Products > Test Equipment
Looking for a pocket rf spectrum analyzer
G0HZU:
The TinySA Ultra does look to be a neat device. I'm tempted to buy one despite already owning quite a few spectrum analysers. There's a youtube video in the link below where someone has used the TinySA Ultra to look at Wifi signals.
Obviously, it's going to struggle a bit here, but it did OK once the max hold feature was enabled.
I've got various spectrum analysers here including a few RTSA types. They are all big and heavy lab instruments so they aren't portable, let alone pocket sized. The RTSA analysers generally perform really well when looking at WiFi signals. One feature they offer is the ability to capture and store any signal of interest and export the data as a MAT file.
This can be post processed and/or copied across to a vector signal generator to allow the signal to be re-created and studied in detail.
I think the HackRF and that Flipper Zero device can do similar things and probably with a lot less fuss in terms of data management and they are much cheaper too.
kultakala:
I watched some videos about the HackRF and the sweep mode.
On a pc with Qspectrumanalyzer you can have it work as a full spectrum analyzer like tinySA.
What i couldnt find out yet is if this function is also possible when using it portable with the portapack.
Then i could use it to find frequencies like i want to do with the tinySA.
I know that the HackRF can do more things including transmit and decoding etc.
But my main use would be just to look at the spectrum and find frequencies in use.
Can the HackRF with portapack do this ?
Or just like in the video about the tinySA, just show the spectrum of the WIFI band ?
Bicurico:
There have been many great replies so far, so there is little to add.
I don't own the RF Explorer. What I know about this device is that it is more expensive than a TinySA Ultra and the screen resolution is pretty low.
The TinySA Ultra is the best low-cost spectrum analyser you can buy today. It features most functions a professional spectrum analyser would cover, the GUI is similar (but not as easy to use a SA with dedicated buttons). And you can connect it to a PC and capture/process the swept samples yourself. The sweep rate is pretty good and the frequency range is amazing.
The HackRF One is a totally different device. It is an SDR and as such can demodulate signals. It will capture the samples of a bandwidth up to 10MHz (beware of the USB2 limitation, though). These samples can then be demodulated or converted by FFT into a spectrum.
BUT: The rendered spectrum is RELATIVE! It will be shown in dB instead of dBm. You won't be able to carry out comparative signal strength measurements. Also, to produce a sweep over 10MHz, samples need to be taken for each frequency segment and converted by FFT.
The typical use would be:
TinySA Ultra (don't go for the standard model) -> spectrum analyser, measurement of RF frequencies and amplitude, etc.
HackRF One (with or without the Portapack) -> RF hacking, recording a frequency range of up tp 10MHz over time, replaying at the same or different frequency, demodulating signals, etc.
Buttom line: these are two different devices with different applications in mind. I would never use a HackRF One as a spectrum analyser (SATSAGEN - https://www.albfer.com/en/2020/02/21/satsagen-2/ - is probably the best spectrum analyser software for this device). Nor would I try to demodulate signals with the TinySA Ultra (you can actually listen to FM/AM transmitters).
Then you have the whole world of "cheap" spectrum analysers:
- Siglent SSA3021X-P (Plus model, can be converted into a SVA1032) - about 1500 Euro
- Second hand spectrum analysers (boat ancors - mind you, prices are normally just crazy)
- R&S CMU200 / CRTU - sometimes available at a great price, but again, used and perhaps expensive to maintain
Kean:
I have an RF Explorer (early model with 3G combo add-on plus matching signal gen), a HackRF Blue (i.e. clone), as well as a Rigol DSA815TG, a Signahound SA44B/TG44A, and an Aaronia Spectran HF-6080 V4. Also have a couple of other signal gens (boat anchors and moRFeus), and both an xavna and a NanoVNA. Not to mention Aaronia antennas and a bunch of TekBox EMC gear. I've bought these at different times over the last 10 years or so. The DSA815 certainly gets the majority of use (for EMC precompliance work).
And yet, I just ordered myself a TinySA Ultra - because they all have their good and bad points and I miss having a portable SA with nice UI that doesn't require a PC.
Damn EEVblog forums!
kultakala:
--- Quote from: Bicurico on September 03, 2023, 04:12:17 pm ---The TinySA Ultra is the best low-cost spectrum analyser you can buy today. It features most functions a professional spectrum analyser would cover, the GUI is similar (but not as easy to use a SA with dedicated buttons). And you can connect it to a PC and capture/process the swept samples yourself. The sweep rate is pretty good and the frequency range is amazing.
--- End quote ---
Guess i will have to order a tinySA Ultra :-+
--- Quote from: Kean on September 03, 2023, 06:29:33 pm ---Damn EEVblog forums!
--- End quote ---
I would sign that! >:D
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