What people are saying about Signal Hound products…
Reviews from our customers
This unit is perfect for my lab needs and this is my initial review. I aim to follow up once I have had enough time on it. The Pros ————- Value for money 5 stars Support is excellent from AJ and team Spectrum Analysis, accurate and quick but needs to have a low span as expected for the most accurate frequency match. Marker function is easy to use and deltas are quick to do Digital Demodulation works fine for my needs, lots of options that can be confusing so take your time setting it up EVM measurement is fairly accurate, still getting used to it though The real-time option is very useful but I am still getting used to it as have always in the past used non-real-time analysers This unit replaced an older Agilent I had and I am very happy with it. Cons ——– Getting used to a PC based USB instrument takes time The USB power option unless you have an external compatible hub was problematic for me using a laptop. I had endless disconnection issues until I found a compatible powered hub. I would prefer the unit to come with a separate supply and not take power from USB or a compatibel hub that is powered be supplied with the unit. Thanks for a product that the price is unbeatable. Together with my VSG I can pretty much do everything I need.
We own 4 products from SH: 4 GHz spectrum analyzer in combination with a tracking generator, and the same for the 12 GHz version. We use them extensively for scalar network analysis when building our customized microwave instruments for spectroscopy (in physics). The products have a great price to performance ratio. We had complications when installing the drivers and running the instruments, having a strong hardware was the key. Besides the pros, we encountered a very annoying problem: we often (3-5 times per day) screw-unscrew our units and cables onto the devices. After a few months ,the female SMA connectors broke and started to loose the inner pins. Given that we have other similar devices which have endured the same treatment over several years, we reckon that Signalhound was saving on the quality/cost of the connectors. Given that we were over the guarantee, we attempted to change the connectors ourselves, which has lead to deteriorated performance at 10 GHz. At present, we are using the devices while having a short SMA female-male adapter attached to it permanently, to avoid damage to the connectors on the devices.
An Outstanding achievement! A serious new tool for the Professional TSCM Operator.
I have owned the Signal Hound Spectrum Analyzer/Tracking generator for the past several years. With the SPIKE software, I would give it an excellent rating. I have also used the comparably price Rigol and much prefer the Signal Hound.
A welcome addition to my lab. I have used this analyzer many times since I purchased it, examining signals from low audio to high UHF, and while it does not have the flexibility of an HP, it is a darn good analyzer for many of my purposes. Having made a sleep-deprived cable mix-up one late evening, I must warn users to take the maximum input level VERY SERIOUSLY! That was an expensive mistake!
This is a great little tool very useful. There are some minor things I would like to see changed. Most is software related other is BNC connector instead of SMA connectors.
would be nice to have a kit with 2 dc block pads , as the tg44A already comes with a 20dB pad and just one dc block pad will not solve the problem when measuring amplifiers.
Very pleased with both the BB60A and TG44A. Studied similar units seriously for about a month before deciding on Signal Hound. Rapid response to my questions from the Signal Hound team, no upgrade charges for the wonderful spike software, Facebook page and forum makes me feel like part of the Signal Hound family.
This instrument has performed exceedingly well in our application. The aspect that is the most striking to me is how well implemented and documented the API is. Getting the device up-and-running and taking data was very easy.
Great little device. I bought it with the tracking generator to tune filters. I use it to take occupied band width measurements for broadcast and checking for harmonic emissions as well as for my amateur radio use.
In our work we develop prototypes of RF systems. We have struggled in the past using handheld and bench top analyzers as tag along devices for RF systems we were testing or demonstrating. We found the Signalhound to be easy to work with, rapidly programmable and to be of a size that we can incorporate into our prototypes so that external equipment is not required. We are also pleased to find added features and performance from this device that we were unable to find from other much more expensive sources.
The SA44B is a great device and specifically quite good at providing the dynamic range I need for my narrow specifications. I build and test Faraday cages for MRI applications and the test is usually a half hour attaboy after a week of work. The Signal Hound unit is so light and easy to set up that I have quit moaning the demise of my HP. So far I have not had the “opportunity” to troubleshoot with the SA44B.
once past the initial questions, up and running for a 3 hour flight to test for interfering signals in the cabin. the recording function works well, overall a really good tool.
The unit and software are great. It really allows me to verify the operation of the BTLE and other 2.4 GHZ digital RF devices we design.
Excellent product. I am primarily using it in my persuit of Amateur Radio. It has proven s valuable tool allowing me to improve my RF noise environment around my home as well as in monitoring the performance of my equipment. Along with the tracking generator and optional directional Coupler it has proven valuable in optimizing the performance of my antennae.
Great device. This spectrum analyzer gave me all the functionality I needed to complete the design of a new RF product. Everyone asks me about the device and how they can get one.
This spectrum analyzer has saved my life so many times, I can’t clearly recall each one. From lab use at my atomic time scale and precision frequency standards lab, to Grand Prix Formula 1 frequency coordination and monitoring work. Amateur radio aside (where I found the most useful tool of all to enjoy the hobby) the SA44B has proven to be an intelligently designed spectrum analyzer that allowed me to reach my RF measuring goals every time. Thank you Bruce and your team for such a nice experience both with your products and while talking to you and Cory over the phone. By the way I am waiting for my SA124B to be delivered to me tomorrow. I feel like an impatient child a day before receiving his birthday present. Now, what are the rest of the instruments that my Signal Hound collection lacks? Consider yourselves warned that I am surely coming back for more. Cheers! Edgardo Molina. XE1XUS.
I’ve owned one of these for several years, and I know that quite a few folks, after seeing mine, also purchased one. This is an incredible device for the $. When I first received mine, I checked it against my Agilent SA and the Signal Hound was within a 1/2 dB. I use mine in the DAS (Distributed Antenna System) world, and the SA44B, when combined with the matching tracking generator gives me all I need to setup a DAS. I added a broad band amplifier from Mini-Circuits, so I can get levels higher than +15 dBm (from the tracking generator). With the software utility that lets the Tracking Generator work as a stand alone signal generator, the tracking generator (along with the Mini-Circuits amplifier) lets me perform simulated coverage studies (from a single antenna location). I will admit (and caution folks) that this can’t do everything that some higher priced units do, but the SA44B has enough capabilities, that you don’t often need the more expensive boxes.
I was faced with a huge overweight bill if I was to take our R&S Spectrum Analyser with me to Papua New Guinea (16Kg being the limit). The overweight bill was going to be about the same price as the SA44B so it was a no brainer to buy one and pack it in with my carry on laptop computer. The results were fantastic and far exceeded my expectations when trying to track down spurious emissions at a remote site near Wewak, PNG. Job done and now the SA44B remains in my computer bag as part of my travelling kit. Highly recommended for any RF Engineers.
Great product. Exceded my expectations. The versatile measurement modes allowed difficult-to-identify HF radar signal characterisitcs to be explored in frequency and time domains. The phase noise mode was a real plus. At least two engineers who saw it in use have gone out and bought one. Less than half the cost of repairing my R&S spectrum analyser power supply!
The only problem I ran into was the need for a Power Amplifier for the output and Signal Amplifier on the input of the Spectrum Analyser. I suppose these Amplifiers could come from third party but it would be convenient to have a source from Signal Hound made specifically to work with my purchases.
Purchased SA44B and TG44A. The hardware construction is high quality. Together with Spike software the system performs very well as advertised. Very happy with purchase.
After retiring from the broadcast industry (full power FM, VHF and UHF TV) I was accustom to the use of respected industry leaders spectrum analyzers. Also as a ham operator I wished to have these capabilities at home. So a purchase was made early on of the USB SA44, S/N 93350059 Patent Pending. With the development of the “SPIKE” software this is a jewel for the cost. Now if I just had the BB60C!
A very useful piece of test equipment. Very accurate to within one Db and frequency good to 800 cycles at 1Ghz. Has an input for a tcxo which I use to get frequencys to 50 cycles at the 1 Ghz. I use the unit to tune duplexes at VHF and UHF frequencys and can measure down to -100 Dbm very accurately and can see signals down to -135 Dbm which can be very helpful. I have used the unit in many other ways and it has not disappointed me, money well spent.
The Signal Hound has been instrumental to our team’s rapid progress working on wireless sensor networks. It is used so regularly that it has a dedicated computer with it always running to display the parts of the spectrum that we’re working on, and is also regularly set up for specific tests and even demos to customers.
The spectrum analyzer functioned precisely as advertised. The accompanying application was easy to use and intuitive. I recommend this product and would make another purchase if the need arises.
Excellent equipment, I have a TG- 44A and a SA-44B. These are wonderful tool, very good indeed. I’m looking for a USB-VNA developed by Signal Hound or the smith chart plot in Spike software. Strong hug. Luciano Mairink
I am an rf technician currently working for See Factor in NYC. The purchase of my Signal Hound changed my career.. Changed my life!. Nyc can be really tough rf wise on any given day .. most days! I did not want a tti..screen way too small. The Signal Hound is so sensitive! I can see great detail .. Thank you so much for an absolutely kickass product .. Best $1000 I have ever spent!!
Hello. First – A word of warning, my device was purchased and used during 2012. It’s been quite some time since and technology might have improved considerably. My experience was mostly positive. For a small and low-cost Spectrum analyzer, it was performing as expected. The main issue was the time and unfriendly software which was very long for small RBW. Also, since it is controlled by software – any capabilities similar to the Agilent VSA will be much appreciated. If you have improved your software considerably – let me know. I’m now in Stanford will definitely consider on buying one.
We used the analyzer to perform field-work under harsh conditions. We never had an issue, worked (and still works) perfectly. I would highly recommend it.
I have the SA44B spectrum analyzer. It has exceeded my expectations for the cost vs performance.
I bought the BB60C primarily for EMC compliance testing. I found nothing comparable at the price point. I had a warranty issue with the first unit which was resolved very quickly by the dealer and Signal Hound. My software bug reports and feature requests have been responded to promptly and they continue to add useful new features to the product. I think the product is a great value and Signal Hound supports their customers very well. Highly recommended!
An excellent piece of equipment for its price. It’s invaluable for tuning and verifying filters, cable testing, and component & system insertion losses.
I didn’t regret anything about my choice of the SA44B, it’s accurate, portable, does the exact job I intended to use it for. Excellent choice.
The main purpose was to have an analyzer that fits in a small carry-on bag to measure stuff at clients who had EMC or other problems. The SA44B fits that job very nicely. You have to know that this is in essence a software-defined radio (SDR) so it won’t work well (or at all) for pulsed signals. However, EMC issues typically entail constant carrier sources. Micro processor clock, buses, oscillators and such. The SA44B “hound” sniffs those out nicely. I had one case where I reduced all sorts of offending peaks and after the client re-ran at the agency lab the improvement was almost verbatim as the SA44B had predicted. What isn’t so great is that the latest software does not run under XP and many lab computer run XP (for good reasons). So you have to use the old software which isn’t that great. Not a showstopper at all though. Signalhound stated that it won’t run with smallish 1GHz or less processors but to my surprise it does. Which means I do not have to schlepp the big laptop along for field diagnostics. People with lower back issues like myself will appreciate that. Service at Signalhound is great. When the unit lost it’s calibration settings for some reason they emailed me the files for my serial number unit same day. Can’t be better. Long story short, if you are mostly after continuous wave carriers and not pulsed signals this analyzer is highly recommended. Nowadays you can buy full-blown spectrum analyzers with display and all for around $2k or twice the price of the SA44B which would make more sense for a lab bench. But it’s the size of an oscilloscope and for field work the super-light and small SA44B is hard to beat. Off the top of my head I wouldn’t know any alternative to it.
Bought this way back around 2010. All the other spectrum analysis tools were super expensive – took a chance on this and it worked out really well. Got me the data I needed to fix up my RF circuitry . Software could have used a little work back then, not sure what the state of it is now. Solid purchase for the hobbyist or professional on a budget.
We use this product regularly and the USB connection is very unstable which causes software to crash. We do not see this problem with other brands of products that use USB communications and are similar. We also had a failure with the internal power supply and no schematics are available but I was able to fix it. I think the issue with unstable software in tracking gen sweep mode needs to still be rectified. Support still continues to blame the PC but we have the same problem on a number of windows 7 pcs.
Please note that my device is the first model, USB-SA44. The performance of this version was not bad considering the price but I would have appreciated more advanced software and a bit more sensitivity.
Pleased. Much more convenient for field work and travel vs. traditional spectrum analyzers. Once you’ve added one to your tool box, you’ll wonder what you did without. Very good utility vs. price ratio.
This is an unsolicited letter of praise for the Signal Hound USB-SA44B spectrum analyzer. I was looking for a spectrum analyzer to replace an HP which proved too costly to repair. All I needed was something to analyze modulation characteristics of a PCM/FM telemetry system. I evaluated several low cost portable analyzers as well as the Tektronix RSA306 USB analyzer. Some of them seemed like they would be better but in the end the SH won primarily due to the features that came standard with the Spike software. Over the course of the 2+ years I have owned mine, I had one mishap which was covered by warranty. I placed mine in a USPS Flat Rate shipping box and in 9 days, I had it back in my hands. I’ve also had some questions regarding some of the functions and an email response was received within minutes. That’s hard to beat. In essence, I am a very satisfied user and am looking forward to purchasing their BB60C in the near future. Oh, by the way, this also makes a very nice SDR. Sincerely, Mike-WA1SEO
I purchased a Signal Hound USB spectrum analyzer for my consulting business and used in on a NASA CubeSat contract I was writing firmware for. The spectrum analyzer worked well for analyzing the 450 Mhz radio communications used on the spacecraft during testing at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland. For some reason, around late 2013, the device stopped working and was reporting a Self-Test failure and has never worked since. Self Test Results Broadband power detector: FAIL High Band Mixer: FAIL Low Band Mixer: FAIL Attenuator: PASS Second IF: FAIL
I bought a BB60C signal analyzer for a project, and had a few questions that I emailed to the Signal Hound team. I was truly astonished at the speed, clarity, and expertise of the responses I received. Not only did the Signal Hound crew address all of my questions, they were kind enough to follow up with helpful suggestions, unsolicited. The hardware works great, as well!
This instrument proved well suited for most of our applications at a cost less than a month’s rental of a traditional instrument. Most of the on screen controls were instinctive. Good value. Issues: Operating with the tracking generator at narrow bandwidths was finicky. The biggest issue was the lack of ability to reduce the sweep time to longer than the automatic setting. This function is critical when measuring systems with low duty factor switched paths.
I purchased both the SA and TG, 12GHz. The spectrum analyzer specifications seemed OK. The tracking generator was not recognized by my computer. However, the reason for return was that the user interface of the software was far too clumsy. There were several buttons like “clear” that did nothing; this was in the default mode. Units GHz MHz and the like were not easy to change. There should be sliders or some software aid to scan through numbers. On wide frequency scans the screen did nothing, other than show some useless number that was flickering; one could not tell what it was doing. The user interface was not for me. If the user interface on Spike was improved you could have a winner.
I purchased a Signal Hound SB-44 as a replacement for old HP Spectrum Analyser. It fit my need for an inexpensive, portable, high quality, analyzer for mobile use. This unit along with a laptop computer makes spectrum measurements a breeze. All the functionality of a big heavy bench top analyzer are included in this little, lightweight package. My main use is for AM/FM broadcast signal bandwith and spurious signal measurements, and satellite IF band alignment. There is a bonus feature that I didn’t expect, the SB-44 can be used as a high quality ham radio software defined receiver. The SB-44 is an amazing unit at an affordable price.
I had the pleasure to use the USB-SA44, USB-SA44B and the USB-TG44A for more then 4 years, products are very good but not perfect, my main concerns are with the USB connector on the back, my USB-SA44B unit cannot move on the bench, as soon I move the unit and/or the cable moves it becomes disconnected and with Spike crashing many times, My USB-TG44A start to have the same problem, definitive the quality of that connector need to be improved. A USB 3.0 upgrade is a must, depending on the configuration the sweep take long time and become useless specially when you are tuning band pass filters or any other resonant unit. The phase noise option need to be improved, even with if a external low phase noise 10MHz reference is used you cannot trust phase noise readings below -110dBc/Hz, Just my two cents Alex Artieda
These tools are the main instruments I use for my ham radio stations and find them to be accurate, reliable and flexible. Being portable I am able to take them in my computer bag to my different stations as well. I will not give them up! Joe
I guess I bought one of the first units produced – lots of spurs. Unfortunately I don’t have a positive impression about them.
The BB60C is exactly what my team needed to assess external interference with our system. The user interface is intuitive and easy to work with. Great Product!
It was purchased for filter design with SA44B. You should have TG44A as my case.
The software is nice and feature packed. However, if there are any other programs on your Windows 10 computer, connection to the Analyzer becomes difficult at best. Driver load times can be up to ten minutes. I rate it poorly for this reason. There are no means of selecting the number of sample points for CVS export for excel plotting. This type of work is useless with this software as the sample points are over 16001. Otherwise, a nice small feature packed Analyzer.
Spectrum Analyzers for RF work run from extremely expensive to relatively low cost. I have used both Keysight (/Agilent/HP) and Rohde & Schwarz and they are without doubt great devices, but you can’t compare a $70,000 analyzer with a $1,000 Signal Hound. I bought the Signal Hound so I could do pre-scan EMC qualification as our company couldn’t afford the high end. It was a great investment. The device is sensitive, well calibrated and easy to use. I have even used it with an external antenna for tracking down rogue emissions outside of work. Excellent value for money and highly recommended.
The combo of SA-44B & TG-44A is an accurate, fast and highly portable set up for us in the field during system commissioning. For broadcasting commitments at large sporting events we manage multiple wireless microphones IFBs and UHF communications operating across sports stadiums and golf courses. So we use the SA-44B to monitor receive points (harmonics, intermod & EMR) from remote locations, often several kilometers away from the receive point. This is important since the our test equipment connected via USB to a local PC on the tower is now available to view by technicians standing at the various TX positions working on individual transmitters. By using remote access into that PC from tablets and phones we can fault-find and also check when to combine or rotate antennas. Try doing that with a conventional desktop Spec Analyzer.
It suffered from being a first-generation product, both the software and the hardware itself. A couple of years later I inquired if there was an upgrade or trade-in program but there was none. I should never have purchased it.
The fastest spectrum analyzer in our lab. Spike works without any flaws on a Lenovo E530. The BB60C is definitely worth its price.
I have owned and used this Spectrum Analyser for around 6 or 7 years now. It has been my only S/A and although only used in a hobby environment by a non-professional (me) I have found it to be extremely dependable and way more accurate than what I will ever need. I have had occasions when the software hangs but that was possibly computer rather than signal hound software problems. I have the companion Tracking Generator as well and both units get top marks from this Radio Amateur user. I plan to install the software (old and new-Spike) on my Windows 10 machine and once I am set up at my new downsized QTH it will be put into use again. A very reliable and well engineered product.
Pros: affordable, computer-based spectrum analyzer that does exactly what it advertises. Cons: requires Microsoft Windows. This is literally the only piece of computer-based test equipment I own (out of several oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators, ICEs, serial emulators, etc, etc) that does; I have a computer whose sole job is to run this software, which is does, flakily.
The spectrum analyzer has been helpful to us. We have used it in the 2.4GHZ band as we develop transmitters that are largely used in the medical field.
I have both the Tracking Generator and the Spectrum Analyzer… they are so small that i carry both of them plus a couple antennas in a my backpack all the time. When I’m doing a survey, it is easy for me to pull them out and quickly take readings or mitigate issues. They are surprisingly powerful when coupled with the SPIKE (free) software. Unlike a $32K Anritsu… they are ALWAYS available because of their light weight and small size. And… the cost was less than three SPECAN rentals from our old distributor. If you don’t already have a set… Why not???
Fantastic device. New Spike software makes it even better. I use it for Amateur Radio projects.
I purchased Signal Hound Spec Analyzer several years ago and use it in my Contract Engineering business. This has been a real boon to me. I frequently need to “see” what a client’s signal looks like. No longer is it necessary for me to lug a “big box” or perhaps use a hand truck to get a spec analyzer into position. This device fits into my laptop case and I merely sling the strap over the shoulder and away I go. Further, it has performed well at the calibration laboratory and I have nothing but the highest praise. In over 40 years of experience, this has been an enormous step forward in spec analyzer technology. I most highly recommend.
Signal Hound products are the core of my business’s test & measurement equipment, and the BB60-C is our most used (and beloved) piece. It provides exactly the information needed for entertainment RF coordination and technical work. It routinely exceeds our expectations and outperforms far more expensive and bulky spectrum analyzers for our applications. Its sweep speed is nothing short of amazing and it has never failed to capture and display every type of modulation scheme that we have attempted to measure. I stake my reputation on it at every gig.
I have bought the combo: USB-SA44B + USB-TG44A + ZHDC-16-63+(directional coupler- 6GHz) i did a master degree in microwave circuits, and those equipments were a plus on my work . i built and test everything at home before go to university for the offical measurements, it saved me a lot of time. i built some microstrip filters, small signal amplifiers , and others… not surprising the results concordance with agilent +$15000,00 equipments was awsome. As a bonus i did a first glance “impedance matching test”, in some trasceivers PCBs i have built using the older software and the Smith Chart app. Adalberto Amorim Filho – Brazil.
I keep mine in the car so I can always have it with me. There is nothing like one of these to look at signals above 4 GHz easily (and able to look at other ones lower). It is great for identifying and studying signals up in the multiple GHZ range in an area. I use it with both Spike and the HDSDR plug-in.
I have used this piece of equipment for several years and never have any problems. Good frequency accuracy and an easy to use GUI.
Very sensitive and accurate. Both freq and amplitude are near right on. The Spike S/W is great too. Had mine for many years, no problems. I wish I bought the tracking gen too.
I have been using the SA44B for over 6 years now and do a lot TSCM work with it. I have found it to be a very reliable device with constant software updates.
Excellent value for money. Now with it working with other applications and waterfall display, its well worth a look. couldn’t fault if for what i needed it for. A general purpose SA with a large coverage.
This receiver is reliable, extremely fast, and is durable enough for dedicated and extended TSCM applications. I have used the BB60C on numerous bug sweeps and it has always performed with excellent results. Cheers! Aaron – Avisius/Seattle Bug Sweeps
Original failure (out of the box) of the attenuators recurred about a year, or so, later. …currently using external attn’s on my coax input line. Otherwise, like the SA and TG combo.
Purchased the SA124B and the BB60C; both are excellent products and do exactly what the specifications indicated.
I bought this unit for my work coordinating RF for large-scale productions and it has been exactly what I was looking for! I’ve owned many makes and models, from Kaltman to TTI, and they have all left something to be desired. The Spike software made all the difference to me, giving me all the data I need at my fingertips, presented in a meaningful way. Couldn’t be happier, and would recommend to anyone!
The Spike SDR up grade was a great improvement. I would like two things: 1. The ability to monitor (listen to) the audio as I measure it. 2. % modulation in a graphic form for AM and graphic deviation indication for FM.
Small compact unit, easily fits in laptop carrying case. Very easy to use, intuitive software interface! I highly recommend it! -SteveK
I purchased the early SA44/TG44A Spectrum Analyser/Generator in 2010. The early software was very clunky, but with the release of the Spike software, the usability has increased. Sure the operation is a little different to the conventional analysers I use in my day job, but it sure is a useful piece of kit, for doing tests. I have used it for looking at crystals and crystal filters, low level intermodulation, noise figure and phase noise tests, as well as general spectral analysis. This early version has a few spurious around the place, but the small footprint, and the smarts in Spike, make it a very useful addition to the lab.
I have purchased almost all of the signal hound product line. They are the core test equipment of my business. The results I have obtained and sent to my customers has allowed me to stay in the forefront of radio design consulting as a single employee company. I believe that competitive contracts which I have won are in part due to proposals generated by the signal hound test suite. I will continue to use signal hound equipment exclusively and look forward to additions to the test suite as they become available.
Bought the SA44B & TG44A. Later upgraded to the Spike software. A really great combination. Compact and easy to use. Can’t find anything close for the price. Had money left over to buy a Win10 laptop for a stand-alone rf measurement system.
A few years ago we purchased a Signal Hound Spectrum Analyzer from Signal Hound. We are a medium size manufacturer of electronic/ optical devices, including signal lights for railroad application utilizing LED devices. The Signal Hound Spectrum Analyzer is so accurate, we use it to calibrate and verify our Tektronix scopes used in our assembly line. An essential, indispensable part in our QC process. Highly recommended. www.percept.hu Laszlo Vass, CEO
We have been working with the good folks at Signal Hound and their products for 4+ years now. Combined with the Spike software, there is no match (in the Industry) for Signal Hound products in terms of performance, flexibility, affordability, and price. We constantly recommend all Signal Hound products to Satellite VSAT Installers, RF Professionals, and Students we Examine/Train under the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) platform. Well done: Signal Hound TEAM!!
Hello Cory Allen On Apr 6, 2014 I purchased a USB-SA124B 12.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer and a USB-TG124A 12.4 GHz Tracking Generator from Signal Hound. After using the equipment for months I have made the following observations. Signal Hound outperformed the test equipment I previously owned. Signal Hound pricing is very competitive. I like the fact that Signal Hound uses a PC as a display, keyboard and power supply, this will significantly improve serviceability. Would I recommend this equipment? Absolutely! Five stars from me. Gary Ward Technical Advisor Auburn Technology Corporation
I purchased the SA, and then the TG. Several years out of warranty, the TG failed, and I called them about an RMA. I said I’d have to think about it, the repair cost was close to the cost of a new one. One or two days later, they called me back and said, “You know, we had some problems with those early units, and we’re replacing yours.” So they have my heartfelt thanks. I have since bought a “bricked” SA at a ham radio flea market, which they repaired for, I think, $159, Doze guys are allright!
I purchased the Signal Hound USB-SA124B spectrum analyzer and also have the USB-TG124A tracking generator to provide a scalar network generator. I am very satisfied with the performance of these products. Actually when I purchased these items I did not expect such high performance test equipment for the price. I am a RF engineer and use these units as part of my primary test equipment. I design wireless products as a contract engineer for multiple companies. Some of my customers have high end name brand spectrum analyzers that cost 20 times as much and my measurements calibrate quite nicely to theirs when they confirm performance on prototypes I deliver. Excellent product.
I only recently go into spectrum analysis, however since the software and hardware are so great it wasn’t long before I was able to procure very useful information for a project. I hunted and pecked for a tutorial or two which have been done by others but it didn’t take make to become pretty proficient with Spike and Signal Hound.
Очень доволен вашим прибором.Работает прекрасно. Буду рад если Вы пришлёте программу пригодную К windows 10..
I use this regularly as a measurement receiver and spectrum analyzer. It has the features of much more expensive analyzers such as harmonic analysis and phase noise analysis (you usually need to feed in a better low noise reference for this). I am planning to take advantage of the SDR and waveform capture capabilities in the future but have not done this yet. The Spike software has the familiar look and feel of a standalone analyzer and seems fairly bug-free. The accuracy and precision are adequate for me.
I have both the signal hound and the tracking generator and use both when evaluating filters. (Mostly very old bandpass filters) They work well and I am a satisfied customer. I do appreciate your efforts at keeping in touch and the ‘lectures’
We stopped using it after a few attempts as the measurable span was too small as we needed more than 60mhz of span.
I wanted a light compact spectrum analyzer. The Signal Hound is that plus a lot more. It does everything that is advertised. It has been trouble free, the directions are easy to read. This is one product that I would recommend and have.
So far I am please with the units. The only suggestion would be to have N connectors on the units. I believe I understand why the sma’s are used. Lots of features and good quality. My learning curve is going slowly. Thanks for a great product Leon K8ZAG
The Spectrum Analyser and Tracking Generator are frequently put to use in my design,construction and alignment of Amateur Radio microwave projects. A far cry from my days in the 1930’s when I used a Lecher line and tape measure.
This product is great for DAS. I have used it for commissioning for three different sites and it still is in good working order. The only drawback is there is nothing to protect it from a drop on the ground.
Purchased for our technicians to use at home and in the field. Provides everything a military communicator could ask for and more. Very handy device that cuts down on extra equipment needed.
Works great, broad capabilities – solid piece of kit for any RF workbench
This is a great device to pair up with the BB60C spectrum analyzer. It actually can make cavity filter adjustments a little fun.
Yes, we are happy with the performance of the signal hound USB-SA124B — 12.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer
Been very pleased with both the company and the product. Good job guys.
It is meaningless to say one other time that Signal Hound’s USB-SA44B is affordable, easy to use, compact and a powerful tool. What nobody sees behind the scenes is the customer care! Those guys are absolutely amazing. I sent my analyzer for repair once and, for my surprise, the unit failed on environmental chamber after rework and they needed to delay the delivery. So they decided to change the posting method by their own to speed up the delivery process. After that I became even more satisfied, they rerun environmental test (which is great), but did it in a way this wouldn’t impact on the delivery time. This only proves that Signal Hound is not only making quality products, but they also care a lot about customer satisfaction. Thank you guys! Kind regards, Fernando Oliveira
This spectrum analyzer is capable of so much more than I use it for, testing Faraday cages for MRI. When I hook up the highly portable device to my small lap top and fire up Spike, she probably “thinks” what, you again, boring, don’t you want to save some data, try another frequency maybe, but even going time and again in the room with magnets on field, she just performs as required. Back in the box till next time. Awesome product, especially for the price! Will definitely buy a second one in the future.
Great receiver with spectrum analyzer. We use it for out of chamber antenna testing and is well worth the value.
I has a few quirks getting the software going (but Signal Hound tech support was totally awesome, thanks!), after that it seems to work as advertized.
Good basic unit. The frequency is very accurate, phase noise is acceptable depending on your application. The literature correctly describes the units capabilities. The software is very straightforward and drivers loaded Windows 7, no problem.
In January 2015 I quit my job as an RF design engineer and began doing some independent consulting. My first job involved design and test of some cell phone equipment and I needed a spectrum analyzer. I looked around, read some reviews and decided to go with the Signal Hound SA124B. I also bought a TG124A tracking generator to go along with the spectrum analyzer. I installed the drivers and the display software with no problems. I plugged in the SA and TG, started the software, and I had a working spectrum analyzer. I was using an older, spare computer that did not meet the Signal Hound minimum recommended requirements. It worked but the maximum update rate was only about 2 frames per second. About a month later I decided to get a better computer and what a difference in speed. I was surprised at how well this spectrum analyzer worked. Sensitivity and general performance was certainly much better than I expected for the price. Tracking Generator I could never understand why none of the spectrum analyzers that I used at companies I had worked for in the past were not equipped with a tracking generators. I tracking generator is a fairly low cost option, relative to the cost of the analyzer, and adding a tracking generator adds the capability of a scalar network analyzer to the spectrum analyzer. Plus, if a scalar network analyzer is not needed then the tracking generator can be operated independently and used as an independent oscillator, at least the Signal Hound tracking generator can. After a few months of use the tracking generator developed an intermittent at the RF output connector. I sent it back to Signal Hound for repair and had it back about a week later. It’s been fine ever since. The display and control software has seen some tremendous improvements since I first turned my system on. The analyzer and tracking generator programs have been combined into one program called Spike. The Spike software allows the spectrum analyzer to do automatic measurements of harmonics, phase noise, Modulation analysis (AM, FM QPSK, EVM, etc.) to name a few. All of the software updates have been free. I was working with another engineer on the cell phone project who was doing the antenna design. He was so impressed with my Signal Hound setup that he purchased his own. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Signal Hound SA124B. If you need a spectrum analyzer and don’t have thousands of dollars to spend then this is the one.
Although the unit came in the wrong case and had TCXO problems, the people at SignalHound responded quickly to resolve these issues. I have had a number of interactions with customer support and each has been outstanding. The software is feature rich and mostly intuitive. Bottom line, they have hardware, software and customer support that provide excellent value.
I found the Signal Hound to be very useful in filling a niche for a 2nd analyzer. Small, relatively easy to operate after the first setup and use and cost effective.
Dear Cory, You asked for a review of your product so I will give it to you right between the eyes… I am a small product manufacturer myself and I also value any constructive customer feedback. Your product has served my needs admirably, for the purpose of small signal transmitter testing and tuning. The only issues I have are the software locks up on occasions, particularly in the colder months which makes it frustrating when I am performing a tricky antenna tune. The recovery process is a compete power down and software shut down come task manager error reset. I feel as though the product I own has a wonderful basis but just requires the final 5% of software polishing to be the ultimate tool for my purposes. I hope that these comments will assist any process you are conducting. Please keep up the good work and get over what I see as the final hurdle. Kindest regards, Karl Kivinen.
I have been working with this product for several years for testing purposes and it was what I expected. It is very easy to use and easy to configure, the libraries have several functions but you can work in build your own libraries to work with. If you are working with C# programming maybe you need to import functions.
I love it. It would be even better if there were a fiber optic interface instead of a BNC interface (you’d sell many more units if you had this)
I really like the USB-TG44A Tracking Generator and USB-SA44B 4.4 GHz Spectrum analyzer combo. For context, I designed low frequency spectrum analyzers for a well known company many years ago. It is truly amazing how much power one can (literally) put in one’s pocket today. Sure, pay 10x (or 100x) more, and get faster updates, wider real time bandwidth, but these are serious instruments you can take with you to get your work done.
My perception of buying spectrum analyzers in the past led me to believe I needed to spend $10k+. I was thrilled when I learned of this product from a colleague. It has all the basic features one needs (markers, traces, average and peak power detection, presets and save capability). I could not be more pleased with this product. A great value.
Does much of what a $30K bench analyzer will do, at a fraction of the price. I used the programmable interface to automate signal strength measurements for antenna pattern generation. Portability is key to this function. Also used the mating signal generator,(with used directional couplers I found on e-bay), to generate return loss plots of antennas. Rugged and reliable equipment. Great products. Thank you, Signal Hound!
We found its performance was excellent for the price with the convenience of the USB interface allowing the PC to do the hard work. We used this in conjunction with the USB tracking generator which allowed us to characterize components and carry out RF tasks.
I purchased the above spectrum analyzer, one of the first. Good quality and performances. I had a very good support and communication exchanges on the sale and post sale services.
I use the TG with the SA to make a Scalar Network Analyzer. This is a great tool in a portable package (using a laptop). As a bonus, I’ve used the TG in CW mode as a Signal Source too. Combined with the SA and Spike Software, this makes an amazing kit that’s great value for the price!
So far I have a BB60A, one SA44B and TG44A. I have been happy with all three. A few times I contacted customer service and talked to someone both knowledgable and helpful. Once I asked for TG44A control under Spike and a couple of weeks later I found that on the newest release. Looking forward to work with their newest analyzer…. Kamran Abadi
Great product for the Ham Radio enthusiast that wants to learn more of the technical aspects of the hobby without investing thousands in typical test equipment!
Good instrument. It is compact and affordable. The signals looks decent. I wish there were more analytical capabilities but I suppose I would have to pay for them. Overall it is worth spending $1000 than buying a $20K instrument.
I purchased my Signal Hound about 5 years ago. I am a telecommunications design engineer and amateur radio operator. When I started my career in the 1970s, spectrum analyzers were exotic, very expensive and heavy instruments! I have used my Signal Hound in developing an Analog Telecommunications Course and a Digital HF Telecommunications Course. I also used it designing 3 different Software Defined Radios and in programming various synthesizers. It is extremely easy to use, the manual is excellent and most of all I just plug it into my HP Laptop so it is totally portable. Several things I found most invaluable/necessary. I purchased an sma attenuator set, with DC block and also an RF probe. You need these to do proper measurements and protect your unit. The unit is ideal for design, radio hams and would also be ideal for a College/University Telecommunication Laboratory. Jeremy Clark VE3PKC www.clarktelecommunications.com
Integration with mathlab no guidance. Seting the recording …confusing. can not set a rare samples. No info.
Testimonials from users
With as much resolution as a larger more costly spectrum analyzer, the Signal Hound really delivers performance at a great price.
Ed Thurmond Sr. Design Engineer at ClearOne http://www.clearone.com For an Engineer who travels a LOT around the Pacific being able to carry a Spec An of this quality, a Scope (Picoscope) and Multimeter (Fluke) all in my Computer Laptop bag and then take it on board with me is a very real bonus.
Roly Runciman Senior Broadcast Engineer at Rhema Media, NZ, regarding our USB-SA124B http://www.rhemamedia.co.nz/ The SA44B in my home lab I really like. Especially after I installed the Spike software.
I would like to thank those people who made a compact and a good device!
Edward – SA44B owner in St. Petersburg, Russia