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Author Topic: A different look at storm noise  (Read 2603 times)

Offline jFarley

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A different look at storm noise
« on: March 16, 2012, 0225 UTC »
Sitting around listening to static from T'storms to the southeast, I grabbed this screencap off SDR-Radio, and I thought I'd share it:

http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s387/jFarley44/StormNoise15Mar12.png

This cap reflects the console state immediately after a distant lightning strike.  Here, the FFT display has just jumped up about 10dB from its normal position.  What's pretty cool about this is the fact that because I do most of my DXing with a small resonant loop, the response of the loop is clearly seen as a crown in the noise floor.  Likewise, the horizontal lines in the waterfall pane corresponding to strike noise brighten around the antenna resonant point.
Joe Farley, Near Chicago
SDR-IQ / R8 / R7
Remote Resonant Loops for HF and LF / ALA 1530
Active 60" Whip / PA0RDT
QSLS appreciated to:    jfarley44@att.net

Offline S. McArdle

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Re: A different look at storm noise
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2012, 0337 UTC »
glad u posted that jFarley.  thanks a lot.  have been wondering lately whether i could use an sdr, specifically an sdr-iq.  seems like for the money, a lot of folks have been satisfied with its capabilities.  it looks like the radio has been out for several years now.  i guess they must keep upgrading the software. 

regards, scott
Kenwood TS-590,75m square loop up 43' for all prior to 1-11-15, then ocf inv vee at 80' beginning 1-11-15. Best 73's de Scott, 3500 S. Boulevard,Suite 18C,Edmond,OK 73013
PLS QSL to:mcardlelawoffice(at)netzero(dot)com. 1st ever pirate logged was The Voice of Anarchy on 1-17-98

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: A different look at storm noise
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2012, 1015 UTC »
jFarley: Very illustrative screenshot!

S McArdie: There's several programs that support the RF Space SDRs (SDR-IQ, netSDR, etc), in addition to the SpectraVue app that comes with it from RF Space. There's the SDR Radio package for Windows, and the SdrDx program for the Mac, both are free, and seem to get updated every few weeks.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline S. McArdle

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Re: A different look at storm noise
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2012, 1529 UTC »
okay, much thanks for the info Chris.  Maybe one of these days i'll ante up.
Kenwood TS-590,75m square loop up 43' for all prior to 1-11-15, then ocf inv vee at 80' beginning 1-11-15. Best 73's de Scott, 3500 S. Boulevard,Suite 18C,Edmond,OK 73013
PLS QSL to:mcardlelawoffice(at)netzero(dot)com. 1st ever pirate logged was The Voice of Anarchy on 1-17-98

 

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