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Posted by Robert, VA3ROM [ va3rom@gmail.com ] on August 18, 2025 at 06:30:35.
In Reply to: Re: RF Explorer Handheld Spectrum Analyzer posted by Sam on August 16, 2025 at 07:54:03.
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Yes and no. I already own the tinySA, NanoVNA and several other analyzers. They don't compare to the RF Explorer (in electronics you get what you pay for), nor do they have the kind of add-on hardware and software modules that the RF Explorer Technology offers. My model (a WSUB1G PLUS) is built like a battle tank with a hefty metal case and internal shielding so nothing gets inside except through the antenna port. I've also dropped and bounced mine a few times, and you can't do that with the cheap plastic-cased spectrum analyzers. Not even a scratch or mark on the case or LCD from my fumbling, and fingerprints don't stick either, so there must be some kind of protective clear coat on it. It's a very sensitive device that can measure RF signals as low as -120 dBm, or 1 picowatt! Mine scans from 50 kHz to 960 MHz, which is more than adequate for my needs. Other models go up to the GHz range. I emailed the company, ask stupid questions (got excellent answers), and suggested adding the 22 m band to the Ham Field Meter module (which is well worth the $59 for a lifetime license). I was informed that 22 m will be added to the Ham Field Meter in the next firmware update. I'm happy to pay extra for that kind of customer service, support and product quality to encourage ongoing innovation in their hardware and software products. I was able to use the Ham Field Meter module to quickly analyze and plot the radiation patterns of several homemade antennas (this is one area that you don't have to spend a lot of money on), using free software from RF Explorer Suite and 'Nuts about Nets' (Touchstone software). Designing antennas with EZNEC is one thing, but nothing beats putting RF (I use WSPR for this purpose) to an antenna that you built and seeing what its radiation pattern actually looks like in the real world, and then using WSPR Rocks! to collect and analyze the WSPR spot data from hundreds of other stations. But that's just my thing. 73.
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