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Maybe third time's the charm, but I just can't stay away from this receiver... 
For the first time in my multiple ownerships of it, I used the 10.7 MHz IF out today and the results are pretty reasonable. I am using:
1. Airspy R1 with a SpyVerter (extends the Airspy's reception to HF)
2. SDR# software.
3. 1 3' BNC cable connected to the RF input of the SpyVerter (with BNC to SMA adapter).
It reminds me of the days where I had an AOR AR5000 and used its 10.7 MHz IF out to an Avcom SDM-42A, but with a more modern approach. I can see close to 10 MHz of spectrum if I wish to, or narrow it down. I tune the Airspy/SpyVerter to 10.7 MHz and still have complete control of the 8600, and using the VFO knob can rotate to a viewed signal. I could, if I wanted to, also click on any of the received spikes but in this case it doesn't tune the 8600 so to me there's little point.
Just a simple way to obtain a larger display. Pretty cool actually. I am in the process of setting up the I/Q out and USB options as well but thought I'd post this; I know it's not "new" info by any stretch but food for thought if you have an unused "dongle" laying around that can tune the HF bands. Just run SDR#, do some gain level adjustments, put ticks in the Bias-Tee and SpyVerter boxes under source, and one in the Swap I & Q box under radio and off you go. I'd assume this would work with SDR-Console and HDSDR as well.
For the first time in my multiple ownerships of it, I used the 10.7 MHz IF out today and the results are pretty reasonable. I am using:
1. Airspy R1 with a SpyVerter (extends the Airspy's reception to HF)
2. SDR# software.
3. 1 3' BNC cable connected to the RF input of the SpyVerter (with BNC to SMA adapter).
It reminds me of the days where I had an AOR AR5000 and used its 10.7 MHz IF out to an Avcom SDM-42A, but with a more modern approach. I can see close to 10 MHz of spectrum if I wish to, or narrow it down. I tune the Airspy/SpyVerter to 10.7 MHz and still have complete control of the 8600, and using the VFO knob can rotate to a viewed signal. I could, if I wanted to, also click on any of the received spikes but in this case it doesn't tune the 8600 so to me there's little point.
Just a simple way to obtain a larger display. Pretty cool actually. I am in the process of setting up the I/Q out and USB options as well but thought I'd post this; I know it's not "new" info by any stretch but food for thought if you have an unused "dongle" laying around that can tune the HF bands. Just run SDR#, do some gain level adjustments, put ticks in the Bias-Tee and SpyVerter boxes under source, and one in the Swap I & Q box under radio and off you go. I'd assume this would work with SDR-Console and HDSDR as well.
