If I read the Icom literature, as posted on the Internet
correctly, they have included yet a fourth processor,
and maybe even another rcvr, just for the sweep scan
display!
Once upon a time when I had a Heathkit SB-301 and SB-401, both purchased
already built from separate parties, I got a SB-620 (I could be wrong on
the model number) "Scanalyzer" scope kit as a gift. I built the kit,
using the selected parts to make it work on the SB301/401 IF. It worked
fine when I hooked it up to the radios. I played with it a bunch and
tried to find some really good use for it. It was really neat, but not a
laboratory instrument. If somebody had a really wide signal, maybe I
would have been able to see that. If a really strong signal came on the
band, it might alert me to that. With all the atmospheric noise, it
would not really show a vacant spot in the band if that is what I was
looking for.
Overall it was kinda fun to play with, and it was a good experience to
build it and make it work, but I did not find it very usefull. I suppose
if I was a ten meter, or six meter enthusiast it might have been real
useful as a way to see if any signals started popping up on an otherwise
dead band.
So my questions to those of you who have spectrum displays built into
your new rigs, are: Do you really use them? What worthwhile information
do they give you? If the radio that has this display, had it as an
option that you had to pay additional money for, how much would you be
willing to pay?
It is not my intention to criticize Icom or Ten-Tec, or anybody else who
includes this feature. I am just trying to understand what is so good
about it.
Thanks,
Ken N6KB
|