What Is a Spectrum Analyzer Used For?
TRX Systems, a leader in GPS position monitoring and mapping systems, has named SAF Tehnika as an official partner. Professionals who undertake in-building testing of public safety and commercial cellular networks will benefit from the combination of TRX’s NEON® Signal Mapper application with SAF’s cheap handheld microwave spectrum analyzer.
Why Using a Spectrum Analyzer Matters?
The gap between in-building radio signal coverage and dead zones for first responders has been a well-known issue for decades. Several attempts to close the gap have been made over the years, with mixed results. The signal coverage issue didn’t get a lot of attention until the sad events of 9/11 and the resulting communication disruptions. After ten years, Congress approved and funded FirstNet (First Responder Network Authority), a public safety LTE network akin to Europe’s TETRA network. The system is meant to provide first responders with voice, video, and data capabilities over an interoperable communications system.
In the United States, governments such as California, Oregon, and Washington are requiring satisfactory in-building signal coverage as a condition of certificate of occupancy issuance and renewal. First responders will have the assurance that they will not lose communication during an emergency response wherever in the facility.
How to Use Spectrum Analyzer?
We’ll talk about the specific issues of enforcing, certifying, and recertifying these spectrum analyzer systems here.
Challenges
- Testing equipment should be very transportable and easy to operate in order to efficiently physically examine the coverage density in a commercial building.
- Due to the complexity of the equipment, many legacy test and measurement manufacturers demand operators to have significant RF skill;
- The cost of these tools can be extremely high, putting a strain on local agencies’ budgets and adding significant costs for third-party certification services;
- The majority of “portable” spectrum analyzers are bulky and heavy, failing to meet the requirements of portability and ease of use;
Solutions
- The SAF Signal Mapper is the smallest toolset available for easy, comfortable building walks, providing a full solution for in-building public safety band testing;
- The Spectrum Compact handheld spectrum analyzer from SAF, along with the TRX pocket/clip NEON tracking unit, provides a cost-effective, simple, and accurate signal mapping and verification solution;
- Our free spectrum analyzer software’s automatic user tracking removes manual check-ins and offers accurate location data;
- Your technician/operator maps the signal coverage over a full building (including stairwells, elevators, and difficult-to-reach locations) in a comfortable and discrete manner.
- Even if no designs or cad files exist, you can construct a coverage map for the building using the sophisticated, user-friendly NEON Command PC software. For 3D geo-referenced visualization, the NEON Command software saves all data results.
- Color-coded heatmaps provide a complete picture of signal coverage from 300 MHz to 3 GHz, and multiple floors heatmaps may be combined into one map;
- The software performs heatmap calculations using advanced interpolation algorithms for accurate, reliable analysis and reporting;
- Grid reporting facilitates IFC and NFPA compliance. Values recorded can be exported to a variety of reporting platforms, including iBwave.
SAF Indoor Signal Mapper is a simple-to-use technology that delivers accurate findings at a reasonable price. SAF Signal Mapper is the go-to solution for smaller agencies with limited resources and budgets. The SAF Signal Mapper can be used by public safety agencies or certification service businesses who are new to real-world RF testing to swiftly validate in-building signal coverage.
