Mode Spectrum explorer

Spectrum explorer: look, measure and sweep.

Group	General & tools
Default frequency	433.92 MHz
Default sample rate	10 Msps
In the mode list	Spectrum, waterfall, sweep

Step-by-step: Tutorial-Spectrum-explorer

What Spectrum explorer is

The spectrum explorer is a measuring tool: look at the band, zoom, measure occupied bandwidth, power and SNR, and sweep ranges.

Frequencies and settings

No decoder: a tool to look around.

Setting	Value
Start frequency	433.92 MHz
Tuning range of the mode table	0.1 to 7250 MHz
Sample rate asked	10 Msps
Lowest working rate	250 ksps
Channel width	10 MHz

OnAir takes any frequency you type; the numbers above are the mode's starting point and the range its table describes. In the app the shortcut label is Spectrum, waterfall, sweep.

What OnAir shows

Spectrum and waterfall with markers, zoom and pan, region measurements (occupied bandwidth at -3 / -26 dB, channel power, SNR, symbol rate), LNB and converter offsets, range sweeps with signal detection, bookmarks.

Tips and caveats

• This is a tool for looking at the spectrum and recordings, not a decoder of one standard.
• Which radio: Usually yes for narrowband signals: an RTL-SDR tunes roughly 24 MHz to 1.7 GHz at up to about 2.4 Msps. Wide signals such as TV channels need a faster radio, and OnAir says next to the source what the selected radio can do.
• Try it without a radio: most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls first.
• Receiving and the law: These tools only look at the spectrum and listen. Receiving is legal in most countries, but laws differ on what you may use the content for. See Legal.

Related pages

• All modes, General & tools
• Supported radios, Troubleshooting, FAQ
• More in General & tools: Signal workbench, General receiver, Spectrum analyser