Basic Question For Any User Of SDRConsole Please

[BOBRR]

Hello,

For any users of Simon's SDRConsole:

a. Re the small IF screen above the Mode selection buttons:

Haven’t really looked at this small display seriously before.

It mimics, as one would expect, the tuned to freq. in the
large Spectrum View.

In both views, one can drag and adjust the “passband”.

So, what additional information is in this IF view, and how would it
best be utilized ?

b. And a really basic one, but any explanation would be great:

Re the horiz.scale on the very bottom of the Waterfall.

How (best) used ? And, the The yellow vertical line/marker on this scale. What is it designating ?

Thanks,
Stay well,
Bob

 

[merlin]

The IF spectrum display is like a zoom for the full spectrum. It is displaying the IF bandpass.
About the only use I have for the main spectrum display is finding a signal, then I fine tune with the IF display that actually tells you more about a signal. The waterfall is nice for like a histogram.
Unlike old days when SDR software just mimiced a radios front controls, they have added features of lab analyzing equipment, spectrum analyzer, FFT display like waterfall/3D/and phase IQ. Oscilloscope for IF and audio. Really helps if you know such equipment.
Some detail of IF display. The center line is the tuned center frequency and either side shows the sidebands scaled in Khz. As you mentioned, this can be set for a given pass.
Say you are picking up CW, you can narrow this down for the desired signal to decode. Now a Khz away is another undesired signal, you can set a notch to reduce that. tighten the bandpass until only the desired signal is centered.
Now say you are wanting a 12Khz wide FM voice signal. I start with 18 Khz wide and center the peak with the 'ears' just in the bandpass, peak spike centered on zero. You can set notches on either side to cut noise.
The audio display is like horizontal waterfall with AF spectrum vertical. Un filtered, you can see things like sub-audible tones or chirps from say MDC1200. So these two can tell you a lot about a signal and help fin-tune for best reception.
73s

 

[BOBRR]

Hi,

Much thanks for such a clear explanation.
Really helps. Sure is a lot to know.

Regards, and stay well,
Bob