Thanks for posting calibration vid! We have a RF Explorer at the shop that I am sure needs to be looked at.

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

You are welcome! Just note that the RF Explorer Standard (extruded aluminum case) does not have the extended plot points option. It is 112 points only. Only the Plus (pretty, white case) has this extra capability.

Note that when you connect your signal generator through a Tee like you have, you have now loaded the generator with 25 ohms, assuming that your Tee is loaded with 50 ohms at each end. It would be better to use a splitter, especially if you don't know how the siggen will react to a 25 ohm load. How do you know the accuracy of the siggen and spectrum analyzer - are they tied into a precision 10MHz reference?

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

Well, you are absolutely correct about the loading; unfortunately, I do not have a splitter. On the other hand, the important part is the frequency, not the amplitude. You are also correct about the concern about frequency accuracy of the generator. The signal generator was just purchased new (calibrated) in the last few months and the spectrum analyzer in the last couple years. I also watched the frequency with my frequency counter at one point, just as a double check. It is the older of the three instruments. All three agreed within 4 decimal places which should be plenty accurate enough to calibrate the RF Explorer; even their disagreement was less than 0.00005 MHz. Regarding tying it to a precision 10 MHz source...not yet. I really want to get something like this; I hear there is some sort of GPS thingy that will do the job. I also have a very old HP 8643A. Amazingly right on considering how long it has been since it was calibrated.

@w2aew

2 жыл бұрын

@@eie_for_you You could always check them by zero-beating against WWV. I have a video on that... Pretty easy to check to see if you are below about 0.1ppm that way.

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

@@w2aew I ***LIKE*** it! Yes...I knew that but I it didn't bubble to the top. Like my dad used to say, "I know a lot of things. I just can't think of them!"

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

@@w2aew Which one is that?

@w2aew

2 жыл бұрын

My video on that: kzread.info/dash/bejne/g3d-lsWKd7K3fKw.html

Hi, thanks for the video. It is very clear. Did you work out also a way to do amplitude calibration of the RF-Explorer?

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

I am glad that you found the video helpful! They do not provide a way to "calibrate" it per se for amplitude except you can add an "OFFSET DB" via the attenuator menu which is remembered from power up to power up; this is kind of the "manual method" of calibration. This value can be +dBm or -dBm. Careful! Cables, connectors, adapters, frequency ... well, just about everything will affect the amplitude the RF Explorer actually 'sees' at its input connector. This is especially true as the frequency goes up because of the loss inherent at higher frequencies. So, you could set everything up for a particular frequency span and test setup (cables and connectors and antennas and the like). Then you could determine the needed offset in dBm to correct for the losses. Then save this complete as a preset to go back to for future measurements. Don't forget, that real the offset dBm might (probably will) change with frequency and test setup.

Hi, I have a question I have the earlier model of the RF explorer they do an upgrade via a board installed, or would it be cheaper just to buy an updated version.?

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the delayed reply. Off to southern NY to visit family and then I got sick (a NY cold-BAD) and then that HUGE snowstorm that left almost 50,000 people without power & internet. Just escaped the blackout zone this morning. Enough with excuses ... (cough, hack) ... I also have the little silver cased version. I chose to upgrade to the RF Explorer PLUS (Slim) because it goes down to 50 KHz. It has the capability to achieve 1 KHz resulution in high resolution mode when using the PC software. The base model goes up to 960 MHz. In the process of working with this I discovered that it had a couple issue which the RF Explorer folks we happy & dilligent to work with me on. Once we knew what was going on, I bought the 4 GHz expansion board. In the next two videos in the series I go through the motivation to add the module and step through the process of installation. These come out public on April 27th and May 4th respectively. As to what is cheaper??? buying the expansion board by itself will be cheaper than buying an entire new unit. The trick is, you have to carefully install it. Hope this very wordy reply helps.

@davidgrey943

2 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for the reply and the heads up regarding the expansion modules. I know they had an expansion module for the signal generator which gavr it a range from 50Khz up. I will be interested as what the expansion board for the spectrum Analyaiser going to be like. And I will look out for when you add the expansion board videos.

Hi Ralph, Wow 51 Khz offset. I hope users of this device see this video . I think it would be a good idea if the company manufacturing the RF Explorer would send you a sample of all their products for examination . Maybe they could send along the newest Tektronix MDO as a bonus . P.S. I like the hat .

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

I was a little surprised, as well! I'd be all for that high end scope. :-)

Do you have a method for using the RF Explorer and the Signal Generator to run through a testing profile to save the user the time of switching frequencies?

@eie_for_you

2 жыл бұрын

If I understand you correctly, you have a series of tests to perform which require different center frequencies, possibly different spans and top and bottom values for each test. Using the RF Explorer for Windows software, you can save START/STOP, CENTER/SPAN, TOP/BOTTOM specifics. See the dialog box at the top with the [SAVE] & [LOAD] buttons. Setup the specifics you need. Enter the name (e.g. Test#1) into the dialog box and click on the [SAVE] button. To load the configuration later, use the dropdown list which is the dialog box, select what you want to load and click on the [LOAD] button. If you need to change the settings for a particular setup, load the original setup first, make the changes, select the original setup in the dropdown list and click on the [SAVE] button. What DOESN'T get saved is the number of sweep points in the display. Hope this helps.

Hi All When i switch on device it gives WIFIMETRIX QA RF TEST REQUIRED And it is stuck there . Please help if there is something i can do , i am using WIFIMETRIX Channel analyser (1.05)

@eie_for_you

Жыл бұрын

Sorry I missed your comment! I wish I could help, but this has me as puzzled as you. I'd contact the RF Explorer folks. I find them VERY resonsive and helpful.

The missing step was John 316

@eie_for_you

Жыл бұрын

True that!