Patent ID: 8872504

Claim:
A method for automatically setting frequency span in a spectrum analyzer, the method comprising: setting a reference level to an initial value; measuring a first power level of a first band in accordance with the reference level; measuring a second power level of a second band in accordance with the reference level; determining whether at least one of the first and second power levels is higher than a noise criteria; automatically setting a center frequency and span for the band having the highest measured power level if it is determined that at least one of the first and second power levels is higher than the noise criteria; decrementing the reference level; measuring a third power level of the first band in accordance with the decremented reference level; measuring a fourth power level of the second band in accordance with the decremented reference level; determining whether at least one of the third and fourth power levels is higher than a noise criteria; and automatically setting a center frequency and span for the band having the highest measured power level if it is determined that at least one of the third and fourth power levels is higher than the noise criteria.