SDS100 Spectrum Display Waterfall -- what am I missing?

[rbn_rr]

I received my SDS100 from ZipScanners this afternoon, and I've started playing with it a bit.

I stumbled across an sdr waterfall mode while blindly probing the USB serial interface for valid commands (see picture, attached.) The command to enter this mode is 'sdr'.

I was unable to find a path to this mode via the keypad -- what am I missing?

Thanks in advance for your help with this.

-rbn

 

[rbn_rr]

SDS100 SDR Mode -- video

A brief, boring video clip of the SDS-100's SDR waterfall mode in action: https://youtu.be/_a-dD4vE850.

-rbn

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Brilliant! It appears to show +/- 3 MHz from the center frequency. 6 MHz bandwidth is not bad, for a scanner
Excellent work rbn!

 

[jonwienke]

I received my SDS100 from ZipScanners this afternoon, and I've started playing with it a bit.

I stumbled across an sdr waterfall mode while blindly probing the USB serial interface for valid commands (see picture, attached.) The command to enter this mode is 'sdr'.

I was unable to find a path to this mode via the keypad -- what am I missing?

The only thing you're missing is that that feature hasn't been announced yet. So there isn't any menu or documented keypad sequence to enter that mode, or to use any of the unit's SDR capabilities.

But I think it's pretty safe to say that SDR support is in development, and will be announced in due time. Patience, grasshopper.

 

[rbn_rr]

The only thing you're missing is that that feature hasn't been announced yet. So there isn't any menu or documented keypad sequence to enter that mode, or to use any of the unit's SDR capabilities.

But I think it's pretty safe to say that SDR support is in development, and will be announced in due time. Patience, grasshopper.

Okay, now I know why I wasn't able to find it in the menus...I feel better. Thanks!

I'll be patient, but I'll also keep poking and prodding. If someone wants to point me to a command specification doc (the SDS100 equivalent of the command reference for the x36), I promise to put it to good use!

-rbn

 

[jeffhochberg]

That’s awesome! Great finding!!!

I’d love to know more about how to send this command.


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[jonwienke]

There appears to be a typo in the center softkey label--"Centet" instead of "Center". But good find!

 

[jeffhochberg]

There appears to be a typo in the center softkey label--"Centet" instead of "Center". But good find!

Software developers aren’t the best spell checkers! Lmao!


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[jeffhochberg]

This looks like it could be pretty handy!

http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1095&context=cscsp


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[jonwienke]

In their defense, English is probably not their first language. As long as they speak firmware fluently I'll give them a pass.

 

[jeffhochberg]

In their defense, English is probably not their first language. As long as they speak firmware fluently I'll give them a pass.

Yeah I was going to go there but you did first!


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[RF23]

When one of the future seller of the SDS100 leaked info on it prematurely here is a picture that was part of that leaked info:

 

[AA6IO]

Now that will be a great feature

 

[jonwienke]

The right-hand panel appears to be a SDR# window. It would be cool if SDR# supported the SDS100.

 

[srpawski]

That there is Purdy. It matches my Icom 7300's waterfall display.

 

[Jake68111]

Time to show my naivety......
Should this feature come to fruition, what can one do with the information it provides?
What's it for?
Is there a "Spectrum Display 101" you might be able to point me to?

I have a feeling this "traditional" scanner may or may not get me interested in other things, one of which hasn't been SDR's, at all.

 

[jonwienke]

Read through the Software Defined Radio forum and most of your questions will be answered. Those that aren't would probably be more appropriately posted there.

 

[rbn_rr]

Sending SDR command to SDS100

That’s awesome! Great finding!!!

I’d love to know more about how to send this command.


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There's an old RadioReference thread on serial control of the BCD-x36HP that will provide a little background (dated, old command reference is cited):

https://forums.radioreference.com/u...5-bcd436hp-bcd536hp-serial-commands-list.html

To send the 'SDR' command to your SDS100, you can use a terminal program to communicate with the radio. I use Serial Tools on the Mac and Serial Debug Assistant on the PC -- but mostly I use my own Python or Java code on Linux.

I've attached a screenshot of Serial Debug Assistant -- I sent the 'GSI' command (which pulls an XML-like block of status information from the SCS100) and then I sent the 'SDR' command.

Note: The spectrum & waterfall look like they may be emulated, not actually displaying live signal characteristics.

Have fun, and share what you learn!

-rbn

 

[jonwienke]

So you could use the "Test and Extras" tab in ProScan to send the command when it is connected.

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

It might just be a demo or test command to see how the display would look. Disconnecting the antenna did not seem to change anything. I tried adding a frequency value to the command and could not change the center frequency. The soft keys do not work, but other remote commands do.

73 Eric