Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) Keysight Technologies

As wireless technology becomes more common in commercial and military networks, the spectrum environment is filled with intentional and unintentional interference. Interfering signals can cause network quality degradation and communication link failures. In addition, the widespread use of digital modulation and burst transmission methods makes it extremely difficult to reliably detect interference sources.

The RTSA function of a real-time spectrum analyzer can help you solve this problem. By integrating fast overlapping FFT processing technology, gapless measurement and 10MHz real-time bandwidth, the FieldFox real-time spectrum analyzer can detect signals as short as 12 with 100% POI and full amplitude accuracy.

In some applications, amplitude accuracy may not be required, but the focus is on signal detection. For such cases, FieldFox can detect signals as short as 22ns. The spectral density view displays three-dimensional data on a two-dimensional display interface. It uses color to show the number of times a certain frequency and amplitude point is detected during the capture. In this way, you can have a good understanding and observation of the spectrum occupancy in the frequency band. For example, with RTSA, you can use the spectral density view to detect low-level signals appearing in high-power transmitters. It often takes hours or days to detect a rare signal. With FieldFox's record and playback capabilities, you can save data for in-depth analysis offline later.

With the RTSA feature in FieldFox, you no longer need a separate dedicated instrument. When this functionality is needed, the same analyzer can be switched to real-time mode with the push of a button.

Density display with configurable persistence

Identify multiple signals in the same frequency band (Bluetooth and WiFi)

Multi-pulse detection using density display

Interference Analyzer

Interference can come from internal or external sources, from uplink or downlink, and has a direct impact on the quality of service (QoS) of the communication network. The FieldFox interference analyzer is designed to quickly identify interfering signals. Spectrogram and waterfall displays can detect intermittent signals or monitor signals over a period of time. Signal traces can be recorded in internal memory or external flash devices, and saved traces can be replayed for offline processing. It has excellent dynamic range.

Channel Scanner

The channel scanner allows the user to measure the power of multiple channels simultaneously. It can be used to verify the coverage, path loss and potential interference issues of a wireless network. It can also be used to measure the primary carrier and its intermodulation products. Each instrument state may be a customizable set of frequencies, each with a unique integration bandwidth. The user can record and replay data using the data logging function. Using the time interval recording and geotagging functions, files can be exported to Google Earth for network coverage analysis.

Noise Figure (NF)

The capacity of a communication system is limited by the internally generated noise. This noise can impact the link budget, add effort to the transmitter design, or increase the antenna cost of the receiver. Sensitivity is a key performance indicator for a receiver, which represents the receiver's ability to reliably identify small signals close to the noise floor. The performance of a communication system is also based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Although signal characteristics can be evaluated using vector network analyzer S-parameter measurements and spectrum analyzer channel power and adjacent channel power measurements, to get a complete picture of system performance, you also need to evaluate the internally generated noise. Therefore, you can use noise figure measurements to quantify the degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio caused by the components in the evaluation link.

FieldFox noise figure mode uses industry-recognized Y-factor technology to accurately verify and characterize the noise figure of a device. FieldFox also has a built-in uncertainty calculator that displays vertical bars on the measurement data, providing real-time feedback on measurement integrity.

Waterfall chart display makes it easier to search for distractions

Scan up to 20 channels simultaneously with the channel scanner option

Accurately characterize the noise figure of your device

AM/FM analog demodulation

When you maintain AM/FM wireless transmitters, you can use FieldFox's analog demodulation capabilities to demodulate and characterize AM and FM transmitters. You can tune to the signal and listen to the tone using FieldFox's built-in speaker or headphones. They can also measure the RF spectrum, demodulated waveform, and AM/FM metrics such as carrier power, modulation rate, and SINAD.

IF signal output

FieldFox provides a spectrum analyzer IF output with 25MHz bandwidth, so it can be used as a downconverter and the signal can be digitized using external test equipment (such as a real-time oscilloscope or VSA) for in-depth signal analysis.

Field strength measurement

To characterize the electric and magnetic fields, the gain and loss of the antenna and cable must be taken into account. Or download antenna factor and cable loss data with free DataLink software.

Independent signal source

With FieldFox, you can use the front panel FieldFox has an independent signal source with a frequency range of up to 50GHz built in. This signal source can be tuned to any frequency and is not affected by the frequency of the spectrum analyzer. The signal source can create test signals for measuring coverage, antenna isolation, antenna direction alignment, shielding effects, and frequency offset device verification.

Extended Range Transmission Analysis (ERTA)

Making in-situ measurements on long microwave cables, such as those on ships, is a challenging task that requires instruments with high dynamic range and fast measurement speeds. These measurements are typically made with benchtop scalar analyzers, which are inconvenient to operate in the field. With FieldFox ERTA, users can measure dynamic ranges up to 108 dB at 6 GHz or 77 dB at 26.5 GHz, and this portable analyzer no longer requires calibration and warm-up. ERTA uses two FieldFoxs, deployed at each end of the cable. One FieldFox acts as a signal source and the other as a receiver. By leveraging Keysight's proprietary InstAlign technology, this configuration can make cable loss measurements with an accuracy of ±0.7 dB.

AM/FM demodulation function can be used to characterize AM/FM signals

Measuring long lossy cables using ERTA

Transponder testing using internal microwave signal source