It can be customized to perform complex, remote, and/or automated functions.
"The proliferation of wireless devices has led to unsustainable growth in how we use the RF spectrum. Interference problems are occurring with increasing frequency. Finding interference and real-time spectrum monitoring tools have become a necessity. The challenge is finding a real-time spectrum analyzer that is suitable for the task and not prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, adding RF recording capability to a traditional spectrum analyzer is avoided due to the added cost. Advancements in off-the-shelf (COTS) components, along with excellent engineering, make it possible for us to offer the Signal Hound BB60A. It provides a high-value, low-priced real-time RF spectrum analyzer with recording capability," says Bruce Devine, Managing Director at Test Equipment Plus.
About the BB60A Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer:
The BB60A real-time RF spectrum analyzer is the first on the market with an RF recorder that utilizes the USB 3.0 data channel. USB 3.0 channels data at twice the speed of a 1GiE connection. To achieve this functionality, three things were necessary. First, the performance of processors and video cards had to be advanced to the point where GPU acceleration of the spectrum analyzer's graphics was not expensive to implement. Second, the availability of high-performance, low-cost SSDs (solid-state drives) was required so that broadband RF recording to a PC could be achieved without a costly and bulky RAID-0 or RAID-5 hard drive configuration. Third, the Cypress FX3 chip, the first USB 3.0 device controller on the market, was essential for the efficient Signal Hound to create the large 140 MB/s data channel from the BB60A to the PC.
The BB60A channels 80 million samples per second of RF data to a PC via USB 3.0, enabling real-time spectrum analysis of any 20 MHz segment of the spectrum. Users can visualize spectral events as short as 1 µs with a 100% POI (Probability of Intercept) within an instantaneous 20 MHz bandwidth.
This BB60A comes with a compiled API (Application Programming Interface) for writing custom software. The open-source spectrum analyzer software provides a good example of how to interface the API when writing custom applications.
Availability and Contact Information:
The Signal Hound BB60A is in stock from the manufacturer and ready for immediate shipment to your local distributor. The BB60A retails for €2,299 plus VAT. Shipping to Europe is included.
About Signal Hound:
Signal Hound spectrum analyzers are compact and easy to use. The Signal Hound BB60A is used for real-time spectrum monitoring, manufacturing process control, interference detection, extended spectrum signal analysis, intermittent event capture, and general-purpose spectrum analysis.
Industry is using spectrum analyzers for process control and integration into specialized products. Government agencies use them for spectrum monitoring. Electronic repair technicians, engineering students, amateur radio enthusiasts, and electronics hobbyists also find them very useful. Although small and affordable, they have the sensitivity, accuracy, and dynamic range expected of larger and more expensive test equipment.
