Author Topic: EEVblog #575 - DIY 1970s Spectrum Analyser (Read 18957 times)

EEVblog · « **on:** January 31, 2014, 08:49:26 am »

Phil VK2BDF from the Manly Warringah HAM Radio Society shows off his 1970's vintage home made 200MHz DIY spectrum analyser.

netdudeuk · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2014, 11:26:05 am »

That's a great project. He must be really pleased with it.

ttp · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2014, 11:30:36 am »

Like the construction, everything looks good but the coils stand out, nicely wound for a hand built device.

JoannaK · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2014, 02:10:25 pm »

Sometimes.. one just have to make the tools first.

Really nice build and good explanation of the device. It's easy to see that he knows what's he is talking about.

atw60444 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2014, 02:36:48 pm »

Very nice job.

I would have thought a marker generator would be a useful addition. But he obviously got by well enough without.

Dr. Frank · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2014, 06:13:10 pm »

That's the REAL electronics.

Strange, that Phil reminds me in several ways of Bob Pease.

Frank

phenol · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2014, 06:48:47 pm »

Analog purity.

No digital stuff and FFT filters. He only gets two bandwidths by using what looks like a standard WFM 10.7MHz ceramic filter or a couple of cascaded 15khz NFM xtal filers

rushorsch · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2014, 08:39:45 pm »

When will you get your licence, Dave?

vandersonpc · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2014, 08:53:56 pm »

Lovely analog stuff! It reminds me my old professor who build his own oscilloscope with incredible 2.5" cathodic tube!!!

Cheers, Vanderson

mikemcginn@mcginnweb.net · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2014, 10:43:29 pm »

It would be nice to do something like this when I am tired of tinkering with old scopes.

jancumps · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2014, 10:58:37 pm »

Quote from: phenol on January 31, 2014, 06:48:47 pm

Analog purity. No digital stuff and FFT filters. He only gets two bandwidths by using what looks like a standard WFM 10.7MHz ceramic filter or a couple of cascaded 15khz NFM xtal filers

He made this 33 years ago when the only digital components available were 74xxx. He tells in the video that much better gear can be had at this time for 700$. Guess you have to put this in perspective.

Pat Pending · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2014, 11:26:29 pm »

Re closing comments
I think its also called dead bug style construction even in the US.
Manhattan routing is likened to the X/Y street orientations of said city.
Still everyone probably knew that already.

Can't say the number of failed attempts I've had at trying to build a SA, one day.

RRobot · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2014, 01:56:36 am »

I love this stuff so much I watched it twice. I'm trying to build a superheterodyne receiver as a home project, so this is a real inspiration.

taiteki · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2014, 08:57:08 am »

Really awesome!
And Great interview.

Thx!

BravoV · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2014, 08:59:41 am »

Why something like this always or most of the times came from guys with grey beard ?

Great video, love it !

kc9qvl · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2014, 09:58:53 am »

Quote from: BravoV on February 01, 2014, 08:59:41 am

Why something like this always or most of the times came from guys with grey beard ?

Great video, love it !

It wasn't grey when he built it

Zucca · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:26:05 pm »

What about a good kick ass open hardware SA? If he did that 33! years ago where are the good DIY SA nowadays? Probably everybody is like me now: for test equipment find the product you like and drop some money from the bank out. So sad....

edpalmer42 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:45:09 pm »

Quote from: zucca on February 01, 2014, 02:26:05 pm

What about a good kick ass open hardware SA? If he did that 33! years ago where are the good DIY SA nowadays? Probably everybody is like me now: for test equipment find the product you like and drop some money from the bank out. So sad....

You mean like this one?

http://www.scottyspectrumanalyzer.com/

Ed

lapm · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2014, 10:29:19 pm »

Damn that video really makes me wish i could wrap my head around such things... Must be lack of practice or something...

Really nice to see, nice build and god explanation of inner workings..

electronics man · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2014, 10:35:30 pm »

Great project well done it would be nice to build something similar using individual shielded modules that connect together with coax and can be rearranged later

Vgkid · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2014, 03:27:25 am »

Thanks for the video, would it be possible to get more information on the SA?

richfiles · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2014, 08:33:36 am »

Oh wow... That is a thing of beauty! A TRUE work of engineering art!
Absolutely beautiful!

I... I think have some flux fumes in my eyes...

w2aew · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2014, 05:24:22 am »

Uh - oh! Dave, hanging out with ham radio types! Nice video, and very cool "real analog" spectrum analyzer.

Alan W2AEW

danielschroeder · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2014, 02:17:30 pm »

What kind of oscilloscope is he using?

Frost · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2014, 04:01:16 pm »

Quote from: danielschroeder on February 03, 2014, 02:17:30 pm

What kind of oscilloscope is he using?

It's an A.W. Sperry 620C, I think.

Mr Simpleton · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2014, 12:09:01 am »

Quote from: zucca on February 01, 2014, 02:26:05 pm

What about a good kick ass open hardware SA? If he did that 33! years ago where are the good DIY SA nowadays? Probably everybody is like me now: for test equipment find the product you like and drop some money from the bank out. So sad....

Scotty's SA is a stellar performer but pretty complex.
Looking at ex. Tektronix guru W7ZOI he almost duplicated the Aussies

http://w7zoi.net/sa-stuff.html

Others have been using old cable TV tuners as frontend... I think I do have one that I started to convert to a SA... never completed

on8vq · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2014, 04:47:12 am »

That's a great video, but the real question is: what were you doing at that ham meeting? Informing on how to get a license? (Personally I think that would be awesome).

Remember: being a ham doesn't mean you are required to make contacts, it just means that you have a license to build, operate and experiment with transmitters. All the rest is folklore (nothing against it at all, don't get me wrong - but if it's not your cup of tea, simply don't participate).

EEVblog · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:55:09 am »

Quote from: danielschroeder on February 03, 2014, 02:17:30 pm

What kind of oscilloscope is he using?

Looked like and old Hung Chang to me, but I didn't look closely.

EEVblog · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2014, 05:56:22 am »

Quote from: on8vq on February 04, 2014, 04:47:12 am

That's a great video, but the real question is: what were you doing at that ham meeting?

I was invited to show off my CH7 TX gear, its was a retro 70's/80's night.

Len · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2014, 10:19:08 pm »

Quote from: EEVblog on February 04, 2014, 05:56:22 am

I was invited to show off my CH7 TX gear, its was a retro 70's/80's night.

Did you win a prize for Most kW?

DrGeoff · « **Reply #30 on:** March 29, 2014, 09:52:33 pm »

Just saw this one today. I used to work with Phil around 25 years ago (early 90's). He wasn't as grey then, but a really nice bloke and great engineer to work with. If he's now messing with traffic controllers I can guess where he's working now. Nice to see some of his old home brew kit again.


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Author Topic: EEVblog #575 - DIY 1970s Spectrum Analyser (Read 18957 times)

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