A Design of a Digital Spectrum Analyzer Based on the Roach II Platform

In order to archive the real-time measurement of the broadband electromagnetic environment, a digital spectrum analyzer is developed and designed based on the Roach II platform. It has a real-time bandwidth of 10 MHz-2 GHz and a dynamic range of 55 dB. Firstly, by analyzing the development and setting concepts of the digital spectrum analyzer and by considering the module parameter settings, the fast scan mode and pulse monitoring mode of the digital spectrum analyzer are implemented. Secondly, by testing and analyzing of the key parameters such as frequency response, dynamic range and linearity, a comparison with commercial spectrum analyzers is made. The results show that the designed digital spectrum analyzer has archived relatively precise test accuracy and can be applied to the broadband real-time spectrum monitoring and transient signal analysis in the radio telescope stations.