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KB0NEParticipantKB0NE April 15, 2019 at 9:52 am in reply to: LabVIEW App using Signal Hound VI's not working – Resource not found //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
Hi,
It’s been a while since I did LabView… Seems to me that when I installed a LV program into a non LV computer that I needed to go to the NI web site and download the resource folder for the particular version of LV that the program was created in.
It’s a lot like needing to download various versions of MicroSoft Visual C++ for various applications.
Give that a shot and see what happens.
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE March 7, 2018 at 6:15 am in reply to: Spike with sa44b on a microcomputer //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
Depends what you mean by ‘micro computer’. If you are thinking something like a Raspberry Pi or some such credit card sized unit, then that won’t work. Other than the OS being Linux for these cards and no software, these small ARM processors don’t have enough processing power to operate the SH with any reasonable performance. The best bang for your buck might be a referb’d laptop with at least a dual core processor, plenty of ram and running a later version of Windows. That’s just my 2 cents worth YMMV.
John
KB0NEParticipantSpike is for Signal Hound only. That may change in the future, but I really doubt it.
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE April 16, 2016 at 11:53 am in reply to: SA-44B for SDR & Hand Swept Sig Gen Filter Evaluator //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
Just looked in the manual and yes, SPIKE will record. Top of page 18.
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE April 16, 2016 at 11:44 am in reply to: SA-44B for SDR & Hand Swept Sig Gen Filter Evaluator //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
Hi,
Yes the SA can be used as an SDR. Info about that is elsewhere on this forum. As far as I know it is only functional with HDSDR.
https://signalhound.com/news/hdsdr-software-your-signal-hound-software-radio/
Look around on the forum.If you want to sweep filters and such then the best bet is to get the companion tracking generator TG44. I have very successfully used this combo to tune up cavity filters and even sweep antennas for resonance.
As far as recording, I don’t recall SPIKE doing that but HDSDR certainly will.
John
KB0NEParticipantJUST SOME THOUGHTS:
The biggest problem seems to be with the Video/graphics that is used in the computer. You need to do a little searching to make sure you have a good-to-go video card since I have seen a couple hiccups reported in this forum regarding vid problems.
Of course USB 3 is a must to get best performance.
I’d recommend getting a computer with SSD (Solid State (hard) Drive). Or retrofitting one. Makes a lot of difference in performance in general.
2 core is fine, 4 core probably give a slight boost in throughput. 48 core is a waist. 😉
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE March 28, 2016 at 7:13 am in reply to: salar network analyser strange frequency //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
My guess is that it is telling you the truth. If everything is working correctly this might indicate that your antenna is a tiny bit too long… or it is in an environment that is affecting its resonate characteristics. *Depending on the antenna and where it is mounted*, coax length can sometimes be a factor in resonance while sweeping the characteristics.
The TG can be set to operate on a single frequency and the accuracy could be checked with a frequency counter…
I have found my SA/TG setup to be very accurate and have used the combo to check and tune critical frequency dependent cavities.
KB0NEParticipant- This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by
KB0NE.
After messing around some more…. In the lower left quadrant of the HDSDR display is an ICON/button that says [RF +0]; By right clicking that and turning the adjustment slider all the way up to 50 I found the background noise is diminished (open antenna S meter reading goes to almost 0) and the weak signals are easier to hear. I still think performance may be more HDSDR software related than SA44 related.
John
PS: Checked out teh SDRPlay site an found additional info on adjusting the HDSDR program, will try that out. Also ordered a radio from them. I suspect I may end up replacing the SDR-IQ with this unit. Thanks for the pointer.
KB0NEParticipantOK!
After fiddling around with HDSDR with SA44B and comparing it with the Elecraft KX3/PX3 and SDR-IQ I made the following general observations:1) The KX3 and SDR-IQ are both much more sensitive for Low level RF signals. Tested mostly on the ham bands where weak signals can be found. Also doing quick A-B comparisons via an antenna switch.
2) With the SA44B I can’t get a 0 on the HDSDR S meter, there is a constant reading around 3-4 S units with the antenna disconnected. I suspect the IF gain may be a bit hot on the SA44. Of course, S9=50uV is adjustable.
3) The SA44/HDSDR spectrum graph is far superior to either the SDR-IQ/Spectraview or KX3/PX3 combo. Having adjustable RBW really helps pick out individual tones and audio components when analyzing RF and audio signals.
4) Woe is me!!!! With LO<=>TUNE (both the same numeric value and locked to each other) the SA44 is 4.26 HZ high at 10MHZ (WWV). I think I can live with that. 😉
All in all, being capable of decoding audio and seeing the spectrum at the same time is a very welcome addition to the SA44B software for those occasions when that is needed.
THANKS again.
John
KB0NEParticipantTHANKS!
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE August 20, 2015 at 5:09 am in reply to: Spike display lost after using an extended display on Windows 10 //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
Don’t know about W10 but… with earlier versions you should be able to right click on the icon in the task bar and select the ‘move’ option. Use the L/R/U/D arrow keys to bring the window back to main screen depending on where the extra screen is placed.
John
KB0NEParticipantKB0NE August 5, 2015 at 5:51 am in reply to: Can TG44A stand alone as a CW signal generator? //php bbp_reply_id(); ?>
The BNC cable is used to sync the 2 units together for scalar mode. The TG will function without necessarily being tethered to the SA. In CW (non sweep) mode the TG will produce an RF signal on whatever frequency you tell it to go to.
Simple experiment: Why don’t you try it.
Also note that the TG44 is much happier loading into a 50 ohm load so the admonition of using a 20 db attenuator in series with an unknown load will help flatten out the power level while adjusting the antenna.
KB0NEParticipantAlthough the Smith Chart looks quite scary at first it really is not.
The smith chart will tell you a great deal about antennas and resonate circuitry.
A fellow ham gave a simplistic explanation of the area of a Smith chart which I wrote up for amy club news letter (a portion of which is attached):
Visualize the CIRCLE area of a Smith chart as a pond and PIFTY-OHM, the fish is swimming there exactly in the MIDDLE. He is facing toward the right side of the pond, which is the OPEN sea. He has a very SHORT tail on the left side, COILy hair on TOP and unfortunately his CAP fell off and sank to the BOTTOM.
So in other words the center horizontal line is pure resistance, 0 ohms on the left, (typically) 50 ohm point in the center and open (Infinite) on the right. Inductance characteristics are on the top half and capacitance characteristics are on the bottom half.
Check out this SMITH chart program and try creating a few solutions with the building blocks:
http://www.fritz.dellsperger.net/This program has been a lifesaver for me and even though the free version is limited to a few components it has done everything I needed for some rather complex setups.
Also check out the SARK110; a very handy and relatively inexpensive (antenna/polar/smith/transmission line tester/ETC) analyzer for circuitry under 200 MHZ.
John
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KB0NEParticipant“KBONE, you can also download an evaluation copy of the latest LabView, save as a previous version (e.g. LV 2012), and then fix whatever errors creep in.”
And the download is about a bazillion megabytes and I am on a limited data plan. It would be nice if Lior would just make a reverted copy for those of us who don’t have unlimited data.
KB0NEParticipantHi,
Would you be willing save this project reverted to 2012 Lab View?Unfortunately I am unable to update at this time.
Thanks.
John
KB0NEParticipantHi,
Here are some screen shots showing the spectrum screen messing up. This problem seems to be very intermittent and varys from time to time.The CPU is an Intel Pentium dual core CPU B950 @ 2.1 GHz, 4 G ram (laptop w/ 64 bit windows 7 Home Premium.)
GPU says Intel HD graphics family. 1366X768 1.6 g of memory reserved.
Don’t know if that is enough info. I am wired up to run 2 monitors but the problem is on the main screen; haven’t tried the other lower res screen yet.
John at KB0NE, amateur radio station
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KB0NEParticipantHi,
Loving the new Software.Did notice one minor GUI bug: When resizing the window, my left hand column of DB numbers on the spectrum display get their font boogered up, as if trying to redraw the same numbers over themselves.
John
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