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[Andrew Broughton]

Anyone ever tried the SDRPlay device and software for wireless scanning? Software looks very good, cost is very low, but is this something that would work well for situations where you need real-time scanning and monitoring of wireless signals?
Obviously it's designed as a wide range scanner, not just for wireless mics/IEMs, but would it work?
Here's a little overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=1_u9bMkcZv4

[Tom Provenza]

Anyone ever tried the SDRPlay device and software for wireless scanning? Software looks very good, cost is very low, but is this something that would work well for situations where you need real-time scanning and monitoring of wireless signals?
Obviously it's designed as a wide range scanner, not just for wireless mics/IEMs, but would it work?
Here's a little overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=1_u9bMkcZv4

Never used it. May not be the best tool for the job, but I think it would work OK for basic RF spectrum analysis for a small system. Keep in mind what it is, a low cost SDR receiver (even the housing is plastic). I also think it would be prudent to put a passband filter/pre-selector in front of it as well for the band you are interested in.

If it were me, I would probably take that $200 to use to get me into a Shure unit that supports WWB. I'm speaking from my perspective of being a amateur radio operator who has yet to jump into the SDR arena...and someone who needs to replace a couple channels of Audix RAD wireless myself.

I would expect Henry to jump in with his comments shortly as well.

[Andrew Broughton]

Thank you for your reply. I know very little of such things, but from the video he says that the unit has passband filters which is one of the things that supposedly differentiates it from competitors.
There's a PRO version in a metal box too.
I like that you can click on a frequency and actually hear the signal there. Dunno if that's possible with WWB?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Tom Provenza]

Thank you for your reply. I know very little of such things, but from the video he says that the unit has passband filters which is one of the things that supposedly differentiates it from competitors.
There's a PRO version in a metal box too.
I like that you can click on a frequency and actually hear the signal there. Dunno if that's possible with WWB?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

An external Helical filter would do a better job supressing strong out of band signals that may be too much for the built in hardware/software filters. As far as "hearing" the signal, that would only be in AM/FM modulation modes. I believe most of the modern wireless systems would all be using a digital modulation that would not be decoded by this hardware/software and you would be hearing something similar to White noise using narrowband FM mode, and some of the higher end models are running encryption as well.

[Andrew Broughton]

Still interested to know whether anyone thinks this would be a good tool for real-time scanning?

[Robert Lofgren]

I fail to see why this product wouldn't work great for this purpose...

[Andrew Broughton]

Been playing a bit more with this device, and I'm wondering if anyone knows how to use it to (accurately) measure the RF output of a transmitter. (I realize connecting the device directly to the antenna will likely fry it as it can handle no more than 1mW) but are there RF pads that I can use and calculate back up what a transmitter is sending?

[Scott Holtzman]

Been playing a bit more with this device, and I'm wondering if anyone knows how to use it to (accurately) measure the RF output of a transmitter. (I realize connecting the device directly to the antenna will likely fry it as it can handle no more than 1mW) but are there RF pads that I can use and calculate back up what a transmitter is sending?

Sure, you can find attenuators with switches for just this purpose.  something with about 60db of insertion loss should do the trick.

I found this handy calculator that will convert from millwatts to microvolts for you.  Figure 10 microvolts as the most input signal you want to hit it with.  1uV should be full quieting on the RX.

[Andrew Broughton]

Thanks, Scott. Do you happen to have handy a link to a suggested attenuator (I'd like to be able to measure 1mW to 250mW) and the calculator you mentioned?

[Mac Kerr]

Thanks, Scott. Do you happen to have handy a link to a suggested attenuator (I'd like to be able to measure 1mW to 250mW) and the calculator you mentioned?

RF Attenuators.

How much pad you need will depend on what input level your meter can handle. It's a simple calculation from that number up to 250mw to determine what you maximum pad would be.

Mac

[Andrew Broughton]

Ok, so just checking to see if I have this right.

The max input on my scanner is 1mW.
If I get a 30dB attenuator, I can connect up to a 1W transmitter?

[Mac Kerr]

Ok, so just checking to see if I have this right.

The max input on my scanner is 1mW.
If I get a 30dB attenuator, I can connect up to a 1W transmitter?

I believe so.

Mac

[Scott Holtzman]

Ok, so just checking to see if I have this right.

The max input on my scanner is 1mW.
If I get a 30dB attenuator, I can connect up to a 1W transmitter?

That is correct... 10log(Pout/Pin)

[Jason Glass]

Ok, so just checking to see if I have this right.

The max input on my scanner is 1mW.
If I get a 30dB attenuator, I can connect up to a 1W transmitter?

Just be aware that most often, a maximum RF input level spec denotes "input without damage", especially for super cheap hardware, and that the accuracy of measurement degrades drastically at levels far below that spec. How much lower varies wildy for different hardware.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Andrew Broughton]

Understood. Thank you Jason. I think it would be more for relative comparisons of units of 100mW or less. Use to see if a device is not working properly, compared to another or if a cable is suspect. Not absolute measurements requiring high accuracy.

[Scott Holtzman]

Understood. Thank you Jason. I think it would be more for relative comparisons of units of 100mW or less. Use to see if a device is not working properly, compared to another or if a cable is suspect. Not absolute measurements requiring high accuracy.

The front ends are not well protected though.  You really need a power meter for what you want to do.  Look for an Agilent/HP 8482A sensor and a 435B power meter.

[Henry Cohen]

RF Attenuators.

Mini-Circuits is usually far less expensive and equal in quality to Pasternack, and readily in stock on the east coast

[ProSoundWeb Community]