Aor 8600 Control Software

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Review of the AOR AR8600 Mark2 AOR AR8600 Mark2 Communications Receiver with optional signal strength meter. Between the two AOR units is a switch that controls the low-noise antenna amplifier used in the tests.

The BNC-SMA adapter is shown for size comparison. Click on image to enlarge.

Overview The AOR AR8600 Mark2 is a wideband receiver with coverage from 0.1 to 3000 MHz. Although many people regard it as a high-end scanner, it's actually a very good general-purpose VHF/UHF receiver, which makes it a good value for those who don't want to spend $3000 to 12,000 on a wideband receiver.

However, because it's relatively inexpensive, it also has a few serious limitations. IF and Video Output I purchased an AR8600 mainly for its ability to measure radio signals in the 2-3 GHz range. To do this, you need some way of recording the signal strength.

There are two ways of getting spectral data from the 8600. One way is to use the built-in serial port using the built-in DE-9 connector in the back.

The radio has two VFOs that can be conveniently switched from the front panel or through the serial port. If you set the two VFOs to the lower and upper frequencies and send the command 'DS' over the serial connection, the radio will begin scanning and send the signal strength for each frequency to the computer in a convenient pre-formatted table. There's just one problem: the data points are only four bits deep (0 to 15). Luckily, the AR8600 also has an connector for an optional analog S-meter, so it's possible to work around this limitation.

It's possible to write a computer program to set the receiver's frequency and record the signal strength. Still, a lot of extra hardware would be needed to use this unit as an RF spectrometer. The ability to tune the radio by computer is particularly useful in the UHF region, where signals tend to be very sparse. Unlike AM and shortwave listeners, listeners in the UHF can't just tune randomly, but need to know what frequencies to tune to in advance. (It was rumored that former news reporter Dan Rather knows a lot of good UHF frequencies, and enjoys making suggestions). AOR supplies free software that can control the AR8600. However, the software is quite primitive.

It's actually a lot easier to use a terminal and type the commands manually. The serial port command language is very similar to that in the AR5000. This means that software that controls the AR5000, such as RFSpace/Moetronix's SpectraVue, can also control the AR8600 to some extent, although not perfectly. The AR8600 also has a BNC connection for a 10.7 MHz IF output. The IF signal could be connected to a spectrum analyzer or other device. However, unlike more expensive radios like the R-8500 and AR5000, the bandwidth of the AR8600 is only 4 MHz.

The IF signal is about -20 dB (compared to the center) at ± 2 MHz and -10 dB at ± 1.4MHz (see figure below). The IF output only worked above 18 MHz. There are also a fair number of (mostly fairly small) 'birdies', which are artifactual signals or spurs caused by imperfections in the circuitry, especially above 2GHz. These would show up as lines in the spectrum display. Spectrum from AOR 8600 MkII tuned to 2.002 GHz, with antenna shorted. A few spurious lines can be seen. (The position of these lines did not move when the frequency was changed, indicating that they are generated internally.) The y-axis in this graph does not accurately represent the noise floor of the radio.

An optional NTSC demodulator can be installed at purchase time or later by the user. The demodulator is a small daughterboard that is plugged into the 10.7 MHz IF output. It sends a composite video signal through the BNC. With the TV demodulator installed, the IF output is no longer accessible on the back panel. Linejnij vihod v fm modulyatore4775424. The daughterboard is connected to the IF by special connectors on the main circuit board. However, even when the TV demodulator is installed, the IF is still accessible from a connector on the main circuit board.

It is a simple matter to install a second BNC on the back panel to make IF and video output simultaneously available. Unfortunately, the receiver must be in Wide FM mode before the IF output is active. This means it is not possible to hear the audio from signals other than broadcast FM and TV stations when using the AR8600 with a spectrum analyzer. The manual states that it's possible for the supplier to modify the radio so that IF output is available in all modes, but that this will increase the number of internal spurii. According to AOR, the 2nd IF of the AR8600 is 45.05 MHz (not 10.7 MHz) and the 3rd IF is 455 KHz.