[hpsdr] HPSDR - New Project - Cyclops - Spectrum Analyzer

[Phil Harman]

I've started a page on the HPSDR Wiki for a new project - Cyclops, a 0 
- 1GHz Spectrum Analyzer and tracking generator.

Largely based on  Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer [SSA] 
<http://www.cpu-net.com/host/wsprowls/> but with a 50MHz second IF 
based around Mercury or QuickSilver. Moving the second IF to 50MHz 
simplifies the filtering after the first mixer which means we can most 
likely use a SAW or Ceramic filter here rather than the multi-stage 
cavity filter used in the SSA. Scotty has already kindly pointed me at 
some SAW and Ceramic filters that may be suitable candidates.

I've put an overall system block diagram on the Wiki. For the PC 
software Phil, N8VB, has generously provided us access to his SharpDSP 
dll and MercScope code.  This gives us a very good start since we will 
be starting from a working code base.

Phil's code is written in C# and can be built using the free Microsoft 
Visual Studio 2005 IDE.  Since Phil's code was designed to work with a 
limited set of hardware it is very straightforward and I think quite 
suitable for a beginner to work on. I intend that we develop our own 
custom PC code for Cyclops and not attempt to modify PowerSDR.

Please note that the project is intended to develop a spectrum analyzer 
and not a broadband receiver - we will be grabbing a number of samples 
from the ADC and then processing them at our (PC's) leisure rather than 
doing this in real-time.

So far, with lots of patient support from Bill, KD5TFD, I've been able 
to modify Phil's code to display a simulated 0 - 55MHz output from the 
LT2208 ADC on Mercury.  By simulating an input those interested can 
work on  the code without the need for any hardware for the time being.

As soon as I have a decent code base I'll post it into SVN.  I'll also 
post some screen shots on the Wiki so you can see what the display 
screen currently looks like.

If there are any budding programmers in the group that would like to 
assist with the code then there is one area I'd appreciate some 
assistance with. I'd like to use DirectX (Direct3D) to display the 
spectrum rather than GDI that Phil used (even though there appears to 
be a substantial graphics speed improvement  using .NET2 compared with 
.NET1). This will take a substantial load off the PC CPU and transfer 
it to the Graphics Processor.

Ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome.

73's Phil...VK6APH

















----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.