The radio spectrum scope (also radio panoramic receiver, panoramic adapter, pan receiver, pan adapter, panadapter, panoramic radio spectroscope, panoramoscope, panalyzor and band scope) was invented by

Marcel Wallace Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian ...

- and measures and shows the magnitude of an input signal versus frequency within one or more

radio band The radio spectrum is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with frequencies from 0 Hz to 3,000 GHz (3 THz). Electromagnetic waves in this frequency range, called radio waves, are widely used in modern technology, particular ...

s - e.g.

shortwave bands Shortwave bands are frequency allocations for use within the shortwave radio spectrum (the upper medium frequency Fband and all of the high frequency Fband). Radio waves in these frequency ranges can be used for very long distance (transcontinent ...

.The History of Amateur Radio
Citat: "...Panoramic reception was created in 1932 by the French engineer and ham Marcel Wallace, F3HM. The Panadaptor is the first spectrum analyzer portraying visually the signals in a selected part of the radio spectrum, making RF signals visible, identifiable my mode..."

/ref> A spectrum scope is normally a lot cheaper than a

spectrum analyzer A spectrum analyzer measures the magnitude of an input signal versus frequency within the full frequency range of the instrument. The primary use is to measure the power of the spectrum of known and unknown signals. The input signal that most co ...

, because the aim is not high quality frequency resolution - nor high quality signal strength measurements. The spectrum scope use can be to: * find radio channels quickly of known and unknown signals when receiving. * find radio amateurs activity quickly e.g. with the intent of communicating with them. Modern spectrum scopes, like the

Elecraft Elecraft, Inc. is an American manufacturer of amateur radio ("ham") equipment and kits, based in Watsonville, California. It was founded in 1998 by Wayne Burdick and Eric Swartz. The company's first product was the K2 transceiver; first pr ...

P3, also plot signal frequencies and amplitudes over time, in a rolling format called a

waterfall plot Waterfall plots are often used to show how two-dimensional phenomena change over time. A three-dimensional ''spectral waterfall plot'' is a plot in which multiple curves of data, typically spectra, are displayed simultaneously. Typically the cu ...

References

External links

*
K9rod.net: Spectrum Scope

* ttp://www.navy-radio.com/rcvr-pan.htm Navy Receiving Panoramic Adaptor (Panadaptor) Info

{{technology-stub Receiver (radio) Radio electronics Telecommunications equipment Radio technology Signal processing Spectroscopy