Narda Safety Test Solutions Interference and Direction Analyzer IDA 2

Narda Safety Test Solutions has expanded the features of its Interference and Direction Analyzer. Spectrograms with a time resolution as fine as 1 μs now allow insights into signal structures that were otherwise only possible with large-scale lab equipment. This means that interference and hidden transmitters with rapidly changing frequencies can be analysed and then localised with subsequent operating steps.

Because the available frequency spectrum is limited, many modern communications methods make use of frequency hopping. By changing frequency continuously, several devices can always find frequencies or channels that are unoccupied. But if several mobile phone transmitters share the same transmitter location, the rectifying effect of just a couple of rusty rivets on the mast can generate in-band interference that is difficult to distinguish from the wanted signals.

In the IDA 2’s High Resolution Spectrogram display mode, the type of signal can be identified. The instrument writes the spectrums line by line, with levels indicated by different colours. In this way, the time and spectral relationships can be seen immediately. With time resolution as fine as 1 μs, LTE frame structures can be displayed, with any underlying dissimilar signals being immediately apparent because of their different frequency and time characteristics.

The frequency and time signatures allow conclusions about the type of source to be drawn and mutual interference detected in multiuse frequency ranges such as the ISM bands. The Magnitude display mode shows the level characteristic versus time and is useful for identifying signals using their time structures, setting triggers and locating their source.