Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
Need the latest SmartSDR, Power Genius, Tuner Genius and Antenna Genius Software?
SmartSDR v3.7.4 and the SmartSDR v3.7.4 Release Notes | SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes
Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.8 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.8
Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
SmartSDR v3.7.4 and the SmartSDR v3.7.4 Release Notes | SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes
Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.8 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.8
Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
If you are having a problem, please refer to the product documentation or check the Help Center for known solutions.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
meandering signal
Options
Lee Maisel
Member
I have always wondered what these meandering signals were, anyone know?
0
Answers
-
I don't know but I have LOTS OF them. I also get what I call streakers where something rapidly zips all the way across the band and disappears. I also have more constant signals that just oscillate back and forth at a set point. I think these are some power supplies somewhere nearby. What is funny to me Lee is that before I had a pan I would hear this stuff and I just classified it as a "birdie" or something atmospheric. Now that I have a pan I can see them and it is pretty obvious that they are man-made in many cases.1
-
Probably a switching supply or lamp showing thermal instability.
Mark - your "streakers" are likely ionospheric sounders. You can watch them on MHz-wide scales.1 -
So what is an ionospheric sounder? Is it something we produce to measure ionosphere? Where are they transmitted from?0
-
Poltergeist.
2 -
Streakers are people using military radios. You can see them many times switching back and forth and stopping on various signals. So they are definitely not caused by the atmosphere.
0 -
or the ones that streak across the band are merely hams that are transmitting at the same time as they turn the VFO knob checking a null point in there SWR on a Antenna.
A poor mans SWR Analyzer,
Or even some one near you actualy using a Antenna Analyzer which puts out a week carrier to read the SWR like the MFJ -269's.0 -
true, but these signals move a bit too fast at times and can be seen to be searching for signals and not tuning aerials.
0 -
Judging by the answers it would seem that no one knows the answer so it must be aliens - Area 51?0
-
Here is what I find interesting, and suspicious. I'll see one of those little rascals drifting up and back, to and fro. Often they'll drift right up to a signal I am listening to, not transmitting on just listening then just reverse course. So, in those cases it's not atmospheric noise as it is displaying intelligence.
Could it be a byproduct in the 6000? Does that phenomena occur with those with non SDR panadapter?1 -
next time have a good look at how they move and when they stop sometimes you will see multiple carriers spaced about 17kHz apart or the wood **** imitation pop up.
0 -
not that strong I would hope
0 -
More on the swept frequency stuff (not the meandering noise)... From Wikipedia:
In telecommunication and radio science, an ionospheric sounding is a technique that provides real-time data on high-frequency ionospheric-dependent radio propagation, using a basic system consisting of a synchronized transmitter and receiver.
The time delay between transmission and reception is translated into effective ionospheric layer altitude. Vertical incident sounding uses a collocated transmitter and receiver and involves directing a range of frequencies vertically to the ionosphere and measuring the values of the reflected returned signals to determine the effective ionosphere layer altitude. This technique is also used to determine the critical frequency. Oblique sounders use a transmitter at one end of a given propagation path, and a synchronized receiver, usually with an oscilloscope-type display (ionogram), at the other end. The transmitter emits a stepped- or swept-frequency signal which is displayed or measured at the receiver. The measurement converts time delay to effective altitude of the ionospheric layer. The ionogram display shows the effective altitude of the ionospheric layer as a function of frequency.
An interesting article with a ham radio connection: http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/IONO/chirps...0 -
The vertical meandering line could be thermostats or other household appliances switching on and warming up. Central heating appiances can also cause havoc with broadband noise many Khz wide and they too drift up the band, but they are extremely strong and wipe out everything under the signal. I,ll get a screen dump next time I see one.0
-
These transients are mixing products from different HF sources, such as broadcasting stations, which transmit a lot of harmonics.
These signals meander across the spectrum all the time and have done so
when I was a kid and listened on a tube receiver ;-)
Trying to decode them would be a waste of time.
And no, they are not ionosondes!
You can find a lot of signals and their specifications here:
http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide
For the signal identification aficionados I recommend Artemis:
http://markslab.tk/project-artemis/
Easy to install and a great help! You have to download the program and
the database and unzip them into a folder.1 -
Looks like I'm not the only one. Mine is there all the time, traversing across the 75m AM Window - 3.870 to 3.885. At first I thought it was emanating from within my home, but I've turned off every breaker and it's still there. Some days it's stable, other days it wanders back and forth. Typically abt S7
0 -
time to df it and see where its coming from. If its in your area, then you may well find the source.
0 -
Good luck with df-ing transients 8-) You'll probably df a lot of bc stations!
0 -
You never know what you may find down the road. DIY and grey imports from ebay etc. Its a nightmare
0 -
John, next time I see one, I will just switch over to the Wullenweber and get a bearing. I'll need a couple of other hams to do the same. Whatever it is, we'll find it.
0 -
Steve, there was a day when i could have done that. ;-)
0 -
Unfortunately, time marches on and as we get older, the brain is willing, but the body says whoa there. Over the yaers it seems that the HF bands are increasingly becoming a free for all. Signs of the times. At least I have my f3k and f1500 to keep me amused and content.
0
Leave a Comment
Categories
- All Categories
- 246 Community Topics
- 2.1K New Ideas
- 488 The Flea Market
- 7.1K Software
- 5.9K SmartSDR for Windows
- 134 SmartSDR for Maestro and M models
- 331 SmartSDR for Mac
- 243 SmartSDR for iOS
- 222 SmartSDR CAT
- 163 DAX
- 348 SmartSDR API
- 8.6K Radios and Accessories
- 6.9K FLEX-6000 Signature Series
- 765 Maestro
- 41 FlexControl
- 836 FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios
- 733 Genius Products
- 393 Power Genius XL Amplifier
- 255 Tuner Genius XL
- 85 Antenna Genius
- 229 Shack Infrastructure
- 153 Networking
- 370 Remote Operation (SmartLink)
- 120 Contesting
- 583 Peripherals & Station Integration
- 115 Amateur Radio Interests
- 812 Third-Party Software