Understanding Spectrum Analyzer Specifications

- a tutorial, and information about spectrum analyzer specifications or spectrum analyser specs - what they mean and how to interpret them for buying one new or as used test equipment or obtaining one from a test equipment rental company.

Spectrum analyzers are an essential item of test equipment for any RF design or test laboratory. They enable a view of the spectrum of an RF signal to be seen and in this way they provide a unique insight into the way an RF circuit or piece of equipment is working. However choosing the correct spectrum analyzer to purchase, either as new equipment or as used test equipment or possibly to hire from a test equipment rental company is not always easy. A knowledge of spectrum analyzer specifications is needed to be able to make the right choice for any given application.

There is a wide variety of different types of spectrum analyzer ranging from an audio spectrum analyzer for low audio frequencies right through to RF spectrum analyzers capable of measuring frequencies up to many GHz. For each category there are many different types for a variety of different manufacturers. In addition to the manufacturers offering a wide variety of instruments, used test equipment suppliers as well as test equipment rental companies will hold stocks of a wide variety of instruments. Accordingly it is necessary to be able to judge which might be most suitable by consulting the spectrum analyzer specifications.