USB RF / Spectrum analyser that runs on ARM/Linux/Raspberry...? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dav888
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 08:41:31 am
content: been on a hunt for "headless" spectrum analysers for the 2.4GHz domain.needs to be somewhat good quality (i.e. not RF Explorers which are completely out of spec / uncalibrated and unreliable)Tested both BB60C fromhttp://signalhound.comor Spectran-v6-eco-100xa-6 fromhttp://aaronia.comgood but with a big drawback.API/SDK either requires a binary DLL (no source code) for the signalhounds, aaroina reqiuire a large GUI software to run to act as the bridge. And most important, they can't run on Arm-based linux, i.e. Raspberry PI 5 etc.I just want a pure python API and a $1000-2000 reliable product that is calibrated in gain and frequency and that can give me a frequency sweep via a simple (preferably open source) API.Is there something like it out there?

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 10:21:37 am
content: Look for portable spectrum analyser with SCPI.ANRITSU has some portable models that allow SCPI over telnet. This would allow you to remote control the SA from any platform without installing any API.Siglent has SCPI over telnet, too.Both options are more expensive than your budget, unless you find a cheap second hand deal

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 10:37:46 am
content: Quote from: Bicurico on June 29, 2024, 10:21:37 amPerform other tricks.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 11:24:19 am
content: ?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 11:44:36 am
content: Quote from: Bicurico on June 29, 2024, 11:24:19 amOh FFS.Innocence does not equal you.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hack-of-sigllent-spectrum-analyzer-ssa3021x/msg5528860/#msg5528860

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2024, 05:37:31 pm
content: It took a while for me to get what you meant.Anyway:Yes, Siglent spectrum analyser can be hacked, too.

author: dav888
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2024, 03:56:57 pm
content: thx, yes anritsu and litepoint makes good rf test systems. unreasonably expensive thoughi had a look and the desktop style ones are funny enough affordable and has more primitive / open interfacing options than the sheet-metal/usb ones. problem is I can't have the size and the knobs exposed.usrp b210 is interesting but not calibrated

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2024, 05:17:38 pm
content: I'm guessing a lot of the USB-interfaced instruments are RTSA's that may be using the attached PC for some of the computation, so that may require x86 since that's the low-hanging fruit for the manufacturer : (Some of the recent normal swept SAs are single-board internally, operating from a single DC supply; some are also fanless, maybe it's an option to re-package them minus the display and keypad and AC-DC converter? Then normal SCPI can be used. Example screenshots from asignalpath video.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2024, 07:37:12 pm
content: Within your price range and requirements I believe the Silent SSA/SVA series are the only option.Take a look at my blog (link in the signature) for other options. The NWT4000 is a much worse option, but cheap and fully programmable. Perhaps you can live with it's limitations.

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2024, 07:53:53 pm
content: Have you looked at the TinySA?https://tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.PCSWSupports Linux and even has a Python library.

author: dav888
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 01:44:30 pm
content: tinysa was nice, but I need 2.4GHz

author: RAPo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 02:02:01 pm
content: AtinySA ultrathen?or thetiny SA ultra+Quote from: dav888 on December 07, 2024, 01:44:30 pm

author: TheoB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 05:02:20 pm
content: tinySA Ultra could work fine. Depends on the accuracy (+/-2dB) and resolution (0.5dB) that you need. But it is capable of doing most things an expensive SA can do at a sub 200 dollar price point.Example:Code:cu -l /dev/ttyACM0 -s 19200rbw 850attenuate autolna onscan 2.4G 2.5G 10 32400000000 -1.036250e+02 0.0000000002411111111 -1.026250e+02 0.0000000002422222222 -9.412500e+01 0.0000000002433333333 -1.041250e+02 0.0000000002444444444 -1.031250e+02 0.0000000002455555556 -9.512500e+01 0.0000000002466666667 -1.091250e+02 0.0000000002477777778 -1.091250e+02 0.0000000002488888889 -1.086250e+02 0.0000000002500000000 -1.086250e+02 0.000000000This is just measuring 10 points with a whip antenna over USB. Max hold values over the entire band can also be retrieved usingdata. Seehttps://tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.USBInterface