RF Explorer

Introducing The RF Explorer - All Australian Local Stock

In a world with a growing list of wireless systems, there is a real need for monitoring tools and instruments everyone can use. Wireless microphones, video links, GSM / GPRS / 3G / 4G networks, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, ISM bands… The RF Explorer is an affordable Handheld Spectrum Analyser designed from scratch to be a sort of Swiss Army Knife for the specific needs of digital radio frequency communication. Commercial high-end spectrum analysers are traditionally expensive and bulky, in the order of many thousand dollars and you need significant expertise to master them. RF Explorer offers about 90% of what a high cost unit will do for RF band communication, at about 5% of the cost! Additionally, it can be carried around easily virtually anywhere, used remotely and efficiently for hours with a single battery charge. More information below products.

 

RF enthusiasts have limited themselves to cheap "RF Power Detector / Frequency Counter" devices in the past. But these are limited to display data for a single point of maximum power, and traditionally power metrics are too unreliable, in the order of 20dB or even 30dB inaccuracy. In contrast, a spectrum analyser like RF Explorer will display full frequency spectrum in the band, including carrier and modulated shape, will display Spread Spectrum activity if that exist, and will show bandwidth to monitor collisions, frequency deviation from expected tone, etc.

RF Explorers are fully functional analysers used worldwide by radio enthusiasts, engineers, electronic technicians, installers and companies who deal with specific ISM bands only. But there are more advanced models available covering wider bands including the 3G model with a full coverage of 15-2700MHz with no gaps and with excellent dynamic range. There are some other devices in the market which offers some of these features in an USB key, and they are of reasonable cost, albeit with limited bandwidth and resolution when compared to RF Explorer. However, USB-Key devices always depend on a PC connection, and that is very inconvenient for outdoor work or if you need to save space in the lab desk. You can connect the RF Explorer to your PC for additional features and display quality, but that is optional; RF Explorer is fully functional as an independent unit. See below a quick summary of what you can do today with RF Explorer.

RF Explorer Model Range Map

RF Explorer Current Supported Work-flows:

• Monitor continuous wave (CW) and temporary transmissions in specific ISM band.
• Detect whether a device is transmitting in the expected frequency and with expected power.
• Check whether an antenna or amplifier change makes a difference in power, orientation and noise.
• Detect band occupancy to move your gadget to a different channel.
• Works as RF Generator to transmit pure RF tone so you can test your RF link in seconds.
• Works completely automatic so you do not need to be an expert to use it. It will resolve RBW, Sweep time, for you.
• Offer spectrum data in Normal, Average, Peak Maximum calculator modes.
• Open communication API.
• Open source PC client software for Windows and Mac OSX, unlimited capture and post-processing storage.
• Optimised for all worldwide frequencies between 15 to 2700MHz. Check on the model map above for more details and comparison chart further below.

RF Explorer Combo - Spectrum Analyser Detailed Specification Comparison Chart:
RF Explorer Combo models include an expansion module already installed and therefore have two SMA RF ports. The combination of baseline and expansion module offer complete capabilities for specific use cases such as dual band WiFi, RC/FPV needs, etc.
 

RF Explorer Baseline Units - Spectrum Analyser Detailed Specification Comparison Chart:
RF Explorer baseline units are available for a set of different frequencies and can be easily expanded to a Combo model by adding an expansion module.

Notes:

• Some of these features require latest firmware upgrade, please upgrade your unit from www.rf-explorer.com/download page.
• Models with two connected modules includes two RF SMA connectors. In such case, some differences may apply when comparing left or right SMA connector. This table above include clear details on which is applicable to each connector.
• (*) This feature or range extension is available with an Expansion Module installed, such as RFEMWSUBxG or RFEM2.4G.
• (**) Note some frequency ranges may have a more limited, lower measurable range. Please contact us for more details on a particular frequency range if you need to measure input power close to -10dBm. In all cases, using a 20 or 30dB attenuator is suggested in order to lower the input power to a -30 or -40dBm range, as it will exhibit better behaviour by limiting spurious and signal overload. If you use an attenuator, you also improve the VSWR of the measurement and can be adjusted in OffsetDBparameter of RF Explorer ATTENUATOR MENU in order to read the exact value on screen, saving you from doing any math.
• (i) The Expansion Module is already installed in this RF Explorer Model and therefore there is no room for additional expansion.

Notes:

• Some of these features require latest firmware upgrade, please upgrade your unit from www.rf-explorer.com/download page.
• (*) This feature or range extension is available with an Expansion Module installed, such as RFEMWSUBxG or RFEM2.4G.
• (i) The Expansion Module is already installed in this RF Explorer Model and therefore there is no room for additional expansion.

RF Explorer Roadmap and Likely Future Extensions

• Transmission test tones in OOK and FSK.
• Digital transmission decoding and packet sniffing for OOK and FSK, including Manchester code support.
• Logging features for multi-hour transmission monitoring.
• Frequency counter.
• Automatic peak detection.
• Storage for 1000's screen-shots in expanded memory.
• Expansion modules for additional ISM band support, expanded RF Generator and Tracking Generator for circuit analysis, etc.

For an example of how easy and powerful RF Explorer is in a real use case, check this tutorial. To better know what others are saying about RF Explorer, check on online videos and references.

The RF Explorer is easy to learn to use and are ideal for both those who fly radio controlled models and those who are UHF users. Typical users would include home users checking interference to their security system, wifi, staging companies, radio enthusiasts and companies who deal with specific ISM bands. You can even check whether an antenna or amplifier change makes a difference in power orientation and noise.

Capture and analyse data with the free downloadable Windows and Mac Software. These units are also firmware upgradable and with the optional modules, some versions can have their capabilities expanded.