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Old 1-Sep-2020, 4:53 PM   #11
rabbit73
Retired A/V Tech
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,747
Quote:
Originally Posted by eclipsme View Post
I see what you mean. Lots of pieces to be obtained from lots of places.
Thanks!
Was it worth it? Nice cheap alternative for someone that barely understands what this is!
It was worth it to me; it gave me a spectrum analyzer for $25. I was then able to see if the channel was there when my tuner didn't pick it up during a channel scan.

The first thing I did when learning about SDRs was download the SDR# (SDRsharp) software, which was ready to use. The dongle and SDR# will only show about 2 MHz. But, I was then able to look at part of a channel, its pilot carrier, and estimate the SNR of the channel.



I was also able to look at and listen to FM signals.



This gave me the confidence to try the spectrum analyzer for the RTL-SDR.COM V3 dongle.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/

I knew that if I couldn't figure out the RTLSDR Scanner, I would at least have the dongle and SDR# software.

I suggest you try the RTL-SDR.COM V3 dongle with the SDR# software to give you confidence.
Quick Start Guide
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/
Installing RTL-SDR & SDR Sharp on Win10 Made Easy - TheSmokinApe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUwRt5qn-6U

Once you have it working, then you need to learn how to adjust the gain to make a good estimate of the SNR of the channel. There is an optimum setting of the gain to show max signal with max SNR. Strong signals require less gain; weak signals require more gain.



This is my amateur video; one of these should work:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ge923irqji...50-56.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ge923irqji...50-56.mp4?dl=1

If you want to show the whole channel with ready-to-use software, then upgrade to the SDRplay RSP1A SDR ($100) with SDRuno software.

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If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
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Last edited by rabbit73; 1-Sep-2020 at 11:51 PM.
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