Improved handheld RF spectrum analysers offer extensive feature set

Saelig Company, Inc. now offers the Aim-TTi PSA Series 3 RF Spectrum Analysers. Provided in 1.3GHz and 2.7GHz versions, these new instruments are small, portable, and have long battery life with improvements over the past Series 2 instruments, even rivalling more costly handheld RF products. Improvements incorporate a lower noise floor for increased sensitivity, a new frequency counter, extra RMS, Sample, Average detector modes, and RBW selectable down to 300Hz. The analysers include a 4.3” (11cm) backlit TFT colour touch-screen display, with a high-capacity rechargeable Li-ion battery to provide more than three hours of continuous operation per charge. The PSA Series 3 PSA1303 has a frequency range of 1MHz to 133GHz, while the PSA2703 operates up to 2.7GHz, delivering a noise floor as low as -115dBm and a dynamic range of 84dB.

Constructed with the experience and customer input from the successful PSA Series 2 Spectrum Analysers, the new series' advanced features include sweep modes (continuous, single, peak hold and sweep average), AM/FM audio demodulation with a built-in speaker, and data logging for traces, data points, or screen images (with storage for 10,000 entries per file triggered from a key press, external trigger, internal timer, or the limits comparator). Traces or complete screen images may be saved to file, and compensation tables for antennae or other external transducers can be created and loaded. USB host and device connectors permit the use of USB Flash drives or direct connection to a PC. Control of the analysers is by finger-operated touch-screen soft keys in a hierarchical menu system that provides rapid access to menu functions. Extra hard keys are provided for marker movement and shortcuts to all major functions.

The ruggedised case includes a rubber protection buffer, a bench stand, and screen protection. The instrument can be operated continuously from its AC charger for benchtop use. For portable use, the long battery life can be extended by selecting auto-off, which turns the instrument off (retaining all data) after a selectable delay of five to 60 minutes from the last key press.

The series provides RF engineers and wireless product and sound technicians a cost-effective and highly portable tool, placing a spectrum analyser in areas that are hard to access with benchtop instruments. Bench-bound engineers will appreciate the low cost of the analysers, allowing them to justify the purchase of an RF spectrum analyser for a wide range of tasks. Wireless audio technicians will benefit from instant displays of free audio WiFi channels or problematic interference.

The compact, handheld analysers weigh just 580gm (20oz) and are only 9.2cm (3.6”) wide, making them ideal for any portable RF service kit.