[time-nuts] Software defined spectrum analyzer

[Javier Herrero]

El 12/12/2010 03:41, jimlux escribió:
>
>
> This is an example of a new class of lab instruments.. you pay for the 
> hard part (the RF design and performance) and software takes care of 
> the rest, and since software has almost zero reproduction cost....
And the hard part is also less expensive - older signal generators used 
impressive attenuators since the output accuracy depended heavily on 
them, newer ones uses not-so-good ones whose characteristics are 
compensated by the software (compare the attenuator in a R&S SMFP with 
the one inside a Marconi 2945)
>
> For today, there's probably a significant "value added" in the 
> software, so it might not be free... but over time, that will change.
I hope so :)
>
> And, if it works out nicely, standardized interfaces (like 50 ohms or 
> resistor color codes) will evolve, so the same software will work with 
> a $500 inexpensive widget or a $10,000 high performance widget from 
> Agilent.
>
Not sure about. As we are seeing, Agilent, Tek and others are trying 
hard to make their instrumentation to be obsolescent, unmaintainable and 
unusable in timescales as short as they can, to force replacement. Those 
nice instruments running windows are basically door stops if they fail 
once the manufacturer has decided to stop maintaining them. And they are 
not exactly unexpensive. They will avoid as hard as they can that you 
can use and old software with a new instrument, and viceversa.
> There will always be a market for software tailored to a specific 
> market/need (like standards or regulatory compliance) that will cost, 
> but for generic functions (like a power spectrum) that will probably 
> be free, or close to it.
>
> I wonder if there's an interface for this for my iPad?
In the Signal Hound web page they mention the availability of a free 
API... this is also what has attracted me, because of the posibility to 
write custom software for those specific  needs.  So perhaps an 
interface for your iPad could be written ;)

Regards,

Javier

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Javier Herrero                            EMAIL: jherrero at hvsistemas.com
Chief Technology Officer
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