Instrument Basics : Spectrum Analyzer - Workbench Wednesdays

Spectrum analyzers display signals in the frequency domain. To use one, you only need to know about four controls: reference level, center frequency, and resolution bandwidth. In this episode, see how to use a spectrum analyzer and determine the transmitting frequency of a device: bit.ly/35i75Tu
Engage with the element14 presents team on the element14 Community - suggest builds, find project files and behind the scenes video: bit.ly/2MFMG0v
Visit the element14 Community for more great activities and free hardware:
Tech spotlights: bit.ly/2KLz0TS
Roadtest and Reviews: bit.ly/2KH4fj3
Project14: bit.ly/2wPnajx

[@mrmilo92]

This really helped me fill some gaps left over from my engineering degree (earned partially remotely during covid). The school couldn't afford to send us this equipment so we worked on simulations within SPICE and similar programs when covering the topic. Having had this demo as an introduction to that experience would have really helped! Thanks for the upload!

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Fantastic explanation! Very many thanks for making this video.

[@benjaminrich9396]

10m 20s in: "And notice that the centre frequency is five five six point two two five ". When it actually says 566.225 i.e. "five SIX six point two two five". Nice to know even James makes 'verbal typos'. :) Though possibly not a random error. I think given the ubiquity of the 555 timer IC, anybody interested in electronics - especially those who have taught it - will have said/heard/written/read "FIVE FIVE FIVE" so many times that after saying a "five" out loud the brain just expects to say five again. :) Great video btw.

[@bald_engineer]

lol.

[@freedomisfood6966]

You are a real master and i enjoying

[@UnexpectedMaker]

Fantastic intro video! And what a beautiful SA!

[@bald_engineer]

Thanks man. Always like to see your name pop-up. Love the livestreams you do!

[@gheorghemoraru634]

GREAT JOB!!!

[@dineshrajap6202]

Thanks for your video

[@OsoPolarClone]

I am enjoying your Wednesday videos

[@MatureFister]

i undestand, that youtube favors 15 min videos, but please element14, some longer in depth videos where the awesome hosts do go into detail, such as the modulation topics would have been amazing...maybe even just as an addendum or a blogpost?

[@yarik6468]

Молодец 👍 Awesome 😎

[@freedomisfood6966]

Thanks

[@CABohol]

Nice

[@frankreiserm.s.8039]

Cool. Except for the sweep generator, this thing works just like an AM radio. Frank Reiser M.S.

[@christopherj3367]

it looks alot like SDR (software defined radio). wondering if sdr will work similar?, I'm currently trying to make a NFC aerial for a phone.

[@NiHaoMike64]

Yes, a RTL-SDR is a really cheap spectrum analyzer for 25MHz-1.7GHz or so. If audio band is more your interest, check out baudline.

[@bald_engineer]

There is some similarity, however, they do have some functional differences. I wrote up a longer explanation here: www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-93509/l/workbench-wednesday-instrument-basics-spectrum-analyzer?ICID=workbench-wed-episodes#comment-237581

[@edgeeffect]

Yeah... I had very similar thoughts.

[@ElectricalEngineeringAcademy]

A friend has got GwInstek GSP730. It does not come with any accessories, except the power cord. I have learnt that to start with we should get an FM antenna to view local FM Radio channel spectrum. My question is, can I use any FM antenna or have to purchase their dedicated antenna.

[@matthewedmiston1372]

depends on the interface you may have to change a connector

[@ElectricalEngineeringAcademy]

@@matthewedmiston1372 Thanks dear sir.

[@BaldurNorddahl]

to receive FM you can just put a piece of wire into the port. Carefully not to damage it of course. Also picks up other strong signals like wifi and cell phone signals.

[@ElectricalEngineeringAcademy]

@@BaldurNorddahl Thanks dear. Best Regards

[@BrianThomas]

Wow .. I love 💕 Love.. Love this sort of stuff. Where can I learn more about this sort of stuff? Does anyone have any suggestions? I really want to get into making projects and such.

[@amirb715]

that was not an explanation for that weird unsymmetrical shape when the RBW was 3MHz @8:18. That is a bug not a feature. I imagine a FW update should fix it. Even if the signal was not modulated it would still show the same weird shape.

[@drwombat]

Can you show the basic difference between sinusoidal and square (digital?) Waves? Or is it just implied that any sinusoidal wave appears in natural science and text book math versus digital waves (composed of overlapping sinusoidal waves) occur in the digital domain?

[@DMTT100]

So it’s amplitude vs frequency. What makes the amplitude? I get how shouting is higher amplitude than whispering. But what are the energy differences here? Is it *amount* of data transmitted on that frequency? Examples? An analyzer run in silence still picks up peaks, like a GPS signal. What gives that amplitude if it’s not audible volume?

[@drwombat]

Just hazarding a guess here electromagnetic signals outside the human detectable audio range?

[@matthewedmiston1372]

voltage

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Can you not use a Kaiser Window function to clean up the display.

[@lnoordegraaf1172]

I think that 1530€ is a bite to expensive for most of us.

[@detalite]

It's nothing in comparison to 167$ for torque wrench for SMA connectors :)

[@kaumohlamonyane272]

RF equipment is not very hobbyist friendly.

[@DAVE_WHITE]

an intro should have went over the basics of attenuation and how to set a analyzer up with a proper reference level with an attenuator installed.