The SD-BTO-3823 from Testforce is a Single-Channel RF Spectrum Capture and Record System that operates from 20 Hz to 26.5 GHz. This system is designed to record a wide block of RF spectrum in congested spectral environments using a single channel. It consists of a quad-core embedded CPU, disk storage subsystem, and National Instruments’ modular RF instruments in PXIe form-factor. This recording system also includes a superheterodyne RF downconverter architecture and a built-in low noise amplifier (LNA) optimized to retain signal quality in congested environments. It can record RF signals with no acquisition dead time and guarantees capturing even the shortest duration events. The SD-BTO-3823 captures RF signals over a bandwidth of up to 765 MHz with a sampling resolution of 24-bits per I/Q sample pair, and has a tuning resolution of 1 Hz. It has a spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of -80 dBc and a phase noise of -129 dBc/Hz (at 10 kHz offset). This system uses Reviewer Module software that supports several functions such as waveform selection, playing waveforms in slow motion, and freeze-frame. It allows users to import files from an external storage for subsequent analysis.
The SD-BTO-3823 can be configured using programming interfaces such as Native LabVIEW and ASCII command/response protocol-over-TCP/IP on a Windows desktop application. It requires an AC supply of 110 V. This recording system is available in a 6 RU rack-mount enclosure and is ideal for demodulation algorithm research and development, radar signal capture, electronic warfare research, and next-generation PHY standards applications.
