Whew, that took a while to get going. This is a screenshot from a Software Defined Radio app that I have run for years on my old laptop, hooked up to an SDRPlay RSP1A radio and my little Discone antenna on the garage roof.

It’s like having a radio that can receive All The Things, and with the computer graphics, guide you to where they are.

I’ve been at this for years, but today when I plugged my recently-updated laptop into the radio and antenna, it was silent. Because updating stuff breaks stuff. Two hours later (and a hand-compile of a critical library) and I’m rocking out to illicit radio voices.

#amateurradio #hamradio #shortwavelistening #softwaredefineradio

VR Spectrum Analyzer

At one point or another, we've probably all wished we had a VR headset that would allow us to fly around our designs. While not quite the same, thing, [manahiyo831] has something that might even be better: a VR spectrum analyzer. You can get an idea of what it looks like in the video below, although that is actually from an earlier version.

The video shows a remote PC using an RTL dongle to pick up signals. The newer version runs on the Quest 2 headset, so you can simply attach the dongle to the headset. Sure, you'd look like a space cadet with this on, but -- honestly -- if you are willing to be seen in the headset, it isn't that much more hardware.

What we'd really like to see, though, is a directional antenna so you could see the signals in the direction you were looking. Now that would be something. As it is, this is undeniably cool, but we aren't sure what its real utility is.

What other VR test gear would you like to see? A Tron -like logic analyzer? A function generator that lets you draw waveforms in the air? A headset oscilloscope? Or maybe just a giant workbench in VR?

A spectrum analyzer is a natural project for an SDR. Or things that have SDRs in them.

#radiohacks #virtualreality #rtlsdr #sdr #softwaredefineradio #vr