Episode 758 Using the TinySA spectrum analyzer to align a radio. I use the spectrum analyzer function and the RF generator function of the TinySA Be a Patron: / imsaiguy
If you want it even closer on frequency, I am sure you are well able to solder a 2.2pf or a 4.7 pf ceramic cap across the tuning cap to pull the frequency down closer onto frequency? The accuracy of the tuning tracking across the dial will not be altered that badly by the addition of the 2.2pf or 4.7pf, but it will pull the L.O. down closer on to frequency if you want to be really finicky about how the dial reads, I did the same on my little homemade eBay Chinese radio because the FM band dial reading wasn't at all correct. When I was "fixing" the tuning on my little radio, I NEVER dreamt of using the tiny SA as a signal generator, there is just so much your videos tell us and remind us that this little box of tricks can actually do. I wish I had thought of using my Tiny SA instead of using a huge Marconi 2022 signal generator! Fantastic videos....! Thank you again.
Just beautiful! I learnt so much from this video and your talk through and recap. I also like that you showed having to try a few things before getting the result. You don't learn much from "perfect first time" videos.
Looks like the radio was set for the Japan FM band which is 75-95MHz where as here it is 88-108MHz. I think the two variable caps are: one of them adjusts the low end of the dial and the other adjusts the high end of the dial. So to calibrate the reception for 88MHz you would only fiddle with one and the turn the knob all the way to 108 and fiddle with the other one. Then you could do mid dial at 98. Using the Tinysa as your source.
In my experience the local oscillator is normally 10.7MHz above the broadcast range so should be something like 98.7MHz to 118.7MHz. Also, the trimcap that "does nothing" probably tunes the AM oscillator.
Great video i was still strugling aligning that litle red AM radio you also put together on your channel but this usage of the Tiny SA was a great idea, also for the litle AM radio, worked a charm! Thank you again for another great video, thoroughly enjoying them ! Regards and greetings from the Netherlands, Leo.
KEGÖ IS A NAZIST,SON OF HERRMANN W.GÖRING AND DAUGHTER OF JAPANEESE EMPEROR HIROHITO.GABRIELLA IDA KARIN STENBERG-KOCH IS DAUGHTER FROM KOBE JAPAN HER MOTHER WAS A PEARLDIVERESS CALLED " BLACK PEARL". LEIAH HATHA.
It takes a little experimenting to be proficient with this device , I am an old Analog guy, however I just used it as a modulated signal generator to line up stations on a dial for one radio and a peak alignment on a second radio. Next up will be a shot a a 455KC IF sweep alignment . My old Heathkit analog generator is beginning to gather dust on the shelf.
AM and RF front end alignment generally works the same way. You adjust the LO to adjust the tuning range. And the RF to get the best response. First at the bottom of the dial. then the top. Often the adjustments on the bottom of the scale are done with inductors. Trimmer caps on the tuning cap adjust the top. - LO Tuning frequency is adjusted at the bottom end of the scale by adjusting the main LO trim inductor. - One of the trimmer caps on the tuning cap adjusts the LO tuning frequency at high end of the band. This allows you to stretch or compress the band range. - RF is adjusted at the bottom end of the scale so that you get the best response on weak stations. You adjust something (inductor usually) so that the front end antenna section of the radio tracks parallel with the oscillator. On cheap AM radios you often shift the ferrite rod windings around a bit on the ferrite rod. - A second trimmer cap on the tuning cap adjusts the RF front end at the top of the band. Again adjusted for best response. Adjusted correctly the LO (+IF) tracks exactly the band (and band range) you want top and bottom. Whilst the RF front end tracks this same frequency range with good reception at every point.
Ahhh, so it will work for tuning 11 meters (or any). I have an HP 8553 RF, IF spectrum analyzer w/scope and a Tektronix 4 channel scope. I'm selling both of those in favor of my tiny VNA and a small, handheld, independent scope. If there was a manual or something for these things....
@@ForewarnedLongAgo I don't have a big budget for my hobby items and deals on fancy good gear are non-existent in my area. Actually have to buy radios online as well. None to be had here.
That's was oscillator alignment... what's you thought about rf alignment..sometimes when Rf is misaligned, we hear a strong station at my multiple places..
So if you don't have a tiny SA can you set this up with your HP SA? Forgive my ignorance, just wondering out loud. This is what I find most curious. Thanks for the look.Great info.
You could do the RF "sniffing" part, however you would also need an RF signal generator to "inject" the 100 Mhz signal or whatever your target signal will be. I hope this helps you. Fred
Hi Guy, I am now looking at your video. Could you please let me know what the type of your Tiny SA is? I find here devices fro 60 euro upto around 7000 euro. It is only for my hobby. Nice video😊. Thanks and take care. Geert Belgium
as a beginner I would suggest the TinySA ULTRA. there are many clones that do not work well so here is where to get a real one: tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Buying
@@IMSAIGuy Hello Guy, Tkx for you quick answer. I am 70 and electronics is a hobby since my 15th. I miss a lot of theory and praxis especially in alignment of tuners. I am now working on my son in laws HK-930 and I have bad FM and most of the time no stereo. That how I found your video on TH-cam. The problem is on my age I don't want to spend too much money on New equipment and I saw a 'little' tinySA at Eleshop here. Meaby this device is oké for my needs? Best regards/Geert
There are so many frauds and copies of this thing on the market now, do you know a place where I can order one that is genuine. I want it for AM and FM IF alignment on old radios. THANK YOU.
Usually there are two capacitors to adjust the frequency range of the LO. One is a pad and the other is a trim. One sets the lower frequency limit and the other the upper limit. It looks like you only adjusted one of these.
If you want to polish to polish a metal for example, the abrasive must be harder than the metal but here we are polishing a turd with a turd. How is that possible?
If you want it even closer on frequency, I am sure you are well able to solder a 2.2pf or a 4.7 pf ceramic cap across the tuning cap to pull the frequency down closer onto frequency?
The accuracy of the tuning tracking across the dial will not be altered that badly by the addition of the 2.2pf or 4.7pf, but it will pull the L.O. down closer on to frequency if you want to be really finicky about how the dial reads, I did the same on my little homemade eBay Chinese radio because the FM band dial reading wasn't at all correct.
When I was "fixing" the tuning on my little radio, I NEVER dreamt of using the tiny SA as a signal generator, there is just so much your videos tell us and remind us that this little box of tricks can actually do. I wish I had thought of using my Tiny SA instead of using a huge Marconi 2022 signal generator!
Fantastic videos....!
Thank you again.
Just beautiful! I learnt so much from this video and your talk through and recap. I also like that you showed having to try a few things before getting the result. You don't learn much from "perfect first time" videos.
Looks like the radio was set for the Japan FM band which is 75-95MHz where as here it is 88-108MHz. I think the two variable caps are: one of them adjusts the low end of the dial and the other adjusts the high end of the dial. So to calibrate the reception for 88MHz you would only fiddle with one and the turn the knob all the way to 108 and fiddle with the other one. Then you could do mid dial at 98. Using the Tinysa as your source.
In my experience the local oscillator is normally 10.7MHz above the broadcast range so should be something like 98.7MHz to 118.7MHz.
Also, the trimcap that "does nothing" probably tunes the AM oscillator.
Great video i was still strugling aligning that litle red AM radio you also put together on your channel but this usage of the Tiny SA was a great idea, also for the litle AM radio, worked a charm! Thank you again for another great video, thoroughly enjoying them ! Regards and greetings from the Netherlands, Leo.
Olof Joachim Palme was assassinated by Security Policeman Walther Evert Kegö 19451126-3339
It was a Secret Conspiracy ESCARGENCY RESEARCH TEMPUS OMNIUS REVELATHE
KEGÖ IS A NAZIST,SON OF HERRMANN W.GÖRING AND DAUGHTER OF JAPANEESE EMPEROR HIROHITO.GABRIELLA IDA KARIN STENBERG-KOCH IS DAUGHTER FROM KOBE JAPAN HER MOTHER WAS A PEARLDIVERESS CALLED " BLACK PEARL". LEIAH HATHA.
It takes a little experimenting to be proficient with this device , I am an old Analog guy, however I just used it as a modulated signal generator to line up stations on a dial for one radio and a peak alignment on a second radio. Next up will be a shot a a 455KC IF sweep alignment . My old Heathkit analog generator is beginning to gather dust on the shelf.
This vid was AWESOME. Excited for my Tiny that's coming.
Did it inspire awe?
AM and RF front end alignment generally works the same way. You adjust the LO to adjust the tuning range. And the RF to get the best response. First at the bottom of the dial. then the top. Often the adjustments on the bottom of the scale are done with inductors. Trimmer caps on the tuning cap adjust the top.
- LO Tuning frequency is adjusted at the bottom end of the scale by adjusting the main LO trim inductor.
- One of the trimmer caps on the tuning cap adjusts the LO tuning frequency at high end of the band. This allows you to stretch or compress the band range.
- RF is adjusted at the bottom end of the scale so that you get the best response on weak stations. You adjust something (inductor usually) so that the front end antenna section of the radio tracks parallel with the oscillator. On cheap AM radios you often shift the ferrite rod windings around a bit on the ferrite rod.
- A second trimmer cap on the tuning cap adjusts the RF front end at the top of the band. Again adjusted for best response.
Adjusted correctly the LO (+IF) tracks exactly the band (and band range) you want top and bottom.
Whilst the RF front end tracks this same frequency range with good reception at every point.
I've done a couple CB radios with mine. Handy little gadget.
Ahhh, so it will work for tuning 11 meters (or any). I have an HP 8553 RF, IF spectrum analyzer w/scope and a Tektronix 4 channel scope. I'm selling both of those in favor of my tiny VNA and a small, handheld, independent scope. If there was a manual or something for these things....
@@ForewarnedLongAgo I don't have a big budget for my hobby items and deals on fancy good gear are non-existent in my area. Actually have to buy radios online as well. None to be had here.
Thanks, I learned so much from this video. TinySA looks like a great device for a hobbyist. Will TinySA measure T.H.D?
The variable cap that did nothing in VHF, is for adjusting the AM radio band center.
Thanks for the video.
I ve noticed that you are using Wiha tools, one of the most eficient tool I know
Regards
Guessin' it covers the Japanese FM band, as well as a few of their VHF-lo TV channels (which lie within our "normal" FM band).
Hi, Can you tell me where you got your near-field probe? I would like to get one for my Tiny SA .
th-cam.com/video/RH9zHsdk5iE/w-d-xo.html
link in the description
That's was oscillator alignment... what's you thought about rf alignment..sometimes when Rf is misaligned, we hear a strong station at my multiple places..
Great video! I learnt a few things from it. What _probe_ are you using? Do you have a link to it?
th-cam.com/video/RH9zHsdk5iE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Dxn08Q8bBx-xEUeA
So if you don't have a tiny SA can you set this up with your HP SA? Forgive my ignorance, just wondering out loud. This is what I find most curious. Thanks for the look.Great info.
You could do the RF "sniffing" part, however you would also need an RF signal generator to "inject" the 100 Mhz signal or whatever your target signal will be. I hope this helps you. Fred
@@electronicengineer Yes, what Fred said.
very interresting to use a tiny SA for debugging, thanks ( what is your software version of tinySA ? )
Before I video anything with the TInySA, I update the firmware. I recorded this about a month ago.
@@IMSAIGuy OK i have upgrade it with new version and i have the same menu for +/- dBm . thanks
He starts with not knowing the "IF" frequency, why not measue it with the tinySA and a loop probe? Ron W4BIN
I shown that technique in other videos. In this video, I was just trying to show how a person could use the generator in the TinySA
Remember, kids
Coils low
Caps high
Is dBm (m) for millivolt or microvolt (u) ?
m is milliwatt.
0 dBm = 1 milliwatt
+30 dBm = 1 Watt (1000 milliwatts)
So excited to see that.. where r u located. I heard Indian movie song on fm in this vedio
silicon valley, there is a large Indian population here
IF in FM is 10.7 MHz. IF in AM is 455 kHz.
Please post a picture of the schematic!
sorry, got them out of order. april 12 will be the build
@@IMSAIGuy I meant the schematic of the AM/FM rasio - you never showed it still nor full screen. THANKS !!!
@@joeteejoetee please wait until april 12. that video will have the schematic
Go check it out! Erik announced the TinySA Ultra today and it looks awesome! 4” screen and all!
I have one on order
Hi Guy,
I am now looking at your video.
Could you please let me know what the type of your Tiny SA is?
I find here devices fro 60 euro upto around 7000 euro.
It is only for my hobby.
Nice video😊.
Thanks and take care.
Geert
Belgium
as a beginner I would suggest the TinySA ULTRA. there are many clones that do not work well so here is where to get a real one: tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Buying
@@IMSAIGuy Hello Guy,
Tkx for you quick answer. I am 70 and electronics is a hobby since my 15th. I miss a lot of theory and praxis especially in alignment of tuners. I am now working on my son in laws HK-930 and I have bad FM and most of the time no stereo.
That how I found your video on TH-cam. The problem is on my age I don't want to spend too much money on New equipment and I saw a 'little' tinySA at Eleshop here. Meaby this device is oké for my needs?
Best regards/Geert
There are so many frauds and copies of this thing on the market now, do you know a place where I can order one that is genuine. I want it for AM and FM IF alignment on old radios. THANK YOU.
Keep the window closed because the tiny thing could be blown away by the wind in a moment.
Usually there are two capacitors to adjust the frequency range of the LO. One is a pad and the other is a trim. One sets the lower frequency limit and the other the upper limit. It looks like you only adjusted one of these.
Schematic of a 3 dollar radio ! 😆🥰
you 're right 说明书写的是70Khz 。
Tiny sa
The screw caps are not extra caps. One is for the oscillator and one is fir antenna tuning, Dummy! fM range band is 88 mhz to 108 mhz
If you want to polish to polish a metal for example, the abrasive must be harder than the metal but here we are polishing a turd with a turd. How is that possible?
The turd room is 3 doors down, all enquiries should go there.
Would this work For AM FM Ailment for Vintage Receivers or tuners ? like the Pioneer SX-850 to Sx-1250?
would the Ultra work better?
I only recommend the Ultra
@@IMSAIGuy Thanks, still leaning so it will work like the HP8657? But theirs a lot different setting to setup .