Hi Jim,
The TinySA Ultra has a LNA (low noise preamp) that you can enable for best
sensitivity. With the LNA turned on you should be in good shape regarding
sensitivity for very weak signals when used with the portable flag and the
DXE preamp that was designed for use with the portable flag. I suggest
having the AM filter selected on the DXE preamp unless you are trying to
see signals below 1.8 MHz. You probably will typically not need more than
20dB of gain on the DXE preamp which provides 30 dB of gain and you can
therefore often select the -10db attenuator on the DXE preamp and still
have adequate sensitivity.
I have the TinySA as well as the TinySA Ultra and one thing you might want
to play with on the Ultra is the VBW setting as a form of averaging.
I love the TinySA and the TinySA Ultra but I hardly ever use them for
tracking down RFI as I have found they are much less useful due to their
slow response time compared with the SDR receiver I use which is really
like a real time spectrum analyzer versus a swept spectrum analyzer which
is what the TinySA models are.
You will see even on higher end modern swept spectrum analyzers they now
include a real time spectrum analyzer mode which is the way of the future
as it captures events/signals that are often missed with a swept spectrum
analyzer.
If the RFI you are trying to see is a constant discrete signal then a swept
spectrum analyzer is adequate assuming you have settings configured
appropriately but you just can’t beat the performance of an SDR receiver
for capturing things “real time” and with much better RBW capabilities
compared with the TinySA Ultra.
The TinySA Ultra is handy if you want to view a very wide spectrum (large
frequency range).
Just FYI,
Don wd8dsb
On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 9:12 PM Jim Miller <jim@jtmiller.com> wrote:
> I've got a TinySA Ultra and recently purchased the DXE Flag by WD8DSB and
> Preamp. I'm wondering if the combination will be adequately sensitive or
> should I use some other receiver?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jim ab3cv
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