RTL-SDR as a Cheap Panadapter
For people already with expensive ham radios, the RTL-SDR can be used as a cheap panadapter. A panadapter is device that allows you to visually see the RF spectrum and waterfall being received by the ham radio. There are multiple (expensive) commercial panadapters available, but combined with a PC or laptop, the RTL-SDR will work just as well.
In this video YouTube user akdude47 shows a tutorial on setting up the RTL-SDR as a panadapter for a Yaesu FT-857. The setup involves connecting the IF output of the radio to the RTL-SDR, and putting in some settings into HDSDR.
Does it work? Yes it does. Does it work well, no it does not. What I have learned with these roundabout solutions is they do not produce enough signal to use effectively as a panadapter. Strong signals are okay, but when you start getting down below 7 S-Units you will not be able to hear the stations anymore, but you can still here them on the radio’s receiver. Really not worth all the labor involved, and the chance of messing the radio up IMO. I have used RTL dongles and SDRPlay with the same results.
I have not been able to get my RTL-SDR R820T2 RTL2832U Version 3 dongle to work as a panadapter with either my Kenwood TS-570DG or my Yaesu FT-920..
The dongle I bought from Amazon is https://smile.amazon.com/RTL-SDR-Blog-RTL2832U-Software-Defined/dp/B0129EBDS2/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1513624240&sr=1-4&keywords=sdr
The dongle works fine otherwise as a ham/shortwave/police monitor. I have tapped the proper location for the 1st IF in both radios and inputted the proper 1st IF frequencies in HDSDR. I can control radios with OmniRig , but my panadapter display shows nothing but a few random lines. Just does not work! Maybe it is the particular dongle I am using. Also, my computer is plenty fast …I7 32gb ram, etc…..
Any ideas?
You have to mess around with the calibration and different modes such as Quadrature.
http://huprf.com/huprf/pat-board/
Drilling down on http://huprf.com/huprf/pat-board/ has a lot of info on pan connections different rigs including photographs. Well recommended
I’m planning for this modification on my ICOM-706 and I’m wondering if I need the upconverter to enable all HF bands or do I just need the RTL-SDR. Does anyone have any idea?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LQT3G6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2JO7YP9I9Y3D6
This is the upconverter I’m looking at.
Yaesu FTDX-1200?????
What are you using / how are you tapping the IF in your 897?
Has anyone figured where to solder on the IC-718?
Ok… very good video! … to cat you have the cat cable… no problem… but …how do i connect the dongle to the ft-817? any advice wellcome.
for Yaesu FT-950:
https://oh2fxd.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/ft-950-and-32usd-band-scope-project-see-what-you-hear/
this idea I see first at yo2ldk for ICOM 700
http://yo2ldk.blogspot.ro/2012/07/rtl2832-ca-if-sdr-analizor-audio.html
Hello,
For friends looking for Icom 706 IF signal,
http://pu2vlw.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/panadapter-com-rtl-sdr-para-ic-706-mk-mkiig-com-hdsdr-e-omnirig/
Cheers
AP2AM
I would very much like to hook into my first I.f please can you advise on the location where to do this. Would it be the output of Q1073 (BB305CEW) so its amplified abit first and if so do i need to use a capacitor and if so what type and value. Hope its ok to post my question here. Really like the radio but turning it into a SDR tranceiver would be cool….
P.s this is on a Yaesu FT-857D European version. Cheers regards Richard
I think the reason your LO and Tune is losing sync, is that your setting of 100ms poll and timeout settings are too small. I haven’t used that software, but I do recall reading that the Yaesu implementation of the CAT commands required higher timeouts (I think it was 256ms between setting a value and being able to read that value back). Give a try of something higher and see if that makes it better. Nice video by the way, I plan on playing with HDSDR and a softrock in the near future.
Should help Re-706
hello radio friend. i have been trying to research how to modify my icom 706 for the panadapter and use with the hdsdr. i cant find any direct instructions. are you willing to help me out?
I am looking to do this as well. I -think- that can be done by tapping off of the Optional Filter sockets inside the radio. There is also tiny ‘blank’ on the back of the 706 with 2 screws holding it in. If it works, I will mount an SMA connector there for easy access to the IF stage I will be sure to post pictures of it if/when i get it to work.
I am looking into the same thing with an ICOM 703? Have you had any luck? I think there is something out there for you to use for the 706 called MDSR, look that up. It’s PC though, and I’m running mac. But please tell me if you have found any info at all, Thanks much,
Loren
I would very much like to hook into my first I.f please can you advise on the location where to do this. Would it be the output of Q1073 (BB305CEW) so its amplified abit first and if so do i need to use a capacitor and if so what type and value. Hope its ok to post my question here. Really like the radio but turning it into a SDR tranceiver would be cool….
P.s this is on a Yaesu FT-857D European version. Cheers regards Richard