Comparison of handheld spectrum analyzer brands and performance parameters of each brand

Spectrum analyzers are known as oscilloscopes in the RF field, which shows their importance in RF testing. Spectrum analyzers are the epitome of RF testing and can be expanded into power meters, frequency meters, scalar/vector network analyzers, and signal analyzers. This is true for desktop spectrum analyzers, and even for handheld spectrum analyzers, except that the frequency range is not as wide as that of desktop ones, other performance is not much worse. One of the outstanding features of handheld spectrum analyzers is portability. In the past, when engineers wanted to conduct on-site tests, they had to carry a spectrum analyzer weighing dozens of kilograms, which was particularly difficult when conducting roadside and base station inspection and maintenance. The weight of a handheld spectrum analyzer is generally less than 4 kilograms, and some are even only half a kilogram.

There are nearly ten manufacturers of handheld spectrum analyzers, and their products cover almost the entire field from high-end to low-end, and their performance is close to that of mid-range general-purpose desktop spectrum analyzers. Domestic instruments are also gradually rising, and some domestic manufacturers are also developing spectrum analyzers, which are of good quality and relatively cheap, and are also favored by many customers. Since the biggest feature of handhelds is on-site application, some products even provide GPS positioning function to record spectrum data with test locations. Some manufacturers have launched their own series of products with many models, while other manufacturers only have one product.

1. Rohde & Schwarz R&S FSH series

Rohde & Schwarz was not the first manufacturer to launch a handheld spectrum analyzer, but now the FSH3 is almost one of the most popular handheld spectrum analyzers on the market. This is partly due to the accumulation of Rohde & Schwarz's desktop spectrum analyzers, and partly due to the convenience and laboratory-level performance brought by the FSH. There are three models in the FSH series, namely the 3Ghz FSH3, the 6GHz FSH6, and the 18GHz FSH18. The outstanding performance provided is:

. 0.5dB amplitude measurement accuracy over the entire frequency range

. Detector supports sample max/minpeak auto peak RMS

. The power meter, voltage standing wave meter and receiver can be configured through options to locate the cable fault point

. Can be used for field strength testing and EMC testing

. Can be expanded into scalar network analyzer, vector network analyzer, Smith chart can be viewed

FSH series spectrum analyzers are widely used in spectrum supervision.

2. Agilent 9340

The N9340B handheld RF spectrum analyzer has powerful features, excellent performance and applicability for field test applications, allowing you to complete field tests more efficiently and reliably.

Main Specifications

Frequency range 100 kHz to 3 GHz (adjustable to 9 kHz1)

10 ms non-zero span time

30 Hz ~ 1 MHz RBW, order 1-3-10

-144 dBm displayed average noise level (DANL) with preamplifier

+10 dBm Third Order Intercept (TOI)

3. AV4022, China Electronics 41st Institute

The 41st Institute is a domestic institution that is fully involved in the manufacture of test and measurement instruments in the field of RF and microwave. Its products cover almost all RF and microwave test fields. AV4022 is a handheld spectrum analyzer launched by it, with a frequency range of 9kHz~3G and other parameters are the same as Willtek9103, but without Tracking generator.