can you please fix the Center Frequency so it carries over from Sweep/ Real Time in to Modulation Analysis?

Modulation Analysis always defaults to 1 GHz.

Product Enhancement request; Spike (v 3.1.0)

Can you please add a horizontal line that indicates the video trigger threshold in “modulation analysis”.

Is it possible to demod QAM64/ QAM256 or is that too processor/ comms bus intensive?

Hi Tishers,

Good timing, I am looking at QAM64 today. QAM256 will likely follow if I can get QAM64. I’ll take a look at your other suggestions as well. Out of curiosity, which view where you imagining a horizontal line displayed on? The spectrum plot?

Regards,
A.J.

It’d be kind of cool to see a vertical bar representing channel power on the spectrum plot, and then you could show the video trigger threshold on that. Just throwin’ out ideas…

Hi Andrew,

The new scaling in ver 311 is great. I am now able to run spike on a macbook with retina display using parallels. one little issue however on the up- down- fields in the frequency setting.

Eric

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Hi Emo,

I apologize, are you pointing out that the arrow buttons are covering the frequency text entry? (or that the arrows are really small?) Are you able to resize the width of the control panel? The new release was supposed to make it so users could do this. I look forward to your response.

Regards,
A.J.

Hi Andrew,

Yes it works!, resizing is the solution. Thank you, somehow didn’t try that.

Eric

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Compliments on the updated <Load> <Save> functionality in Spike 3.1.6. Sometimes it’s the smallest detail that can make all the difference. This was a far better fix than I had envisioned and I’m most appreciative of your efforts.

Will you folks be at the IWCE this week ?

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