One of the problems with designing and selling kits is the production
volume. Will enough of the kits be sold to justify the cost of developing
the product. I don't know if there is enough demand in amateur radio to
justify the development cost of a spectrum analyzer.
Let me state the design specifications of a hypothetical high-performance
HF-VHF spectrum analyzer that could be developed as a kit that would retail
for $500. To keep the cost down, the analyzer would use a PC for control
and display; the control of the RF portion would be done through a USB
interface. The parts to do this design are available today - no great
invention is required.
Specifications
Frequency coverage: 100 kHz to 160 MHz
Resolution bandwidth: 100 kHz to 1 Hz
Video bandwidth: 10 kHz to <1 Hz
Dynamic range: >80 dB
Power measurement error: <1 dB
Maximum sweep speed: 10 MHz/second
Maximum input power: +20 dBm
Input noise figure: <20 dB
Windows software included for control, display, printing and saving data;
user supplies the PC.
Option for $150
Tracking generator to make instrument into scalar network analyzer
It would take about a person-year of effort to design the hardware, write
the software, and create manuals. However, I think you would only sell
about a hundred units per year. That makes the development cost too high to
justify the effort.
-John
KI6WX
Gang,
One of the insturments I always wanted for home use was a spectrum
analyzer. Nice to have sound card analyzers with software and all, but a
real rf analyzer in a small, functional package would be sooooo great.
With some careful trade off decisions it might even be affordable! The
display is a big headache if you don't have a good Oscope handy but a
creative designer [or two] might be able to do the job. I suppose it
would not have the broad appeal of a K1, 2 or even a very compact antenna
tuner, but it might appeal to a few hundred hams and others who do bench
work.
Wayne
K9NE
Yes, I know about the projects already on the web, but how many of you
have actually rounded up all the stuff to build that one?
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