Using the "138MHz-4.4GHz USB SMA Source/Signal Generator/Simple Spectrum Analyzer" for TV/CATV/SAT

[jeallen01]

vma

I'm absolutely sure that this has nothing to do with you!

If you look at the 2nd quoted part of the message you see this box

The problem seems to be specifically targeted at Thunderbird users - and could relate to that "thing" called "AppleWebKit", which is presumably the "tool" that is used to spy on less secure email programmes (amongst other things?) and especially Open source (I guess) ones like Tbird.

PS: I picked this up on my small ASUS netbook, which does use Outlook, because I always read emails in Outlook via the Viewing Pane which shows the raw email source addresses.

PPS: Glad to hear that no-one else seems to have been affected.

 

[vma]

Hi,

This is to let you all know, I have just pulished the latest release of my software, including a vastly updated user manual.

Functionality now includes GPS position information on log files, as well as, visualization of frequency logs on Google Maps!

Available on my blog: VMA's Satellite Blog

Regards,
Vitor

 

[vma]

The biggest enhancement made to this last version is the fact that not only is it possible to log/record the entire spectrum continuously, it is actually recorded with time stamp and GPS location, too.
You can then play-back the spectrum and see the relevant time stamps and GPS location. This alone is interesting, but what I consider innovative is that you can, during LIVE mode or PLAY mode capture a frequency log, which will inherit the GPS position. This log can then be displayed on Google Maps, showing measurements as colour codes. No doubt, this is unique.

Imagine you want to monitor 2 (3, 4 or whatever amount) transponders on the go, for instance to evaluate the reception of a given transpoder (FM radio, DAB, DVB-T, whatever): just setup your car, drive around capturing the WHOLE spectrum and then produce a report with Google Maps on the desired frequencies!

You would have to pay A LOT of cash to get anything vaguely similar to this...

Next I plan to implement a TRIGGER functionality, so that an alarm (beep, log entry or e-mail) is issued, when a given transponder is below or over a set treshold. Of course I am not going the easy route of having a treshold set in text boxes for a single frequency.

Modern spectrum analysers allow drawing line segments to set the treshold, but I want to do it in a different manner: the user actually provides a bitmap with three colours: one colour for the upper treshold, one colour for the lower threshold and a third colour for acceptable signal power. This bitmap is then imported as a trigger overlay. The bitmap can be edited in any drawing application like Paint, using a template provided by my software.

This is all in my head, still, but will be my next development, if all goes well (aka: no claims can be made if I don't do it).

Regards,
vma

 

[vma]

Hi,

Just published a new version on my blog.

It now allows to directly print the entire form to the default printer, from the spectrum tab.

Regards,
Vitor

 

[vma]

First results with the new trigger functionality!

You can now leave the software running and it will trigger an alarm for MIN/MAX treshold.

Not ready for download, yet, but new blog entry describing the functionality.

In a near future, you can go out, but receive an email with a picture of the spectrum, when the alarm is triggered, for instance, when a feed is sent on an otherwise unused transponder...

Regards,
Vitor

 

[vma]

I updated the blog entry and I think this is worth taking a look at: VMA's Satellite Blog: VMA Simple Spectrum Analyser - New name and new trigger function!

Basically the trigger function is implmented and is sending e-mail alarms with spectrum picture!

Needs a bit cleaning up, the picture shows one mistake (it says MAX alarm, when it is clearly a MIN alarm) and the dBm value needs to be rounded.
Also, the e-mail settings are not being stored in the registry, yet.

Need more time, but sadly the week-end is over.

Cheers,
Vitor

 

[vma]

Hi,

New version available for download on my blog!

Please read the manual, so that the new functionality makes sense.

The new trigger functions is now fully implemented and if setup correctly, having the software sending alarm e-mails is really a neat feature!

Again, READ THE MANUAL, especially the notes related to automatic alarm e-mails!

Regards,
Vitor

 

[Llew]

Still waiting for mine
Missing out on all the latest updates, plenty to get my head around when it arrives

 

[jeallen01]

@scopus

I having trouble with the Global PSA120 Active Splitter that I bought - does not pass Diseqc signals to the LNB (confirmed by multiple attempts to connect it in and then by a Tech at Labgear), and shows signs of interference on the SSA display connected to the second port .

Therefore, going back to your Post 71 where you show the Global Split 4AF unit, does that pass Diseqc signals from the receiver to the LNB because the Global spec sheet for it makes no mention of whether it does or does not?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scopus]

@scopus

I having trouble with the Global PSA120 Active Splitter that I bought - does not pass Diseqc signals to the LNB (confirmed by multiple attempts to connect it in and then by a Tech at Labgear), and shows signs of interference on the SSA display connected to the second port .

Therefore, going back to your Post 71 where you show the Global Split 4AF unit, does that pass Diseqc signals from the receiver to the LNB because the Global spec sheet for it makes no mention of whether it does or does not?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Jeallon,

I have both the 4AF and 8AF splitter and they pass Diseqc command with no problem at all.

 

[jeallen01]

Hi Jeallon,

I have both the 4AF and 8AF splitter and they pass Diseqc command with no problem at all.

Cheers

Will order a 4AF and see if I can get CPC to accept the PSA 120 back (not hopeful as I have lost the immediate packing)

 

[jeallen01]

@scopus again!

Sorry - looks like the 4AF version is a hens' teeth jobbie at the moment (or wait till after Xmas, or pay >£30) - but I can actually get a Split8AF from CPC for £22.00 now as they have some. So, have you noticed any differences (size apart!) between your 4af & 8af units ?

Thanks in advance.

John

 

[scopus]

Hi John,

No difference in performance at all that I have noticed. It passes both Diseqc 1.0 and 1.2 with no problem at all.

 

[jeallen01]

Hi John,

No difference in performance at all that I have noticed. It passes both Diseqc 1.0 and 1.2 with no problem at all.

OK - many thanks again. and I have just ordered a Split8as from CPC (£21.80 inc VT and P&P is anyone is interested - on Amazon & so on they start at about £32!), and CPC will also have some Split4AS units for about £12 after Xmas.

 

[vma]

Hi,

I'm working on automatic satellite identification through transponder pattern recognition. This will identify the satellite through the typical spectrum pattern and does not rely on NIT or a signal lock. Hence, the identification happens much before the satellite is correctly tuned - great for satellite dish setup.

But this functionality is great to identify an unknown satellite, too. How often does it happen that you are moving your dish around with STEP W/E and find some new transponder, only to later find out that you were on the wrong satellite?

First results:

Right now, my goal is to be able to read standard satellite *.ini format style transponder lists (like the ones generated on http://satellites-xml.eu/).

This requires to read in those files and reorganise them in memory to separate the four bands (VL, HL, VH and HH).

Then I need to add some clever stuff to evaluate the recognition score for each satellite candidate for the current spectrum - the current algorithm just picks the satellite with the best score. The problem is that the pre-made satellite transponder lists include transponders from all beams, regardless of the fact that one cannot receive certain beams on certain regions. This can be a problem, because a lower score could still mean the right satellite.

My current implementation uses hand-made lists, which naturally just include the transponders I can actually receive (these lists are saved by my software itself), but there is no fun in doing that: I want to be able to just use default sat lists, especially to be able to recognize unknown satellites!

And this gave me a new idea: the software could alert if a transponder appears, which is currently NOT present in the default transponder list! This means we are looking at a new transponder or a wild feed...

Also, I want to separate the satellite identification from the transponder recognition, because recognizing transponders can be usefull for other applications beyond satellite receptions, i.e. to quickly determine the frequencies on an unknown CATV network, DVB-T/T2 transponders, radio stations, etc.

Regards,
Vitor

 

[vma]

New version available for download on my blog: features fully automatic satellite identification!



Regards,
Vitor

 

[Anonymous_1]

New version available for download on my blog: features fully automatic satellite identification!



Regards,
Vitor

Hi vma,

tested @ 36°E for example, it works well, I have increase the threshold to correctly identify satellite (most of the time, show 7°W satellite)

nice job @vma !

 

[vma]

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback. I noticed myself that there must be a bug remaining, because in some bands/satellites the recognition is plain wrong. For example, Hispasat VH has problems, but VL and HL work fine.

I will try to fix that tonight. Also, I changed the GUI a little and the satellite name is now overlaid on the spectrum and the group box is less cluttered.

Will keep you guys updated and am curious about your results.

Regards,
Vitor

 

[vma]

New version uploaded.

Seems that the matching issues were mainly due to outdated/wrong satellite transponder lists!

Tip: the less *.ini files you use, the better the results.

I have tested much more satellites now and some will simply not work right. They use the same transponders as other satellites and/or the respective *.ini file is not OK.

Please provide feedback.

Attention: Users outside the EU have to replace the default *.ini files with files matching their satellites!

Regards,
Vitor

 

[Tururu]

Thanks for your time/Gracias por tú tiempo vma.

.........
Sorry - looks like the 4AF version is a hens' teeth jobbie at the moment (or wait till after Xmas, or pay >£30) - but I can actually get a Split8AF from CPC for £22.00 now as they have some. So, have you noticed any differences (size apart!) between your 4af & 8af units ?....

.
Splitter 4AF and 8AF
The main difference is 2dB less signal in a 4 to one dispatcher than 8 outputs.
Dimming the 10 / 12dB signal for commercial channels is not a problem, depending on the antenna size (as always).
But the feed / technical links will not see them, be careful.
If we only have to signal the spectrum analyzer, a 2-output splitter is more suitable, we only lose -5dB of the original signal.
According to the brand, it can vary, on average at 950-2400Mhz, at lower frequencies, less.
1x2 = -4dB
1x4 = -10dB
1x8 = -11dB

The splitters, let everything happen in all directions (modulated power / tone).
Important, in the market, the splitters you have them without feeding step (care)
Check that it has a DC-Pass and that it is 50-2400Mhz on average.

Continuous reader.

-----------------------
Divisor 4AF y 8AF
La diferencia principal son 2dB menos de señal en un repartidor de 4 a uno de 8 salidas.
Atenuar la señal 10/12dB para canales comerciales no es problema, dependiendo del tamaño de antena (como siempre).
Pero los feed/enlaces tecnicos no los vera, cuidado.
Si solo tenemos que dar señal al analizador de espectro, un repartidor de 2 salidas es mas adecuado, solo perdemos -5dB de la señal original.
Segun marca, puede variar, de media en 950-2400Mhz, en frecuencias mas bajas, menos.
1x2= -4dB
1x4= -10dB
1x8= -11dB

Los repartidores/splitter, dejan pasar todo en todas direcciones ( alimentacion modulada/tonos ).
Importante, en el mercado, los repartidores/splitter los tienes sin paso de alimentacion (cuidado)
Verificar que tenga paso de alimentacion (DC-Pass) y que sea de 50-2400Mhz de media.

Continuo de lector.