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Add a FULL COLOR WATERFALL to ANY radio!!
Here is another option for adding a color waterfall to ANY radio, using an SDR dongle, and this nifty piece of kit from MFJ. I have the MFJ-1708, the original SDR transceiver switch. Of course there are other models of this as well. This allows you to run your radio along with your SDR simultaneously.
MFJ-1708B - bityl.co/GTCR (Upgraded model from what I showed)
SDR Transceiver switch (I have not tested) - amzn.to/3IiNkAZ
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You can also use the CAT controls in SDRUno and SDR-Console to connect to HRD as a secondary radio and have the frequencies sync'd together. If your radio doesn't have a spectrum or waterfall you can use the SDR to change the freq on the main radio.
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
Yessir. It's pretty cool what integration is possible.
I have the sma modelB, while it is a good accessory, I have blown two of them from transmitting on a less resonant antenna and having RF return Down the feed line. Luckily MFJ still repairs these units. Nice video Jim
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
So far, no smoke has escaped. On this Kenwood, it's just as easy to tap the IF interface and use it. Less wires at least. Thing is, I'm amazed at how sensitive this gadget is. See the above comment. My switch was turning off the SDR from the shop radio (100ft away) xmitting on FT8. Not even physically connected.
Let's do it!
Another great option Jim. Great handy little device.👍
Thanks Jim. Very cool
I’m new to the hobby and you made a fantastic video.
@FEPLabsRadio
5 ай бұрын
Awesome, thank you!
I have the sdr switch. Unfortunately it has a affect on signal. It will degrade the signal 2 s units or so. Because you are splitting the signal. Therefore I prefer the IF tap methods.
I have a lot to learn on this .. great.. thanks
Nice Jim.
Very cool 😎
Some people like to use a different, low-noise receive antenna. Could the MFJ device be adapted to do that?
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
If you're using a different antenna for the SDR, there is no need for this. This is designed to allow switching out between using one antenna for your rig, and the SDR at the same time. If you use a separate RX only antenna, just put it directly on the SDR. This is really just a fancy electronic switch.
Neat!🥰👍
Is there something that would protect an sdr dongle with its own receive loop on ground from your transmitter and it's antennas?
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
Distance is the best thing. Amazingly, those things are pretty sensitive. My shop antenna is 100 ft from my house, when I was remote FT8 out there, this antenna switch was picking up that RF, and switching off the SDR - IN THE HOUSE. So - even though that wasn't something I had planned, it was taking it off the antenna, when it detected the nearby RF outside. That's pretty solid.
Will these boxes work without electricity and are they portable..
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
The box is a powered antenna switch, and requires power (12v). You can use a 12v wall wart, or 12v off your power supply or a battery. Just 12vdc is all it needs.
Why isn't the SWR meter showing any power output from the radio? If the meter isn't connected to that radio, then what was the purpose in showing it? I see that the switch has a jack for the SDR but how exactly is it connected with that switch, the antenna and to your computer?
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
The SWR meter on what? The radio? I was showing the SDR connection, and not transmitting, so no SWR to show. The switch is connected with the antenna, radio, and sdr on each of the SO-239 jacks. The switch turns off the SDR antenna connection when it senses RF, or you can tap off the SEND function of your radio. The only connection to the computer was just the antenna wire from the antenna switch to the SDR antenna connector.
@williammorrison9045
Жыл бұрын
@@FEPLabsRadio The MFJ-849 "Power Meter" I think is connected to your Kenwood TS-5700 (?) but when you transmitted first 20 then 100 watts, nothing displayed on the MFJ-849. Where did the power go? Did you disconnect it?
@FEPLabsRadio
Жыл бұрын
@@williammorrison9045 AHA - I understand your question now, my bad. So apparently that bit got cut, but the power meter is plugged into the SDR side of the switch, not the antenna line. When you key the radio, the switch cuts out the line to the SDR protecting it from getting destroyed by input RF. That's why you see nothing on the MFJ. It's connected on the SDR line I rewatched that part, and I see where the confusion is. It's an editing mistake that lost the part that explained the wiring set up.
@williammorrison9045
Жыл бұрын
@@FEPLabsRadio Thanks for your response! If it's no effort maybe you could make a newer video showing the connections on this setup and any recommendations for others. I have many different HF radios that do not have any graphical displays on them. This looks like an interesting idea that I should try out sometime.
from ts440?
@FEPLabsRadio
9 ай бұрын
All radios have an IF. The key is how easy is it to access the IF on a given radio. I can't tell you specifically, but I'd be surprised if it didn't. It will mention it in the manual somewhere. That's how I determined there was the jumper for the IF connection. Some radios won't have a convenient jumper to tap, it might require a little surgery to tap the IF.