Hand-held direction finder can detect hidden signals

2nd June 2014

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

The detection, analysis and location of RF interference sources or unauthorised transmissions is a headache for communications and security professionals. Narda Safety Test Solutions has moved to eased the problem by launching its second generation IDA interference and direction analyser.

The analyser boasts a powerful feature called persistence display, which uses different colours to represent the number of times an amplitude value occurs at a given frequency, thereby enabling intermittent or low-level interference to be clearly distinguished when it might otherwise be hidden within the main signal.

The unit can also generate high-resolution spectrograms and time-domain displays to offer advanced I/Q analysis functions normally found on high-end test-lab equipment. Using the analyser, signals can be detected and analysed on the spot without external computation.

Operating over the radio spectrum from 9kHz to 6GHz, the instrument records signals’ in-phase and quadrature components (the I/Q data) in real time at a maximum channel bandwidth of 32MHz and can store up to 250,000 I/Q data pairs without compression. Computation and analysis can either be performed continuously during the measurement or subsequently from the stored data set.

Since the underlying data remains unchanged in the analyser memory, users can alter display parameters such as the frequency or time resolution afterwards and zoom in on details right down to the original resolution. If required, the I/Q data set can be transferred to a PC via the instrument’s Ethernet port.

The analyser features an extremely fast sweep rate of 12GHz/s, and each unit is supplied with a choice of precision antennas optimised to suit particular frequency bands. Using its integral GPS receiver and the 3D electronic compass built into the antenna handle, the instrument carries out a horizontal scan to establish the position of the signal source and then either displays the relative bearing in a polar diagram or pinpoints the location on a street map, just like a satnav system.

Ideal for outdoor use, the instrument is housed in a robust case with a keypad designed for operation when wearing gloves. It also offers battery hot-swap capability and weighs in at just 3kg.

The analyser is available in the UK from RF and microwave specialist Link Microtek