BB60A – how to power/run with an expresscard USB3 adapter

Like the title says, really.

I just got my hands on a BB60A as a first step into trying out signal hound gear, but my laptop has no USB3 ports – though does have an i7 processor and while it’s a couple of years old (3?) it’s a pretty good laptop still.

So – I can buy a USB3 expresscard to slot into my laptop, and I think this is what I’d like to try rather than buying a new laptop for the sake of USB ports..

Any info on what the current draw for the BB60A is here? I’m trying to work out if I can expect an expresscard USB3 device to power the signalhound just from my laptop, and so get a nice neat unit I’ll probably leave in all the time… or if I will need one of those options that have a big honking bit than hangs out the side of my laptop but also have an extra power supply to plug into them?

Sorry to hassle you guys but I’d really appreciate an answer if anyone knows the actual current consumption needed, or even an “x works for me” if someone reading this has done this before… (Even a “we don’t know” if nobody at signal hound actually knows, would at least let me know I’m on my own and should just buy the more conservative non-mobile option..)

I want to get moving with using this spectrum analyser, and would really appreciate a chance to not waste time and money buying the wrong thing this weekend.

thanks!

Julian,
The BB60A draws about 900 mA. Sorry I didn’t get back to you yesterday.

Thanks Justin,

From reading about USB3, it looks like 900mA is a standard port capability of a USB3 port so in that case, its interesting signalhound even needs two USB plugs to go to the computer?

Anyway – I ended up getting an expresscard54 form factor card that will sit flush in my laptops socket, but it has space between the two USB3 ports for an “external supply” from one of my USB2 ports to boost its power out if need be. Unfortunately I couldn’t just run out to a shop and buy it, so am waiting for it to show in a few days.

In the meantime I should have access to another PC later today or tomorrow with proper USB3 ports so I can at least check it works on a normal PC before trying out the adapter…

Depending on settings, it can sometimes draw up to an amp, so we went with the Y cable. However, many customers have used a single 1 meter USB3 cable with the BB60A.
The BB60C draws 1.25 to 1.3 amps, so it requires the Y cable.

Good to know. thanks!

Well, I had it running on a PC with native USB3 ports today.. got some really useful views in RTSA mode. Of one of our radio transmitter designs at work doing something momentarily funny.

Looking forward to having it running on my own PC as soon as the new expresscard adapter shows up.

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