Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics at DVinfo.net

Dean Sensui · September 16th, 2011, 05:08 AM

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

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

Tom Morrow · September 18th, 2011, 10:32 AM

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.

Greg Miller · September 18th, 2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Morrow

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.

Dean Sensui · September 19th, 2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Morrow

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.

Dean Sensui · September 19th, 2011, 02:02 PM

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.

Brian P. Reynolds · October 1st, 2011, 11:01 PM

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)

Dean Sensui · October 2nd, 2011, 02:26 AM

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

Brian P. Reynolds · October 27th, 2011, 02:51 AM

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.

Dean Sensui · October 27th, 2011, 04:13 AM

Nice review in a nutshell. Thanks, Brian!

That looks like a very useful piece of equipment.

Greg Miller · October 27th, 2011, 09:00 AM

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

Brian P. Reynolds · November 4th, 2011, 10:39 PM

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.

Greg Bellotte · November 11th, 2011, 12:26 AM

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...

Dean Sensui · November 11th, 2011, 12:31 AM

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.

Brian P. Reynolds · December 4th, 2011, 02:12 AM

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

Allan Black · December 4th, 2011, 03:27 AM

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

News

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

Cheers.

September 16th, 2011, 05:08 AM	#1
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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 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 __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

September 18th, 2011, 10:32 AM	#2
Tom Morrow Major Player Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 416	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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.

September 19th, 2011, 02:02 PM	#5
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

October 1st, 2011, 11:01 PM	#6
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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)

October 2nd, 2011, 02:26 AM	#7
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics Brian... Could you write up a review after testing? __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

October 27th, 2011, 02:51 AM	#8
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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. Attached Thumbnails

October 27th, 2011, 04:13 AM	#9
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics Nice review in a nutshell. Thanks, Brian! That looks like a very useful piece of equipment. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

October 27th, 2011, 09:00 AM	#10
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,791	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics Looks great! I surely would like to see a version that covers VHF, at least the high half of VHF. Thanks for the review!

November 4th, 2011, 10:39 PM	#11
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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.

November 11th, 2011, 12:26 AM	#12
Greg Bellotte Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 291	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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...

November 11th, 2011, 12:31 AM	#13
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

December 4th, 2011, 02:12 AM	#14
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics 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

December 4th, 2011, 03:27 AM	#15
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,926	Re: Spectrum analyzer for working with wireless mics Thanks for the heads up Brian :) might be an update or 2 here .. News I operate around historical aircraft with valve wirelesess .. oh boy. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.