Recommendation for portable spectrum analyser 10Mhz-1Ghz - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: dpl
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 01, 2020, 07:53:20 pm
content: Dear Gents,I am looking for some high quality portable RF spectrum analyzer with low profile for field use within budget 1000 USD (can be refurbished unit). The frequency range would be from 10 Mhz till cca 1Ghz and to be able render envelopes of digital modulations in 40Mhz span. I would appreciate also touch colored LCD screen. I prefer premium brands such as Anritsu etc. Any advice would be highly welcomed. Kindest regards. Dan

author: eevcandies
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2020, 11:02:08 pm
content: Get yourself a MS8609A 13 Ghz spec analyzer...can pick one up for about $1000 USD.The older 8.5 GHz MS8604A is not too bad either (not as good of a noise floor) & lower price ...sometimes $300-$400 dollarsI have both & they always work perfectly...built like a tank.

author: TheMG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2020, 03:34:27 am
content: What exactly is your definition of portable?Because there are units weighting in near 50 pounds that are considered portable since they have a handle...

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2020, 07:02:07 am
content: Quote from: eevcandies on March 08, 2020, 11:02:08 pmJust checked for fun and currently they're all sitting at $2k-$4k+I've noticed lately that the test equipment market on ebay is pretty saturated with stuff sitting there with inflated BIN prices getting relisted over and over and not much is moving, at least not the stuff I've looked for. If you look at sold items there are a small number of actual auctions and that stuff sells for half or less what everyone is asking for the BIN stuff. Guess it comes in waves though.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2020, 07:56:45 am
content: I have a BK 2658 for sale. It runs a "bit" higher than 1Ghz. And, unfortunately, it's in need of calibration. Other than that: damn portable.shorturl.at/ipwEWPrice "off the bay" is a bit lower.

author: mark03
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2020, 05:21:38 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on March 09, 2020, 07:02:07 amNot all of these BIN listings accept offers, but many do. I have learned that a realistic offer with a polite explanatory note will get accepted more often than you might think. When I do this, I do not make a low-ball offer; I start with what I expect to pay and generally remain firm (no negotiation). I also try to pick older listings.My guess is that there is a pool of buyers out there who don't really care if they are getting the best deal, because they are spending someone else's money (institutional or corporate). If so, it makes sense to advertise inflated prices on the off chance that one of these buyers will just accept it, no questions asked.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2020, 06:01:27 pm
content: Yeah I've had pretty good luck with offers, even lowball offers, I typically offer around half the asking price if it's been sitting a while and sometimes it works. I've seen an increasing amount of stuff lately that doesn't have a best offer option though, especially broken stuff that is a gamble and just not worth 90% of the price of a good working unit, maybe it just depends on when I happen to look and at what. I always do a search for sold items and have noticed that the prices tend to be far more reasonable on the stuff that is sold at auction. My favorite listings are the auctions for popular items that have a starting bid that is already close to what I consider a fair price, a good deal but not a steal, most of the time I can get that for the opening bid while the same item started at a buck will get a flurry of action and get bid up to top dollar.

author: radioactive
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2020, 10:22:28 pm
content: Quote from: dpl on March 01, 2020, 07:53:20 pmJust curious, what systems where you are use 40 MHz channels in the 10-1000 MHz range? I'm not currently aware of any in the US.If you want a lot of bang for your buck on a lower-priced analyzer, you might want to take a look at the SSA3021X. I hardly ever turn on my HP8566B anymore. I'm really satisfied with the one I purchased. If you want to render a 40 MHz envelope of digital modulation (presumably OFDM) with it, you would almost certainly have to do a max hold over time. If you want a real-time analyzer for 40 MHz, you will need to increase your budget a bit. Tektronix has one for a $4.5k USD: RSA306BJust realized my question about systems using 40 MHz was kind of dumb. I was thinking of wireless systems since that is what I deal with.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2020, 01:56:17 pm
content: QuoteMilitary stuff?I guess he want use if for different Freq and one of them is 40Mhz Wide (DVB-T2 I guess).

author: spongella
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2020, 11:23:15 am
content: Dan, I recently purchased a HP 8591A spectrum analyzer from Alltest instruments, $495 + shipping with a 30 day warranty, works very well, covers 9 kHz - 1 Gig. Old but an excellent product. Previously had a GSP-730, much smaller, lighter, goes to 3 Gigs,check that one out, a basic unit. Hope you find what you are looking for.

author: attaboy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 02:42:02 am
content: I've had an "R.F. Explorer" for years .. about the size of a 1960's 4 transistor radio. It is portable, and pretty hardy construction, as it's made many a journey in the front bucket of my quad. I recently upgraded to an SA3032X Plus, but I absolutely will be keeping the little guy, for that very reason .. portability. They come in several different flavors, going up to about 6Ghz as I recall. Mine goes up to the 2.4GHZ ISM band, my highest frequency of interest, as I live in the woods, and the 5.8Ghz won't go anywhere. So if you are looking for a "hole" through 900' of trees in the woods, on a quad, this should be on your candidate list. They are sold on Amazon .. and Seeed as I recall .. like $150 to $300 therabouts.Good luck .. have fun .. be safe.

author: Wallace Gasiewicz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2020, 09:35:17 pm
content: I do not know what is available in EU but the Agilent E7495 cell test unit has a good spectrum analyzer in it, has a big color screen and other stuffShould be able to get a good one for less than $500 US here.Fairly portable.Wally

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2020, 07:31:39 am
content: You could try a Willtek 9102, might get one going for cheap somewhere.

author: spongella
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2020, 10:45:02 am
content: I got a pretty good deal on a HP 8591A SA from Alltest insruments in NJ. It was considered "portable" in it's day at 27 lbs. No tracking generator though, but it was $495 plus shipping, 30 day warranty so I am happy. Like it much better than the new modern units I've purchased in the past. Much heavier though but since mine'll be on the bench that is not an issue. Hope you find what you are looking for.A really cheap alternative would be to use an RTL-SDR dongle as an ersatz spectrum analyzer.

author: attaboy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 14, 2020, 07:14:30 pm
content: As an addendum to my previous post, I found a good link describing the RF Explorers models. These little guys have a mini-usb port, used for both charging, and for computer interface. So for portability, plug it into a netbook if you need more diagnostic features (and a color screen) in the field. Suggest an ASUS 10" Netbook for a portable package. I have No commercial interest in either product, but I do own them both (ASUS Eee Netbook is 9yr? old). Hope this is helpful.http://j3.rf-explorer.com/40-rfe/article/59-rf-explorer-models10yo netbookhttps://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16834220683?Item=N82E16834220683

author: LogicalDave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2021, 05:09:10 am
content: In case anyone else comes across this post discussing the Instek GSP-730, keep in mind that the lowest resolution bandwidth it offers is 30kHz which makes it useless for *many* purposes. Accuracy is pretty abysmal too; it is at best a teaching tool and at worst a toy. It's cheap, but there are far better values to be had on the used market for the same cost and for only a little more you can get tools that are actually useful.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2021, 05:50:05 am
content: I put the plutosdr on 2 power banks with a raspberry pi and it kinda works decent, I thought about getting a small keyboard with a trackpoint on it and putting it in a box

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 07:14:44 pm
content: Willtek/Aeroflex 9101/2/3 might be worth a look. Quite old now, but they are small and portable, will run from battery power. You can connect them to LAN and remote in to them. We used to use them quite a lot.I seem to remember though that certain things we had to use an analogue analyser for because the WIlltek didn't have the resolution. Worth investigating though