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 - and measures and shows the magnitude of an input signal versus frequency within one or more radio bands - e.g. shortwave bands.[1][2] A spectrum scope is normally a lot cheaper than a spectrum analyzer, because the aim is not high quality frequency resolution - nor high quality signal strength measurements.

A modern Elecraft P3 Panadapter
RBY-1, US Navy Panoramic Radio Adapter RBY-1 with Hallicrafters SX-28. The Panoramic Radio Adapter is the upper part.

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

References

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  1. ^ Panoramic radio receiving system US 2279151 A
  2. ^ 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...", backup
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