RF Analyzer

RF Spectrum Analysis with RF Explorer

RF Analyzer is a free, web-based app that turns data collected from RF Explorer spectrum analyzers into highly graphical charts and displays, enabling users to more readily visualize the RF environment, monitor RF signals, troubleshoot RF issues, and detect sources of RF interference. There are 4 charts: RF Spectrum Trace, RF Spectrum Bars, RF Spectrum Bubbles and RF Spectrum Heatmap. You can also import / export spectrum traces in CSV format.

RF Analyzer uses Web Serial technology that enables web browsers to communicate directly with serial devices via USB, bypassing the need for separate PC software. And, more importantly, this allows RF Analyzer to be used on multiple operating systems (e.g. Windows, MacOS, Linux). Web Serial technology is currently supported by Chromium-based browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

RF Analyzer is easy to use – simply attach your RF Explorer device to your desktop or laptop machine via USB cable and you are ready to go. After pressing the ‘Connect’ button you can then begin scanning. The first time RF Analyzer is run in your browser you’ll be prompted for an email address to send the free license key. The license key that you then enter is persisted as an HTTP cookie and you will not be prompted again.

Register For Free License Key

The license key will be sent to your
email address.

Enter License Key

(You should have received a license key via email)






NOTE: Our SMTP server limits the number of messages
this app can send in a day. So -- if you didn't
receive an email message with a license key then
please try again in 24 hours.





RF Spectrum Trace Chart





Import Spectrum Trace File in CSV Format

Select local CSV File:

RF Spectrum Bar Chart

RF Spectrum Bubble Chart

RF Spectrum Heatmap Chart

Requirements

RF Analyzer uses Web Serial technology that enables web browsers to communicate directly with serial devices via USB, bypassing the need for separate PC software. And, more importantly, this allows RF Analyzer to be used on multiple operating systems (e.g. Windows, MacOS, Linux). Web Serial technology is currently supported by Chromium-based browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Hardware Requirements

  • A high-quality USB cable to ensure stable connections, proper charging, and to minimize Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) interference from PCs, which can corrupt measurement data. Using a low-quality cable often leads to, or is mistaken for, driver issues.
  • Ensure the baud rate on the device is set to 500 Kbps (and NOT 2400 bps).
  • Make sure the USB cable’s plug is securely attached and flush with the device’s socket.

Software Requirements

  • Windows: RF Explorer devices use the Silicon Labs CP210x USB-to-UART bridge for PC connectivity, requiring specific VCP drivers for Windows, Mac, or Linux to function. Installing these drivers enables the device to act as a Virtual COM Port (VCP), allowing communication via software (like RF Analyzer). If you have not already done so, you will need to download Silicon Labs’ CP210x VCP Windows drivers from here. And then, after unzipping the downloaded file, run the 64-bit installation program CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.exe. Thereafter, your Chromium-based browser and the RF Analyzer app should detect an RF Explorer device attached to your PC.

  • MacOS: MacOS probably has the simplest requirements – RF Analyzer should work from Google Chrome on MacOS Catalina (10.15) or later, including both M1/M2 (ARM64) and Intel Core (x64) architectures.

  • Linux: Surprisingly, Linux gave us the biggest problem. Browsers on Linux often fail to recognize Web Serial devices due to limitations within containerized installations such as ‘Snap’ and ‘Flatpak’. If you installed a Chromium-based browser via Snap or Flatpak, then it is likely “sandboxed”, thereby restricting its ability to access hardware like USB serial devices. The simplest solution is to uninstall the Snap / Flatpak version and install the native .deb package. For example, this is how we installed Google Chrome (after uninstalling the ‘containerized’ version):
    Download the package: wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
     Install the package: sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb