Spectrum analysis and management can be challenging and expensive, although sometimes a solution fits in the palm of the hand: the PSA3605 and PSA6005 portable spectrum analyzers from Saelig Co. The compact spectrum analyzers provide frequency coverage from 10 MHz to 3.6 and 6.0 GHz, respectively, and are well suited for in-field use, operating for 3 hr or more on a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The handheld spectrum analyzers are built by leading European test manufacturer AIM-TTi, and available from and supported by Saelig Co. Both instruments have Type N coaxial connectors and a built-in frequency counter with resolution down to 10 Hz. Both can work with maximum reference level of 20 dBm and minimum reference level of –40 dBm. Results are shown on a high-resolution, 4.3-in. color thin-film-transistor (TFT) display with touchscreen interface; colors can be used to separate signals under study. The handheld analyzers feature an intuitive menu system for ease of setup and control.
The PSA3605 and PSA6005 portable analyzers include resolution-bandwidth (RBW) and video-bandwidth (VBW) filters that can be set from 300 Hz to 10 MHz in a 1-3-10 sequence to help isolate signals of interest. The instruments achieve a displayed average noise level (DANL) of better than –160 dBm/Hz, which, with a full-scale reference level of –40 dBm, allows signals as low as –120 dBm to be displayed.
They are supplied in an instrument case with rubberized buffer guards for shock protection and a built-in screen protector for field use. They include multiple detector modes and can demodulate AM and FM signals and extend the results to a time-domain display. The portable spectrum analyzers include an advanced filing system to manage test data and a USB interface for direct connection to a PC, memory cards, and other digital devices.
The compact, handheld PSA Series 5 spectrum analyzers weigh only 20 oz (560 gm) and are 3.6-in. (9.2-cm) wide, allowing them to fit in almost any portable RF/microwave service kit. They include almost 2 Gbytes of built-in memory to save instrument setups and captured test results, and feature a number of useful test functions, such as peak hold, multiple-sweep averaging, and automatic channel power, adjacent-channel power ratio (ACPR), and occupied bandwidth (OBW) measurements.
Saelig Co., 71 Perinton Pkwy., Fairport, NY 14450; (888) 772-3544, (585) 385-1750, FAX: (585) 385-1768.