Field notebook · dated bench evidence, not an observing log.
BENCH TESTING · NO SKY DETECTION
Checkpoint: September 10, 2026. Public summary of user-confirmed bench tests; no new test is implied by this page’s build date.
We have not captured hydrogen RF or detected sky emission. A successful counter transfer answers a transport question, not an astronomy question.
BENCH RESULT
The receiver can hand us data.
With the coax disconnected (user-confirmed), the RTL-SDR Blog V4 with R828D tuner streamed its internal counter at 2.048 MS/s. This was a USB transport test, NOT RF IQ. The first bounded 16 MiB run had one early discontinuity at byte 3760, then was continuous. An unchanged repeat of 16 MiB was clean. These results support that bounded transport path only; they do not establish RF sensitivity, receiver calibration, amplifier readiness or a hydrogen observation.
Evidence basis: contemporaneous bench record and user confirmation. This is a public-safe summary; raw bench files are not published here. No spectrum or image is offered as evidence of these tests.
UNRESOLVED
The amplifier needs an answer.
The SAWbird+ H1 power LED remained dark with the power bank’s built-in USB-C connection and with USB-A-to-C. The same A-to-C cable charges other devices. This does not identify the cause or prove which component is at fault. No diagnosis has been established and no manufacturer support request has been sent. Amplifier power unresolved, manufacturer diagnosis next.
Evidence basis: contemporaneous bench record and user confirmation. This is a public-safe summary; raw bench files are not published here. No spectrum or image is offered as evidence of these tests.
What would the next measurement need?
Resolve the amplifier power question with the manufacturer before claiming receiver readiness. A future sky capture must record setup, timestamps, pointing, integration, transformations and controls. Uncalibrated RF data remain uncalibrated; a plausible curve or an on/off file pair cannot approve a detection.