It's all about the Software

Greetings...
Experiencing a minor issue with the waterfall. Display changes in a way I cannot explain or resolve. Please see the video; the issue appears at the beginning and end of the 2+ minute recording. Disruptions appear and last in random periods and durations. Is this perhaps forces of nature, or have I made an incorrect setting somewhere ?

Thanks, Steve KH6CT

Looks like AGC. Open the Ribbon Bar, Home so I can see the settings.

Ribbon bar, Home

Looks like the SDRC is way out of date, even the version isn't published on the home screen along the top ribbon.
Big difference in behavior when going from RF gain of 5 to RF gain of 6, the gain actually decreases as seen by the screen getting darker in attached image. So I run mine at 6 to 7 depending upon what band I am RXing.

I found if the IF is in Auto, the AGC will pump if there is a strong pulsing signal in the operating bandwidth. Similar to what you see with the perfectly flat bands of light and dark across the waterfall. Think of a lone, strong CW signal antagonizing the AGC, so I run -30 to -35 Manual and it goes away! Your current version of the software doesn't even have the option, I don't think, or it's just not published in your version. Hence you need to upgrade SDRC to the latest download!

Mine is on an EFW of +150 feet, so it hears very well and will overload at a moments notice, so try my settings for starters, then adjust from there.
This is the last if the SDRPlays I have (lightning hit) and because of the one and only one I have, the server which it is connected to has to have an AM BC filter to tame the overload and images seen from 160M to 75M. The Airspy Discovery is a much better unit, IMHO. But I still have users that use that POS, so it's still online... for now.

Oh, open the DSP window so we can see your settings there too! (see my attachment)

73 de Kriss KA1GJU
Home of the Super Station SDR Servers in NH, USA

Thanks Simon and Kriss...

Does appear to be an AGC issue. In the ribbon bar, AGC was ON; switched it OFF and the black/dark bars disappeared. In the DSP panel, AGC is Medium. All seems to be running well now.

Just a comment... From looking at my previous screengrab attachments, Kriss thought my software might have been out of date. When a screengrab using the onboard feature is made, the very top tool bar is all black to the right of "Select previous frequency" icon. So, parties to the request for help may not know what version is operating. Using a third party screen grab shows the SDRC version. See the attached files.

Thanks again for the help!!

73, Steve KH6CT

Yes, I was gonna correct my post about that. Maybe Simon can fix that in the next edition. Since we are always using screen shots to help users with issues. It would be nice if the current user version is posted in the 'Screen Shot' button versus the Keyboard Prt Scrn... I actually use both. Especially when running two 'stances' of SDRC at the same time for antenna or SDR rig comparisons.

73 de Kriss KA1GJU

The screen shot SHOULD capture the title bar. I wonder what MS screwed up so that Simon's tool malfunctions. (But, then, I reflexively use alt-prtscrn and paint.)

{^_^}

What baffles me is why does he have AGC available under the Radio Settings and I don't when operating an SDRPlay RSPA1A. Both of us are on 3.0.26
Although I am running mine via a server, not directly.

Simon? Did you change something in the 3.0.26 releases?

73 Kriss KA1GJU

I noticed that too, Kriss. What I really don't understand is why I have an AGC selection on the ribbon bar (set to OFF) and also an AGC selection in the DSP panel (set to ON). But then, I grew up with "glass valves", so that may lead to my not understanding.

73, Steve KH6CT

What build is your v3.0.26?
Click on Help, About...

73 Kriss KA1GJU