realtime spectral analyzer (RTSA)

Real-time spectrum analysis(RTSA) enables the instantaneous observation of high-frequency signals, especially of the immediate signal behavior of RF signals and their influence on each other. Due to the rapidly growing number of new radio channels and optimized modulation methods that have to share the available frequencies, it is imperative that the signal behavior of the RF signals and their influence on each other be reliably detected and analyzed.

With real-time spectrum analysis, details can be detected and interpreted that are not accessible to normal spectrum analyzers. This is due to the fact that the problems change over time and are not reproducible and the display is done on cathode ray tubes( CRT), whose display time is determined by the phosphor and its afterglow time.

In contrast to spectrum analysis, in real-time spectrum analysis the entire frequency range to be examined is mixed down to a lower intermediate frequency, digitized and examined by digital signal processing. Due to the digital signal acquisition and storage, the different signal nuances, such as intensity and frequency, can be displayed in different colors. For example, a signal that occurs once would be represented on a conventional spectrum analyzer by a short bright spot that decays with the phosphor's persistence. With a real-time digital spectrum analyzer, the unique signal could be colored and permanently displayed for interpretation. All signal components are displayed in different colors with respect to their intensity, repetition rate and change, which facilitates interpretation and frequency analysis.