Project Overview

This a high-impedance IF signal amplifier for use with a Panadapter with a few provisions for extra noise control.

The signal is tapped with a minimum desensitization in the original radio signal, using a FET + LNA chain, right after the HF/VHF-UHF Intermediate Frequency RF switch, feeding the signal to an RTL-SDR USB dongle, lodged inside the radio. This USB SDR is connected to the Radio's internal USB hub. The radio then exports the SDR seamlessly through the USB port along the CAT and Audio interfaces, so the PC will see three different devices: The CAT port, the Audio controller and the SDR.

No extra external wires, ports or drilling holes in the radio.

There's a RF switch that either connects the IF signal to the amplifier (during RX), or isolate the amplifier (during TX). This is controlled by the TX9 radio signal - When the radio enters the TX mode, this signal actuates the RF switch, by isolating the Panadapter/SDR board.

Panadapter Block Diagram and radio connections

In the Full Version, there are a few controllable functions (described in next chapter), but generally, you will want to stick to the Lite version and steer clear from the Full Version.

02 - Technical Details