Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
Amateur Radio Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [testing]

Techniques for testing the functionality of radios and other equipment. Do not use this tag for license examinations; use [license] instead.

39 questions
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How to detect common-mode currents or “RF in the shack”?

Let's say we already know that if your antenna is not suitably constructed or connected then you can get current on the shield of your coaxial feed line which will flow through the shielding/grounding of your equipment, becoming “RF in the shack”,…
Kevin Reid AG6YO
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WWV, WWVH, and WWVL may be shut down. Are there any alternatives?

The US government is proposing to shut down the NIST standard time and frequency stations WWV, WWVH, and WWVB in Colorado and Hawaii. If that actually happens, are there any free or inexpensive alternative frequency standards available so that we…
Mike Waters
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Operating proceedures: testing an HT against a repeater?

Assuming proper licensing for the frequency, what is the proper operating procedure to test whether an HT works and is within range of a (documented as open, 2M or 440) club repeater? Should one wait till someone comes on the repeater, and ask them…
hotpaw2
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How did hams manage to tune their antennas before VSWR meters?

In the early 20th century --back when the hobby was still new-- before VSWR meters and antenna analyzers were invented, how did radio operators know whether they were tuned for maximum power out? This is not asking about antenna tuner design or…
Mike Waters
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7
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2 answers

What does an antenna analyzer tell me about these coaxial cables?

Note: more measurements added after graphs below I recently acquired a RigExpert antenna analyzer and I am trying to learn how to use it to test cables. I took two cables to start with to try and understand what it shows and what the graphs mean. …
progrmr
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1 answer

Regenerative receiver interference?

Can a regenerative shortwave receiver (especially an old vintage unshielded tube or transistor model) connected to a wire antenna generate HF interference? If so, what are some ways to prevent one from generating such interference (but still…
hotpaw2
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Cause of harmonic spurs?

Harmonic spurs (harmonics of the transmitter frequency, as seen by a wide-band receiver or SDR) in the RF spectrum might be caused by an imperfectly sinusoidal or badly filtered transmitter carrier frequency oscillator, non-linearities in the…
hotpaw2
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Can an oscilloscope be used as an RF voltmeter?

I just recently acquired a slightly functional Icom IC-735 HF radio, and am trying to resurrect it. The service manual outlines procedures that specify the use of an RF Voltmeter, which I do not own. I do have a Tektronix 2236 dual channel 100MHz…
user14945
6
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1 answer

SNR measurement for a BPSK/QPSK signal

I have created a software (gnuradio) that performs modulation/demodulation and supports a number of modulation schemes and error correcting codes. I'm in the process of evaluating the BER vs SNR for this software by using a secondary…
Moses Browne Mwakyanjala
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5
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1 answer

Using a Return Loss Bridge and Nano VNA to measure amplifier characteristics

One of the difficulties of measuring active devices like LNA and IF amplifiers with the Nano VNA is the care needed to avoid over-driving the amplifier input and, more importantly perhaps, to avoid blowing up the CH1 port during S21 (gain)…
Buck8pe
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Can I have a signal generator on while it's not connected?

The unit in question is an Elecraft XG3 test signal generator. It puts out anywhere from -107 dBm to 0 dBm. Is it safe to have these signal generators on and transmitting while not connected to anything, or should they always be connected to a 50…
user3191449
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Are there any good, consistently receivable signals in the US for HF receiver testing?

Having built my first HF receiver, I'd like to know if I'll need to search around for transmissions that happen to be occurring, or if there are reasonably strong signals I can count on being present regardless of the time or day? I just want a…
Adam Davis
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Testing for 'Bad' Coax

I have a lot of 'donated' coax that has been given to me with unknown provenance. I'm wondering what things I can do that can determine whether I keep it or send to the tip? Some of the things I have thought about doing are: Physical inspection -…
Ben Short
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4
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VNA basics, antenna coax cable

Recently purchased my first VNA (Nano VNA) and I'm trying to learn the basics. I have a 150MHz 1/4 wave whip antenna that I need to install on a large metal object so I was hoping to use a VNA to help me understand the performance of the metal…
P_J
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How do businesses develop and test amateur radio products in the US if you cannot be paid for amateur radio use?

Certainly there are companies in the US (like Kenwood) that develop HAM products that transmit. For development and QA they would likely need to test the product outside of a Faraday cage. How can companies test those products in the HAM bands if…
KJ7LNW
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