Recomendations for a spectrum analyser

[2FB327]

Could some one recommend something that will do the job without overkill, yes I know the importance of calibrated equipment.
Thanks

 

[M0GVZ]

Rigol DSA815-TG.

 

[Tallman]

Are you opening a shop or is this just for personal use?
For a shop buy the best you can afford with a strong warranty.
If it's just for your personal use, buy the best you can afford with a strong warranty.
It just depends on your expectations for a business or just for fun.
Just for fun and reasonable accuracy check eBay for the Chinese made small units.

 

[LeapFrog]

Just for fun and reasonable accuracy check eBay for the Chinese made small units.

Like this link ? With a range of 24Mhz - 1766Mhz looks like a great deal for a hobbyist!

 

[Tallman]

Actually more like this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-RF-Spec...732874?hash=item3f6bee830a:g:y-4AAOxywFhTclGE
I have not used one of these. But I'm 100% certain it is easier to use than the bench top units I have.
Easier to move as well.

 

[LeapFrog]

Actually more like this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-RF-Spec...732874?hash=item3f6bee830a:g:y-4AAOxywFhTclGE
I have not used one of these. But I'm 100% certain it is easier to use than the bench top units I have.
Easier to move as well.

A small town truck stop would be doing good with one of those. They even have a model name for the thing, it's an SA0314! Cool, & no doubt better than nothing, "RF Instruments" sounds legit to me here is the contact info:
RF Instruments
12411 Mosielee St.
Houston, TX, 77086

713-449-8297

Monday - Friday
9AM - 6PM Central
http://rfinstruments.com/SA0314.html
Much better than buying some random Chinese thing where the only support is online and you can't call anyone if you ever have trouble with it lol.
Thanks for the link Tallman!.


Best Regards
-Leap

 

[Tallman]

A small town truck stop would be doing good with one of those.
RF Instruments
12411 Mosielee St.
Houston, TX, 77086

713-449-8297

Best Regards
-Leap

I called them and talked to one of their technicians about receiving spectrum and workable range. Some of those cheaper units will only go down to about 24 MHz.
I found that person to very knowledgeable and easy to deal with. I did not have to explain terms that they should know just as a matter doing business in the industry.
Unfortunately I have exceeded my budget for test equipment otherwise I would be owning one of those.

 

[M0GVZ]

I called them and talked to one of their technicians about receiving spectrum and workable range. Some of those cheaper units will only go down to about 24 MHz.

The Rigol unit I quoted goes from 9kHz through to 1.5GHz. It will also demodulate AM and FM.

 

[Tallman]

The Rigol unit I quoted goes from 9kHz through to 1.5GHz. It will also demodulate AM and FM.

The unit you quoted is priced between $1200 and 1500 dollars. The one I quoted was $330+6.95 shipping.

 

[StrangeBrew]

Here's another dongle based one, has the same low end bandwidth limit though.
http://nutsaboutnets.com/rfviewer/
http://nutsaboutnets.com/rfviewer/
You can also get just the software:
http://nutsaboutnets.com/touchstone/

They do use this same software with a couple different units, it may be worthwhile to give them a call and ask about possible compatibility with other SDR hardware/radios. Also it says there's a free version of the software so if someone already has an SDR they may be able to just give it a shot.



PS: Only thing that stops me from putting together a small hobby bench is a lack of space, with one of these I would just have to find a dongle based oscilloscope and signal generator and I could pack my shop up in a shoe box when finished.

 

[LeapFrog]

Here's another dongle based one, has the same low end bandwidth limit though.
http://nutsaboutnets.com/rfviewer/
You can also get just the software:
http://nutsaboutnets.com/touchstone/
http://nutsaboutnets.com/touchstone/
They do use this same software with a couple different units, it may be worthwhile to give them a call and ask about possible compatibility with other SDR hardware/radios. Also it says there's a free version of the software so if someone already has an SDR they may be able to just give it a shot.



PS: Only thing that stops me from putting together a small hobby bench is a lack of space, with one of these I would just have to find a dongle based oscilloscope and signal generator and I could pack my shop up in a shoe box when finished.

(Low end) Dongle based oscilloscopes have very limited bandwidth, unless you spend a small fortune it's hard to get a decent bandwidth, I still like the idea of a shoe-box-shop though kind of neat lol.

 

[BBB]

I use these Wavetek CATV test sets that have built in Spectrum Analyzer and can be found on the cheap. Comes with two markers and a peak hold feature. They also do a bunch of other things I don't use yet. Doesn't take up a lot of room on the bench and runs on 2-3 amps of 12VDC if the batteries are gone. Typically these are 75 ohm but you can insert a 50-75 ohm adapter on the input

 

[StrangeBrew]

(Low end) Dongle based oscilloscopes have very limited bandwidth, unless you spend a small fortune it's hard to get a decent bandwidth,
....

Yea you definitely get what you pay for with this stuff.

I mostly threw that link up because of the free version of the software. The dongle doesn't look like anything special, it wouldn't surprise me much if they're using the same TV dongles that are sold as SDR radios. Someone who already has a TV dongle laying around could give it a try with no risk.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/p...-U&ref=gbase&gclid=COKM3pug_M8CFYxZhgod2MkI0w

Used but an extra $1500.00 to get calibrated below 30 mhz

 

[StrangeBrew]

Badda BUMP


Any thoughts on these: http://www.analogarts.com/products/5-in-1-usb-oscilloscope/sg834-300-mhz-oscilloscope-50-mhz-awg

Seems like it can replace quite a few pieces of equipment, and it should fit in a shoe box.