Real-time Spectrum Analyzer Aaronia SPECTRAN V5
μS ultra fast DDS sweep – real-time data streaming - color TFT – tracking generator – GPS

- First real-time spectrum analyzer with up to 200MHz real-time bandwidth
- Real-time streaming
- Real-time remote control (GSM, WLAN, USB)
- Smallest and best-priced real-time spectrum analyzer worldwide
- Patented polyphase filter technology
- Patented spectrum analysis without upper lying LO (modulated LO)
- Extremely low noise (170dBm/Hz) to analyse even weakest signals
- Modular construction for fast extension and customization of the front end
- First analyzer with ultra fast LO sweeps (μS DDS sweep)
- High resolution TFT display with 800x480 pixel resolution and touch screen
- Integrated 3D motion sensor (gyro sensor) and 3D magnetic field sensor (compass and position control)
- High speed USB 2.0 (480K/s)
- USB Slave interface (to connect diverse devices like GSM, WLan, printer, memory etc.)
- Micro SD Slot (supports Aaronia micro SDHC cards with more than 10MB/s)
- Integrated lithium polymer battery (LiPo) with 8000mAh (or 16000mAh) for up to 3(6) hours run time
- Included in delivery: directional tracking and EMC antenna, aluminum carrying case, battery charger and power supply including international adapter set, analyzer software for MAC OS, Linux and Windows
- Available options: tracking generator, GPS

Prices & technical specifications:

SPECTRAN® HF-8025 V5 (10MHz - 2,5GHz)
10MHz real-time bandwidth
16MByte video RAM
64MB SDRAM
200MHz Single Core Blackfin DSP
100MSPS 14Bit Dual (I/Q) ADC
400MSPS 16Bit DAC
38K ECP3 FPGA
2,5GHz power meter
HyperLOG 7025EX directional tracking EMC antenna

SPECTRAN® HF-8060 V5 (1Hz*/1MHz - 6GHz)
40MHz real-time bandwidth
32MByte video RAM
128MB SDRAM
400MHz Dual Core Blackfin DSP
150MSPS 14Bit Dual (I/Q) ADC
600MSPS 16Bit DAC
72K ECP3 FPGA
6GHz power meter
HyperLOG 7060EX directional tracking EMC antenna

SPECTRAN® HF-80100 V5 (1Hz*/1MHz - 9,4GHz)
120MHz real-time bandwidth (optional 200MHz)
64MByte video RAM
256MB SDRAM
600MHz Dual Core Blackfin DSP
250MSPS 14Bit Dual (I/Q) ADC
800MSPS 16Bit DAC
240K ECP3 FPGA
10GHz power meter
HyperLOG 60100EX directional tracking EMC antenna

Hardware options:

15dB internal low noise preamplifier
GPS
Frequency extension 1Hz-40MHz (16Bit 105Msps ADC)
Tracking generator
Highlights

The Aaronia SPECTRAN V5 generates an impressive and highly accurate real-time spectrum analysis by means of a shifted poly-phase-filter. This filter, in conjunction with a patented local oscillator measurement process, offers unparallel response and accuracy.
Benefits include:
1) Small and compact design and construction (significantly fewer and much smaller components are required)
2) Implementation of cost-effective hardware for a reasonable price (only “standardized” RF-components are needed)
3) Extremely low noise signal processing - now down to 170dBm/Hz (achieved by eliminating many noisy components in the RF path)
4) Analysis of even highest frequencies up to 90GHz (achieved by the elimination of upper lying LO)

Real-time spectrum analysis by using polyphase filter technology

The SPECTRAN V5 you can find for the first time already in the hardware the received radio spectrum as an adjusted version. Likewise, the parallel filtering is done by hardware-support.
The Aaronia SPECTRAN V5 is setting new standards in filtering process technology. Where typical real-time analysers are based on Fourier analysis, the V5 uses a patented receiving method with two staggered combs which are produced by a polyphase filter. In contrast to the ordinary Fourier analysis, the polyphase filter covers more than one interval of sampling points, based on the number of frequency points. Thereby any filter curve (e.g. real Gauss-filter) can be realised without limitation of the slope due to the predetermined interval. To avoid gaps in the frequency-time-diagram, two spatially and temporary staggered filter combs are used for analysis. This SPECTRAN V5 break-though technology will not miss even the smallest signal detail in the investigated frequency band.

Real-time streaming

The real-time streaming function is another unique feature of the SPECTRAN V5. Contrary to existing real-time spectrum analysers, which don’t allow uninterrupted data logging, the V5 can stream data continuously and save them gap-free on PC e.g. via high-speed USB-interface. The real-time streaming offers a variety of new applications, - many of which were previously inconceivable - like recording and repeated playing of any signal or a subsequent, complete decoding of complete recorded digital signals like GSM, TETRA, etc.

μS ultra-fast DDS sweep

The SPECTRAN V5 also offers a phenomenally fast “classical” spectrum analyser mode by means of μS ultra-fast DDS sweep mode:
In addition to LO-modulation the V5 has a DDS-synthesizer available with up to 800 MSPS I/Q for extremely fast frequency hops of the local oscillator. This technology allows sophisticated measuring programmes over the full frequency range (currently up to 10GHz).
The SPECTRAN V5 with its accelerated sweep rate is “light-years” faster than other currently available spectrum analysers.

Expandable frequency range down to 1Hz

The SPECTRAN V5 can optional be fitted with a frequency extension down to 1Hz.
The input signal is internally diverted to a second RF- path, which is optimised for low frequency processing. The low frequency path offers a frequency range from 1Hz up to 40MHz. This path uses a high-performance 16Bit AD converter with 105MSPS. This resolution enhancement from 14Bit to 16Bit improves the dynamic range from 80dB (14Bit) to 100dB (16Bit), which leaves nothing to be desired. This path is a fully capable real-time function controllable by μS DDS sweep. The low frequency path (1Hz-40MHz/16Bit) and the radio frequency path (1MHz-10GHz/14Bit) are seamless to the User, except for the particularly noteworthy improvement in the dynamic range.

Interchangeable RF front end

The complete front end of SPECTRAN V5 is interchangeable and can be replaced at any time with Aaronia’s latest technology.
A 10GHz module is already available. A 18GHz module can be ordered by the end of 2011. Further versions up to 90 GHz are already being planned and scheduled for 2012.
The “open source” interface to the front end is made available by Aaronia and allows the User to customize self development applications of their own front ends. This open source availability allows for endless and custom new market applications for the Aaronia SPECTRAN V5.

Technology

The heart of the Spectran V5 signal processing is realised by FPGA, which also includes a vector processor for statistic analysis and demodulation. Together with the powerful Dual Core Blackfin DSP-CPU and the 800x480 pixel high-resolution colour display and touch screen, the possibilities for analysing even the most complex signals are limitless.
Within the analogue process, the signal is sampled by a real 14Bit A/D converter with up to 500MSPS (250 MSPS I/Q) data rate. This process, along with a big dynamic range of 80dB, a high quality of analysis can always be ensured.
An optional 16Bit A/D converter with 100dB dynamic range (1Hz-40MHz) can be added. The SPECTRAN V5 can by controlled either by the unit’s touch screen, by a multifunctional jog-dial, by motion control, via custom-hotkeys or real-time remote control (GSM, WLAN or USB).
An optional tracking generator allows amongst others network-, cable- and antenna measurements.
The high-sensitivity integrated gyro sensor with compass function can register the position and alignment of the unit at any time. Optionally available is a GPS-receiver, which stores the exact location of the measurement and allows complex measurement runs as well.
Both sensors, together with the integrated data logger, enable a complete seamless and gap-free recording of field measurements including an automatic heatmap-generation (e.g. on Google-Maps). Thus, the user’s documentation of EMC measurements or the visualization of network coverage of GSM, WLAN etc. will be remarkably easy to generate.
The SPECTRAN V5 has an integrated 8,000mAh lithium polymer battery (LiPo) for 3-4 hours of run time, plus there is a 16,000mAh battery upgrade available to provide 6-8 hours of run time.
A variety of more advanced software-evaluation and analysis-options are currently under development and these will be available for retrofit when requested (e.g. GSM decoder).

Interfaces

- 50/75Ohm RF input
- Tracking generator output
- Sync In/Output
- USB Slave
- USB Master
- Micro SD
- Power

Pictures (from Mikrocontroler forum)