Sunday, 28 July 2019

DVB-T TV dongle as Wideband receiver

A couple of years ago I had good experiencies with a TV stick as broadband receiver: https://www.pi4raz.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3180&Itemid=46

This time I used a Terratec Cinergy Tstick+ running under Windows10 to setup a receiver capable of receiving signals in the range 50...1800 MHz (RTL2832U chip / R820T tuner)




The latest version of SDR#Stable from https://airspy.com/download via https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ was installed. Also zadig24.exe was used to install the proper driver.

The dongle was connected to my discone antenne. I have been able to receive narrowband 2m, 70cm and AM airband transmissions so far. Example of 70 cm signal:




Repeater of Goes, received at 430.075 MHz.


Thursday, 18 July 2019

Geekcreit GHz Signal Generator

Geekcreit offers a nice signal generator board for appr. 30 euros with microchip ADF4351. Frequency range 35 MHz - 4.4 GHz (!)


Highlights

With OLED display
Host computer USB & serial port
Integrated key operation
Good man-machine interface
Many improvements on the phase noise, phase spurious and loop filter
Module has 35 MHz - 4.4 GHz frequency output, point frequency, sweep, frequency hopping and other basic functions
Dimensions: 88mm * 67mm
Power supply: 5V-15V (DC 5.1MM); 5V (USB)
Bandwidth: ADF4351: 35MHz - 4.4GHz; ADF4350: 137MHz - 4.4GHz
Module step: 100KHz(min)
Frequency error: ± 1KHz
Output: OUTA OUTB two way
Module phase noise: better than -100dBc @ 10KHz (noise is different with different band phase)
Module output power: 7dBm (MAX)
Module interface: The external communication port of the STM32 USB can be configured to USB or analog serial port (in default)
Module program download mode: SW module, three-wire system (GND SWCLK SWDIO)


https://www.banggood.com/Geekcreit-Signal-Generator-Module-35M-4_4GHz-RF-Signal-Source-Frequency-Synthesizer-ADF4351-Development-Board-p-1416998.html?rmmds=mywishlist&cur_warehouse=CN

Off-topic:

Visit to the city of Gent, Belgium, July 31st, 2019