News

We have been really busy since Near field antennas were released. All produced kits have been helping a lot of users to easily diagnose circuits with a very modest investment, and we are receiving very positive feedback from many applications. Thank you everyone for your support!

We are happy to release the full set of calibration files and updated datasheet for RF Explorer Near Field Antenna Kit as well as RF Explorer RFEAH-25 antenna. These include now support for 10mil, 20mil, 32mil (0.8mm) and 64mil (1.6mm) FR-4 standard PCB Microstrip traces.

There is now plenty of updated information in the datasheet to get the most of your antennas in all possible situations.

The additional calibration files can be used in RF Explorer for Windows for automatic amplitude adjustment, please follow described steps in the updated datasheet. These calibration files can be also used with other external tools as they are CSV files easily exported to any format.

Please download new contents from our download page.

The new RF Explorer for Windows comes with lot of enhanced features:

• Support for Radio Standard definitions: With this new feature, you can define and create multi-channel configurations. Channels are displayed on screen, including channel name and channel power. See example Shure Wireless UHF-R included as example in the new version:

• Added Frequency and Amplitude Offset control from the Windows application
  
  
• New “Frequency Offset Locked" feature added to Delta Markers - now any Delta marker can dynamically track the Reference marker realtime!
  
  
• Added an option to start RF Explorer for Windows without OpenGL 3D graphics enabled. In some computers, old video drivers or insufficient CPU speed may cause problems. The new shortcut (No OpenGL) will start RF Explorer for Windows without 3D acceleration requirements. The Waterfall screen will not be available in this mode.
• WiFi Analyzer screen mode in RF Explorer for Windows is now available for 5GHz band

The Firmware for Spectrum Analyzer and Signal Generator include:

• New dedicated charge and calibration Battery screen
  
  
  
  
• The Spectrum Analyzer includes a number of improvements in the DSP algorithm, in particular to correctly discriminate spurs coming from LO in multiples of 30MHz.
• Improved OPERATIONAL MODE menu to only show options relevant to the RF Explorer model

For more details, please check the Release Notes included on RF Explorer for Windows and Firmware upgrade packages.

• Release Notes - RF Explorer for Windows
• Release Notes - Spectrum Analyzer firmware
• Release Notes - Signal Generator firmware

Note: Firmware for Spectrum Analyzer v1.18 is now available.

Download these upgrades from our download page, as always, free of charge!

We are happy to introduce the new RF Explorer 3G+ IoT modules, with direct support for Arduino and Raspberry Pi platforms.

These modules are cost-effective platforms to develop your own customized Spectrum Analyzer, Power Detector, RF activity alarm, RF sniffer, RF QA test bench, etc.

Programmability and network capabilities of the hosting platform enables remote control and diagnosis scenarios, fully automated RF alarm systems, advanced assistance for unattended detection requirements such as those of radio operators, cell towers and HAM stations. These modules are also small and low weight so you can add it onboard on any FPV plane or drone and use to scan the flight area to detect interferers, or measure antenna response.

RF Explorer 3G+ IoT boards are delivered in two configuration modes:

• Raspberry Pi
• Arduino and compatible boards (3.0 – 3.3V only)

We recommend Raspberry Pi mode for advanced usage and more powerful libraries, and Arduino for simpler, non-Linux software libraries related development.

For added flexibility, these two boards can be easily re-converted between modes by soldering a required connector:

• Raspberry Pi Hat can be converted to Arduino Shield by soldering standard 0.1” male headers to the PCB
• Arduino Shield can be converted to Raspberry Pi Hat by soldering a 26x2 0.1” female header to the PCB

Designed in this way, it is easy to reconvert the board to a different hosting platform with no extra cost if you have different needs down the road.

Furthermore, other platforms such as BeagleBoard, Chip, Chipkit, Teensy all them can easily control a RF Explorer 3G+ IoT by manually connecting it to standard UART port.

Where to buy RF Explorer IoT Modules

Currently available at SeeedStudio:

• RF Explorer 3G+ IoT for Raspberry Pi: link
• RF Explorer 3G+ IoT for Arduino: link

Most of our distributors will eventually have them available.

RF Explorer 3G+ IoT Specifications

• Includes the advanced 3G+ MWSUB3G RF Explorer module
• Frequency band coverage: 15-2700 MHz
• Standard SMA 50 ohms connector
• Advanced selectable internal input stage: Normal, LNA, 30dB Attenuator
• Amplitude resolution: 0.5dBm
• Dynamic range: -130dBm to +10dBm
• Absolute Max input power: +30dBm
• Average noise floor level (typical with LNA enabled): -120dBm
• Frequency stability and accuracy (typical): +-10ppm
• Amplitude stability and accuracy (typical): +-3dBm
• All modules are factory calibrated
• Frequency resolution: 1Khz
• Resolution bandwidth (RBW): automatic 3KHz to 600KHz
• Protected with resettable fuse
• Power consumption: 100-500mW

For more details, please visit www.rf-explorer.com/IoT

The new RF Explorer for Windows v1.15.1610 is available (link)

It comes with important enhancements and fixes, recommended for all RF Explorer users:

• Delta Markers (Spectrum Analyzer and SNA)
• Markes can be placed anywhere on a trace using mouse double-click
• RF Data Sniffer (Beta)
• Latest OpenGL and 2D libraries upgraded including several bug fixes
• Fix for SNA tracking where sometimes reject first normalization scan with a warning due to low level signal (-80dBm warning). This is now resolved and you should be able to complete your normalization in one single step.
• Better grid scale display with thicker lines for major data points
• Performance improved in narrow scan display

Working with new Delta Markers

These are powerful tools to measure frequency and amplitude difference between two trace points. Usual workflows are Harmonic dBc measurements, relative channel transmission levels, noise figure, etc.

In this example above there are 4 markers defined as Delta (M2 to M5) and one Standard marker (M1). Any marker can be defined as delta from other reference markers.

To define a Delta marker, first select the main Marker ID you want to define Delta link with. In this example below, Marker ID 5 is the Main marker, and Delta reference is Marker 1. That means frequency offset and amplitude will be calculated on screen as M5-M1. The M5 marker can be defined as an offset frequency from Marker 1 in this example, -7.366MHz.

On the right panel, the marker information display all detailed parameters:

• Standard amplitude absolute value for the marker (-104.5dBm)
• Delta definition (M5 – M1)
• Delta frequency: -7.366Mhz
• Delta amplitude: -75dB

If there are additional traces on screen, such as Average or Max, each one will list its own amplitude delta.

The Markers Display Panel has been updated to highlight in bold the Main Marker ID and current Frequency, and indent standard and delta values for easier visualization.

Some examples below:

Selecting a Delta Marker

1. To define a Marker Delta, you first need a standard marker enabled. As an example, enable Marker 1, we will use it as Delta marker later.
2. Increase Marker ID to go to Marker 5, enable it at any arbitrary frequency
3. Check the Delta Marker and set the ID to 1
4. At this point, Marker 5 is linked to Marker 1 and will display Delta calculations automatically
5. Define offset in MHz you want Marker 5 to be from Marker 1. For instance, set it to -1Mhz, or 15Mhz, etc. Changing the offset will redefine position for Marker 5 based on current position of Marker 1.

Notes:

• Special Marker 1 can be Delta Marker of any other, but it cannot have associated any Delta Marker by Offset. The reason for this is Marker 1 works as auto-peak therefore cannot be defined as reference of any other.
• Markers defined by Offset use the value at the time of Marker definition, but does not update or keep that offset fixed if the Delta Marker changes frequency. For instance if you define Marker 5 at an offset of 5MHz of Marker 1, and marker 1 is currently at 100MHz, then Marker 5 will be located at 105Mhz. If Marker 1 moves to a different frequency later, Marker 5 will remain at 105Mhz, you can see the current frequency offset any time in the marker display panel.
• Future upgrades will allow for optional dynamic markers where offset will be locked so Main Marker absolute frequency value can change accordingly to the Delta Marker.