[OZ4]

If you haven't already seen one. I found this among others while poking around YouTube. I think it would make a pretty good spectrum analyzer. Looks like I want one.

Here's one of many videos about  sdr radios. There many different models out there. Apparently they evolved from usb TV tuner dongles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rUacLj6G5Q

And here it is on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SDRplay-RSP2-1k...%7Ciid%3A1

[OZ4]

What nobody has anything to say about an SDR radio? I thought it is amazing what you get for $200. Here's a low res image of the display.

[Radioroslyn]

Sorry Chris pretty much an analog guy short of a digital readout or two.
These days it might be a little depressing as it would show up blank. Conditions
have been poor lately (last few years)

de N3GTE

[EdHolland]

These are interesting, and I have thought of dabbling. Another aspect is that they can be put on the web, for others to use. Many are linked here:

Http://sdr.hu

Of course, my first love in radio is a proper box with knobs on it.

[Electrothaumaturgist]

I think I'd stick to a detector diode radio, if given a choice.   This seems about as exciting as watching someone playing a video game that they are intent on playing, with no participatory satisfaction on the observers part. No offense intended at all, as the dongle deal would make a lot of sense and a whole host of handy applications would apply. Spectrum analyzer? Totally cool!!! Although the old technology picks the signal apart quite nicely, and reproduces it just fine enough for my tastes.   Or maybe I'm completely missing a major point here...