Anyone use a frequency counter hooked up to an outside antenna to see what is active in your area? Looking at a surecom SF-103. If there is a better way, feel free to comment. Thanks.
Frequency counter
- Thread starter bearcatrp
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nd5y
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You want a spectrum analyzer for that, not a frequency counter.
If you are near a lot of equally strong signals then a frequency counter will just display garbage.
If you are near a lot of equally strong signals then a frequency counter will just display garbage.
wtp
Member
why not hook up a close call/ signal stalker radio and get to hear what it finds, like many people do.
Spectrum analyzers and SDR dongles work great to check activity on the bands as you get a panoramic view of a slice of the spectrum. With the appropriate software the RTL-SDR dongle displays a waterfall in addition.
As for the Surecom SF-103, I have a similar model that covers from 50 megs and up. Never tried hooking it up to the outside antenna so not sure how it'd work. But best way to find out is to try. Guess it would all depend on the strength of the signal (s) and the gate time.
As for the Surecom SF-103, I have a similar model that covers from 50 megs and up. Never tried hooking it up to the outside antenna so not sure how it'd work. But best way to find out is to try. Guess it would all depend on the strength of the signal (s) and the gate time.
Thanks for the replies. Think I will look into the RTL SDR dongle.
Shards
Member
I use a frequency counter, and it’ll read frequency plus DCS/CTSS codes. But you have to be typically a foot or so from a transmitting unit. It won’t work from afar.
Spectrum analyzers are to expensive for my small hobby. But if you ever get a chance to hook your similar model up to an external antenna, be interesting to see the results. I live out in the boonies so not close to any antennas.
spectrum analyzers are too expensive for many of our small hobbies, and even some of the larger ones. A $20/unit SDR can perform admirably on a spectrum survey basis for the casual user, and will only become a more powerful tool as you learn how to use it.
Am currently looking into one. Reading the forums to figure out which one to order. Trying to figure out the free software packages.
slicerwizard
Member
SDR with appropriate software would be my choice.
A bit over a year ago, Brockville Ontario PD moved from analog VHF to parts unknown and there was no real movement on finding them for a couple of weeks: Brockville Police is silent? New system?
Parked by the cop shop and ran DSD+'s spectrum survey for an hour or so. Didn't know if they were still on VHF - figured they could be anywhere - so had it sweeping 139-999 MHz. It found strong signals on 465.9875; monitoring the repeater output on 460.9875 showed DMR RAS AES voice calls - not your typical business traffic. Found matching transmissions on 451.4750 and managed to locate the 460.9875 transmitter at 32 Wall Street, home to a bunch of government offices. Done and done.
"Surecom SF-103 The frequency meter capable of measuring the parameters of the frequency of the continuous carrier signal walkie-talkies..." - so it wouldn't have even detected the TDMA transmissions from the DMR subscribers at the cop shop...
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Looking at this one but see it goes up to 1.7 Ghz. Is there a better one that goes a bit higher?
jonwienke
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Not for anywhere close to the price. It's by far the best value for the money out there.
Will order that to give it a try. The ones I found that go up to 3 ghz starts around $100 and goes up. I looked at the free software for these SDR's. Is there a preffered one over another or a recommendation? Thanks.
Already ordered the RTL-SDR. Will learn from this before deciding if I want to go bigger.
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