[RFI] USB Spectrum Analyzer

[mstangelo at comcast.net]

If you're interested in this Spectrum Analyzer you can check a review on Kenneth Wyatt's EDN Blog:

<http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/the-emc-blog/4410523/Review--Amazing-USB-5-35-GHz-spectrum-analyzer>

While interesting he prefered TTI or Rigol Spectrun Analysers.

Ken is an EMC Consultant who has excellent as well a practical application notes and reviews on the blog as well as his website:

<http://www.emc-seminars.com/index.html>

Here is his report on a visit to ARRL Headquarters. Note that they discuss interference from the grow lights:

<http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/the-emc-blog/4434946/A-visit-to-ARRL-headquarters>

If you want to experiment with a USB Spectrum Analyzer I'd get one of these $20 DVB-T USB receiver sticks:

<http://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-receivers/nesdr-mini-rtl2832-r820t.html>

and use it with the free evaluation version of Touchstone software:

<http://nutsaboutnets.com/touchstone/>

The DVB-T doesn't cover HF, the rtl2832 starts at 24Mhx, but the price is right.

There is lot's of good information on Ken's site.

Mike N2MS







----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Christensen <w9ac at arrl.net>
To: RFI Mailing List <rfi at contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:41:16 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [RFI] USB Spectrum Analyzer

Gary,

I think -110 dBm sensitivity is marginal for RFI detective work, especially 
while working with low gain loops when trying to localize switch-mode 
interference.   Some of the loop preamps I've used produce much more 
gain/noise than signal.  For the money, I would look at one of the new, 
compact SDR receivers that contain a basic spectrum analyzer function. 
These will measure a -140 dBm noise floor.  Of course, you don't have the 
ability to change resolution bandwidth as one would have with a true 
spectrum analyzer but that's perfectly adequate for RFI work.

Paul, W9AC