Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Discussion about this major DATV Project. See https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter
Post Reply
G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G8GKQ » Fri Jul 15, 2022 3:51 pm

I have now added the facility to use an RTL-SDR with BandViewer on the Portsdown 4.

The only available span widths are 2 MHz and 1 MHz, but these enable you to "see" a DATV signal well before it can be decoded by the DATV receiver. The dynamic range is not as good (only about 43 dB) as the Airspy or LimeSDR, but just remember that the price is over 10 dB lower!

If you select BandViewer from Menu 2 or the Terrestrial Receive Menu, the Portsdown first checks for an Airspy and uses that if connected. If not, it checks for a LimeSDR, and uses that. Lastly it checks for an RTL-SDR and uses that. You can also select RTL-SDR Bandviewer directly from the Test Equipment Menu.

To get the new capability, simply perform a software update to version 202207150. I hope to migrate this capability to the Portsdown 2020 soon.

Please report any bugs here.

Lastly, thanks to Alexandru Csete OZ9AEC for his "Rtlizer" which provided a good starting point for this project.

Dave G8GKQ
Attachments
rtlsdrbv.jpg
rtlsdrbv.jpg (75.78 KiB) Viewed 3596 times

IZ7PDX
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:55 pm

Re: Portsdown 4 BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by IZ7PDX » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:25 am

Congratulations, we've been looking forward to this feature for a long time!
73 de Luigi IZ7PDX, JN80PS.

G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G8GKQ » Sat Jul 16, 2022 1:37 pm

I have just added the Airspy and RTL-SDR versions of the BandViewer to Portsdown 2020.

The BandViewer only functions with the 800x480 DSI touchscreens (such as the 7 inch and 5 inch), so older versions of the Portsdown 2020 with the 3.5 inch GPIO-connected WaveShare screen will not work with BandViewer.

Please report any bugs here

Dave, G8GKQ

Pa3fbx
Posts: 178
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:08 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by Pa3fbx » Tue Nov 15, 2022 4:53 pm

Hi Dave, Why do i miss pluto in the band viewer

I got the rtl easy to work but now i am limited to 1700 Mhz..
Is pluto for bandviewer a forgotten option?
You only need the TX part normally and so the RX is available.


Benno

G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G8GKQ » Tue Nov 15, 2022 5:00 pm

Hi Benno

Quite simple - I haven't yet found the time to amend the BandViewer software to work with the Pluto. It's on the to-do list!

It's not simple as I do not use soapy or any standard interface spec - it's all bare metal (c and each sdr's bespoke api) stuff.

Dave

Pa3fbx
Posts: 178
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:08 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by Pa3fbx » Tue Nov 15, 2022 7:00 pm

Thanks Dave,
I appreciatie your work. I can't be easy and when you have a working system for yourself it seems not worth the time.
But i would really use the function. I al ready use sdr console and sdr angle for this work but combined on the ports down it would benefit to a complete receiving station.

Well we wait patiently and hope you'll find the time and more important the solution.

I currently am working on the portsdown/langstone and ryde system in 1 19"rack.
I should do from 10M to 6 cm... All mode...
will follow your work...

Benno

G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G8GKQ » Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:02 pm

Hi Benno

Yes, a number of people are waiting for the capability, so it will be attempted soon.

Dave

G4HTZ
Posts: 217
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:21 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G4HTZ » Fri Nov 18, 2022 12:06 pm

I’m sure it’s hidden somewhere …checked the wiki and forum but can’t find it .

Setting up of band viewer .

How do you configure the input to the air spy or rtl stick ….I’m guessing you need a splitter on the input on the minitouner to feed the tuner and sdr module at the same time

Just putting the ATV station back together again …after a house move last month ….and the band viewer looks a great function to have

Thanks for any help in advance

Steve G4HTZ
Steve G4HTZ

ASHEN nr Sudbury JO02GB52 90m ASL

70cms DATV portsdown 4 + RYDE rx …14 or 18 ele yagi …LNA …hopefully 100w amp at some point

g8gtz
Posts: 1733
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by g8gtz » Fri Nov 18, 2022 12:44 pm

Correct - put a splitter in the rx feed to MinitIouner to feed the SDR then just select band viewer from menu 2.

Best facility ever - don't know how we managed before! So good, you'll probably find you need a separate display for it!

Noel - G8GTZ

G4HTZ
Posts: 217
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:21 pm

Re: Portsdown BandViewer with RTL-SDR

Post by G4HTZ » Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:35 pm

Thanks Noel ….guessed that was the way to do it but nice to have it confirmed.
Steve G4HTZ

ASHEN nr Sudbury JO02GB52 90m ASL

70cms DATV portsdown 4 + RYDE rx …14 or 18 ele yagi …LNA …hopefully 100w amp at some point

Post Reply

Return to “The Portsdown Digital ATV System”