The following problems add up to make RF Explorer into "a chore to use" when you do not have it connected to a computer with analysis software...
**** Problem #1: ****
Bug: Switch bounce.
When manually selecting a frequency via cursor position, the frequency decrease button (left arrow) often jumps by 2 or more cursor points instead of 1. Seems like a poor design or poor hardware quality regarding the "switch bounce prevention" circuit/DSP.
**** Problem #2: ****
Poor Design: Frequency steps.
The manually-selectable cursor point on the RTA display has 111 horizontal positions instead of 101. 110 steps (i.e. 110+1) is not a user-friendly count if a user wishes to match up the cursor points with a known frequency interval between cursor steps. The +1 is to account for the start of the range, such as on a 1-dimensional line graph.
For example, you cannot inspect from 500 MHz to 600 MHz in 1 MHz steps because that would necessitate 101 horizontal cursor points. Instead, you must account for 111 horizontal cursor points and choose ~495 to ~605 MHz.
**** Problem #3: ****
Erroneous Design: Frequency steps.
If your goal is to view frequencies in nice increments where a desired center frequency is actually selectable, then you must choose a frequency span/range that would technically cover 112 points (111 steps), even though the display has 111 cursor points (110 steps). Additionally, the start (i.e. lowest) frequency on the graph is not selectable at all via cursor. These issues appear to be due to a surprisingly elementary mathematical error in the design of RF Explorer.
Workaround for Problems #2 & #3:
Let...
...Fc-0 = desired center frequency.
...Fc-x = the setting you actually enter into RF Explorer as the center frequency.
...Fr-0 = desired span (range) of frequencies to view.
...Fr-x = the setting you actually enter into RF Explorer as the span (range) of frequencies.
...Fs = desired jump per frequency step.
{Fr-0} = Fs * 110
{Fr-x} = {Fr-0} * 111 / 110
{Fc-x} = {Fc-0} + {Fr-x} / 111 / 2
**** SEEEDS: Feature Requests ****
1) Please fix the number disagreement between the range of frequencies (span) and the number of horizontal cursor steps. These *must* be identical. Currently, the span setting is exactly 111/110 too large. The problem may be that the start frequency is too low. In other words, you counted wrong.
2) The number of horizontal cursor slots should be a more user-friendly count, such as 101 (i.e. 100+1).
3) The center frequency is more important than the extremities and therefore *must* be selectable via cursor.
4) The start frequency is a valid point that *should* be selectable via cursor. ...but this should be fixed in context of performing feature request #1 above.
| Manufacturer | Seeedstudio |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.17 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 7.09 x 5.16 x 2.76 inches |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Material | ABS |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Battery Cell Type | Lithium Ion |
