I just stumbled across a reasonably priced, handheld spectrum analyzer that can help with the task of dodging noisy frequencies.

It's originally designed for radio-control enthusiasts but one of the units covers the same band that is used by wireless mics. Price is $129.

RF Explorer model WSUB1G [TES82252P] - $129.00 : Seeed Studio Bazaar, Boost ideas, extend the reach (http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/rf-explorer-model-wsub1g-p-922.html?cPath=174)

Frequency band: 240 - 960 MHz
Frequency span: 112KHz - 100MHz
Graphics LCD 128x64 pixels, great visibility outdoors
PC Windows client supports Windows XP/Vista/Win7 both 32 and 64bits
Backlight for great indoor visibility
Standard SMA 50 ohms connector, wideband Nagoya NA-773 telescopic antenna included
Amplitude resolution: 0.5dBm
Dynamic range: -115dBm to 0dBm
Absolute Max input power: +5dBm
Average noise level (typical): -110dBm
Frequency stability and accuracy (typical): +-10ppm
Amplitude stability and accuracy (typical): +-3dBm
Frequency resolution: 1Khz
Resolution bandwidth (RBW): automatic 2.6Khz to 600Khz
Weight: 185g
Size: 113x70x25 mm

Have you tried this thing? It looks like the display would be very small and hard to read, and I would suspect the software slow. A good cheap spectrum analyzer is one of those things that I suspect will appear as an ipad application soon.

A good cheap spectrum analyzer is one of those things that I suspect will appear as an ipad application soon.

For RF? What would you use for the antenna, RF preamp, tunable RF filters, etc.? Certainly nothing that's part of an iPad. At best the iPad might serve as a display for an external RF spectrum analyzer box.

Have you tried this thing? It looks like the display would be very small and hard to read, and I would suspect the software slow. A good cheap spectrum analyzer is one of those things that I suspect will appear as an ipad application soon.

I haven't. Just saw it recently since I also have an interest in RC topics. The RC people seem to think this is a great piece of equipment to determine RF "noise" levels to prevent their expensive aircraft from being lost or "shot down".

I've looked at the possibility of getting a spectrum analyzer to make setting up wireless mics a little easier, although my ATW-1800 can scan for clean channels.

As for size of display, some of the Lectrosonic systems have built-in spectrum analyzers and the display is tiny. Seems to work for them.

Hard to beat the price of this analyzer. Other spectrum analyzers are several times this price. That's what caught my attention.

BTW, if anyone does get this, it would be a good idea to check with the guy who builds them to make sure it covers the frequency range you're working in. It's not clear if the range of frequencies it covers is a continuous range, or if it covers that range in separate bands.

Just ordered one of the units to search for open blocks.... as I'm running my radio mics in the 740-820 Mhz range (which supposedly to go soon) I cant imagine it's going to all disappear rapidly.... (but I could be wrong)

Brian... Could you write up a review after testing?

I received the unit today (starting to get worried after 25 days in the mail).... first impressions BRILLIANT.
No instruction book supplied but within 5 mins got my head around it.
Its actually interesting what RF is around... but very little RF action in the 750-800Mhz range where I live so that means the Sennheiser G2 radio mics that I own will be used for a lot longer. It was also interesting to see the inter-mods when 2 mics are on and not on compatible groups and how it cleaned up when compatible frequencies were selected.
I have an OB late next week and intend to take it with me, it has 4x radio mics 2x IFB channels 3x TX / RX communications setups as well as the in house systems. And in about a month I have a job 8x radio mics 4x IFB channels and 4x Communications channels.
Its also interesting watching the 800-900Mhz area with the mobile phones coming and going.
Size of the unit (without antenna) is about same as an iPhone and just over twice as thick, screen is easy to read / see.
I have included a few pics of the screen (plastic protective cover is still on the unit)
First pic of a single radio mic the second pic with the inter mods.

Nice review in a nutshell. Thanks, Brian!

That looks like a very useful piece of equipment.

Looks great! I surely would like to see a version that covers VHF, at least the high half of VHF. Thanks for the review!

I used it for the first time on a job yesterday, a venue that has given RF problems for years with radio mics has now been sorted out..... nice.
The RF tech on the OB has ordered one from his iPhone within 20 minutes of seeing / using it.

Nice find Dean, and based on Brian's comments I bought one. It arrived inside of two weeks and for the money it's brilliant! Anyone using rf toys should have one of these...

Glad to hear it's working out. The RC folks are pretty demanding when it comes to sorting out RF issues. For them it means the difference between a successful flight or losing a couple thousand bucks of equipment in the dirt.

I've been watching the suppliers site and they have been selling quite a few, it seems they build them in batches of 15-20.
I still love it, with the ability to go to a job with confidence knowing that you can find potential problems before they cause major issues.

RF Explorer model WSUB1G [TES82252P] - $129.00 : Seeed Studio Bazaar, Boost ideas, extend the reach (http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/rf-explorer-model-wsub1g-p-922.html)

Thanks for the heads up Brian :) might be an update or 2 here ..

News (http://micro.arocholl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=18)

I operate around historical aircraft with valve wirelesess .. oh boy.

Cheers.

My unit has suffered an untimely demise...it no longer receives any signals. Looks like maybe a short in the antenna jack. It has taken me over a week to get them to give me return instructions, which involve returning the unit to china of course. wonder how long the repair will take and if it will ever make it home again...

I suppose apple will never let apps run the radios in an iphone; otherwise there would be an app for that.

But this thread did inspire me to search for an audio 20-20k spectrum analyzer; I just got an iphone. The iphone may be a decent platform for spectrum analysis test equip due to the hardware being standardized (unlike PC soundcards which can have random response).

I received the unit today (starting to get worried after 25 days in the mail).... first impressions BRILLIANT.
No instruction book supplied but within 5 mins got my head around it.
Its actually interesting what RF is around... but very little RF action in the 750-800Mhz range where I live so that means the Sennheiser G2 radio mics that I own will be used for a lot longer. It was also interesting to see the inter-mods when 2 mics are on and not on compatible groups and how it cleaned up when compatible frequencies were selected.
I have an OB late next week and intend to take it with me, it has 4x radio mics 2x IFB channels 3x TX / RX communications setups as well as the in house systems. And in about a month I have a job 8x radio mics 4x IFB channels and 4x Communications channels.
Its also interesting watching the 800-900Mhz area with the mobile phones coming and going.
Size of the unit (without antenna) is about same as an iPhone and just over twice as thick, screen is easy to read / see.
I have included a few pics of the screen (plastic protective cover is still on the unit)
First pic of a single radio mic the second pic with the inter mods.


Sorry to resurrect this post, I am curious if any update happened concerning the use of this tool, I have 4 systems ew 100 g2, 626-661 MHz that are almost unusable in many urban areas. I am located in Italy.

I think plenty of people have them - I certainly use mine to monitor radio mics channels, and the wifi channels as I have some mics on those too.

there are a number of inexpensive (as low as $25) Software Defined Radio (SDR) dongles that plug into the usb port of a computer. the great thing about these SDRs is that they have the ability to operate as low as ~100MHz and can cover (depending on the model) up to 5 or 6GHz. the dongle has a flexible front end that covers all those frequencies and the application is determined by software on your computer. some folks have used a raspberry pi and display for the controller. folks have used these as the basis of police scanners, aircraft ads-b receivers, gsm base stations, etc so a simple spectrum analyzer should be nearly trivial to create. it must exist out there somewhere.

another option, if you're interested in onlyl WiFi signals, is any of a number of apps that you can run on your smartphone. i have WiFi Analyzer for android (by farproc) that is tiny, free, fast, and easy to use.

Sorry to resurrect this post, I am curious if any update happened concerning the use of this tool, I have 4 systems ew 100 g2, 626-661 MHz that are almost unusable in many urban areas. I am located in Italy.

Just get yourself RF Explorer, like Paul said lots of people are using them. Or any of the other options, like Robert said.

Just giving another +1 vote for this.

I use the RF explorer when I have to use receivers that don't have decent on-board scanners (the Sennheiser Evolution series for instance) and it works in 'RF hell' (Midtown Manhattan) Of course thing can change quickly, but it's a good initial heads up on what's currently open. and what's not.

I'm amazed at how much people will spend on mics, lights, cameras and other bits and pieces yet they won't spend just over a $100 to buy an RF Explorer.....

Its only got to save just ONE job and its paid for.