Digital Receiver Runs RF Signal Monitoring

The Agilent N6841A RF Sensor is a software-defined-radio (SDR) test set in a weatherproof enclosure for outdoor RF signal monitoring. It is ideal for commercial and military regulatory and security applications, and can detect signals from 20 MHz to 6 GHz. It features a 14-b analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to capture a 20-MHz information bandwidth with high resolution.

According to Tom Burrell, Vice President and General Manager of Agilent's Signal Networks Division, "Modern signals with complex modulation and higher information bandwidths are challenging traditional approaches to spectrum monitoring. These signals are much harder to detect, they're more dynamic and there are a lot more of them. Spectrum-monitoring organizations are telling us they can't afford more people carrying around spectrum analyzers, and traditional monitoring stations are too expensive and hard to install in any kind of quantity. The N6841A allows a different approach using inexpensive, easy-to-deploy receivers with low installation cost." Multiple receivers can be synchronized via a Global Positioning System (GPS) for networked applications. A network interface allows the sensors to be distributed within a building, throughout a city or across the world. The receiver is housed in a weatherproof IP67-rated (Standard IEC 6529 International Protection 67) enclosure.