Portable RF Capture & Playback
RF-Catcher + Application Suite
The most compact RF Capture & Playback device and spectrum analyzer. Covering a frequency range from 70 MHz up to 6 GHz, RF-Catcher can Record & Play real-time RF bandwidth of up to 55 MHz.
"*" indicates required fields
Applications
- Chipset, STB/TV field test debugging (a great tool to support your pre-sales team)
- Handy demonstration setup: bring real RF sources into your laptop
- Radio/TV Broadcast/Telecom RF troubleshooting
- Test automation (CLI): plan & trigger capture/playback tasks
- Telecommunications Regulation Agencies validation tool
Benefits
- Compact, easy & simple usage: no need for RF experts to capture field RF signals (ex: DAB/FM, TV broadcast, Satellite broadcast, Wi-Fi,…), your sales force can do it for you anywhere in the world
- RF sources stored on a PC: easy to duplicate/transfer between headquarter and regional sites
- Non proprietary IQ files; IQ file format converter available in the Application Suite
RF-Catcher allows experimentation of a wide range of signals including Radio (FM, DAB…), TV broadcast (DVB-T/T2, C/C2, ISDB-T/Tb, etc…), cellular, Wi-Fi, up to satellite signals (DVB-S/S2). The RF-Catcher is equipped with LNB control for frequency down conversion of Ku/C bands.
The integrated GNSS receiver provides precise location information; KML file, metadata, NMEA compatible.
Portable and compact, the RF-Catcher is used along with a PC through USB3 connectivity. The RF-Catcher is compact, robust, lightweight (600g) and cost-effective: your technicians and engineers can bring it everywhere in their hand bag.
The RF-Catcher Application Suite consists in a number of software applications that allow to extend the RF-Catcher Starter Kit functionalities. All these applications are grouped in a new all-in-one launcher featuring device information, license status and applications launch.
Record & Play real-time RF bandwidth
Frequency range: 70 MHz up to 6 GHz
Bandwidth: up to 55 MHz
Suitable for: radio (FM, DAB…), TV broadcast (ATSC 3.0/1.0, DVB-T/T2, C/C2, S/S2, ISDB-T, etc…), cellular, Wi-Fi
Non proprietary IQ file format
Test Automation: Command Line interface provided
Portable (600g) and Self-Powered
Connected via USB 3.0 with the RF-Catcher application running on the PC
Windows 7/8/8.1/10 support (x64)
IQ capture records: stored on the PC internal disk (SSD)
PC minimum requirements: Core i5/i7, 4GB of RAM, USB 3.0 connectors, SSD storage
AUTOTEST tool for PC performance check: loss free bandwidth capacity for capture & playback
Satellite Capture
The integrated LNB controller allows DVB-S/S2 IF signal capture
Radio Capture & Playback
FM record & playback, complete FM spectrum display
DAB, DAB+ record & playback (TPEG, Infotraffic, HD-Radio)
Combine 2 devices to record the FM/DAB switchover (Master/Slave)
Test Coverage & Drive Testing
Internal GPS/GLONASS receiver
NMEA compatible, KML file generation
RF signal power measurement and GPS location in report files (Google Earth compliant)
GPS/GLONASS Signal Capture & Playback
Capture & playback the GPS/GLONASS signal from active GPS antenna and via an active GPS splitter
RF Capture & Playback Application
Easy to use & responsive: high degree of parameterization for measures
- Spectrum analysis: FFT type and size, frequency markers, power in-band
- RF capture: variable acquisition bandwidth up to 55 MHz, variable gain, automatic gain setting (AGC), rolling buffer mode
- RF playback: variable attenuation
- Waterfall section: bursts & transients detection (Wi-Fi, 4G…)
Status indicators for IQ sample transfer over USB 3.0: ADC loss, LNB loss, In Band saturation, Out of Band saturation
DC offset removal
TaskScheduler (optional app.)
Automatic capture/playback time scheduling
For capture tasks: generate report files containing RF power measurements for different frequency markers
Visualize your results in real-time!
Event Trigger (in-app option)
Trigger RF records/playbacks based on several events:
- EdgeProbe monitoring alarms (RF, TS, T2-MI, BTS): keep a proof of the issue
- Input signal level going out-of-range
- Frequency marker signal level going out-of-range (interference detection and characterisation)
- Hardware trigger: several RF-Catcher devices can be chained to synchronize RF captures/playbacks (ideal for FM/DAB switchover)
RF TroubleMaker (in-app option)
The perfect lab tool for real conditions testing: playback an alterated RF signal
- Noise Generator: Gaussian, Impulsive
- Channel Simulator: add up to 24 paths to the RF signal and visualize the alterated RF spectrum (Delay, Doppler)
IQ Converter (optional app.)
Tool for IQ file format conversion
Supported formats: Eiden, IZT, Lumantek, Adivic, A74, ARB…
IQ Splitter (optional app.)
Tool for IQ file time cut and resize
Optimize the IQ files network transfer by keeping only the most important part of an RF capture!
ATSC 3.0 LabMod (optional app.)
ATSC 3.0 software modulator for Lab
Generate live ATSC 3.0 RF signals through RF-Catcher TX connectors
More details on ATSC 3.0 LabMod dedicated product page
DiviSuite-IP (optional app.)
MS Windows OS application providing complete TS/T2-MI analysis of baseband streams (IP, File based), with TS recording and playback capabilities.
Floating license for 1 user
More details on DiviSuite-IP dedicated product page
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
- 2x RF inputs, 2x RF outputs for RF Capture & Playback (SMA/F connectors)*
- Variable bandwidth from 1 up to 55 MHz
- Automatic filtering: harmonic suppression for playback, out of band signal suppression for capture
- RF reception:
- • Status indicators: USB connection / IQ sample loss / In band saturation (ADC) / Out of band saturation (LNA)
- • FFT display: Spectrum measurements: FFT resolution, FFT markers insertion / Averaging functions: RMS, min/max hold / FFT window functions: rectangular, Hamming, Blackman, Hann…
- • Signal waterfall plot (three-dimensional spectrum)
- • Power in band measurement
- Trigger mode for synchronized capture/playback between several devices
- RF capture: variable gain, automatic gain setting (AGC), rolling buffer mode
- RF playback: variable attenuation
- Lightweight and compact 163 x 115 x 32 mm, 600 g, 3 W typical power consumption
- Connected to PC via USB3.0 connectivity (SuperSpeed) (USB2 backward compatible, but with lower performances due to limited USB2 bitrate)
- IQ files stored on the PC: 12 Msps sample rate, 170 min of record = 512GB
- Nonproprietary IQ file format, compatible with Matlab software
- IQ file conversion support: IQW (Lumantek) RF-Catcher, WFM (Adivic) -> RF-Catcher, DAT (Eiden) RF-Catcher, BIN (Averna) RF-Catcher, CBB (IZT) -> RF-Catcher, RF-Catcher -> ARB, A74 RF-Catcher
- Integrated GNSS (GPS, GLONASS) receiver: KML file, metadata, NMEA protocol
- Compatible Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10 (x64 versions only)
- *Both input/output connectors cannot be used at the same time
RX MODE - Frequency
- Frequency band
-
70 MHz to 6.0 GHz
- Frequency resolution
-
1 kHz
- Real-time bandwidth
-
1 MHz to 55 MHz
- RBW (Resolution bandwidth)
-
30 Hz (for 2 MHz) to 210 kHz (for 55 MHz)
Noise
- Noise Figure
-
< 8 dB
- Phase Noise at 10 kHz
-
*
- 1200 MHz
-
-91.3 dBc/Hz
- 3200 MHz
-
-85.2 dBc/Hz
- 5000 MHz
-
-82 dBc/Hz
- Noise Floor / Sensitivity
-
-110 dBm
IF Band
- ADC resolution
-
12-bit
- Sampling rate
-
61.44 Msps max
RF Input Characteristics
- Input Dynamic Range
-
-110 to 0 dBm
- Input Level Resolution
-
1 dB
- Max Peak power*
-
0 dBm
- Max DC input*
-
± 15 V
- *Absolute maximum ratings
-
*
Gain Range (1dB step)
- 800 MHz
-
0 to 74 dB
- 2300 MHz
-
0 to 73 dB
- 5500 MHz
-
0 to 65 dB
IIP3
- 1200 MHz
-
7.2 dBm
- 3200 MHz
-
8.4 dBm
- 5000 MHz
-
15.2 dBm
Storage
- 512 GB @ 12 Msps
-
170 min
- 512 GB @ 24 Msps
-
85 min
- 512 GB @ 40 Msps
-
50 min
TX MODE - Frequency
- Frequency band
-
70 MHz to 6.0 GHz
- Frequency resolution
-
1 kHz
- Real-time bandwidth
-
1 MHz to 55 MHz
Phase Noise at 10 kHz
- 1200 MHz
-
-91.3 dBc/Hz
- 3200 MHz
-
-85.2 dBc/Hz
- 5000 MHz
-
-82 dBc/Hz
RF Output Characteristics
- Attenuation range
-
0 to 89 dB
- Amplitude resolution
-
0.01 dB
- Power output
-
5 dBm max
- Max DC output
-
± 15 V
INTERFACES
- RF input
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω 1x F-type female – 75 Ω (up to 2 GHz)
- RF output
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω 1x F-type female – 75 Ω (up to 2 GHz)
- 1PPS/Trigger input
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω
- Trigger output
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω
- 10MHz
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω
- GPS
-
1x SMA-type female – 50 Ω
- Power & Data
-
1x USB3 B-Type
- Auxiliary power
-
1x USB3 B-Type
PHYSICAL
- Dimensions
-
163 x 115 x 32 mm / 6.4 x 4.5 x 1.2 in
- Weight
-
600 g
- Power supply
-
USB self-powered
- Auxiliary power
-
USB connector (additional power supply for satellite captures using LNB controller)
- Power consumption
-
3 W
ENVIRONMENT
- Operating temperature
-
-20°C to +55°C
- Storage temperature
-
-20°C to +70°C
PC MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Core i5/i7 processor (at least 5th generation)
- 8 GB of RAM
- USB 3.0 connectors
- SSD for storage (Solid State Drive)
Use cases
RF-Catcher Presentation
The most compact Spectrum Analyzer and RF Capture & Playback device!
RF Troubleshooting
From 70 MHz to 6 GHz, RF-Catcher can monitor and analyze live RF whether it is Digital TV, Satellite, LTE, Radio, GPS... Generate .KML reports for your Drive Tests!
Portable & Compact
Forget about the big-sized and heavy RF devices. RF-Catcher is hand-sized and light-weight!
Easy to Use
Our User Interface is responsive and easy-to-use. This means that your Sales team can also use it as a demo tool!
Bring the World with you
Wherever you are in the world, RF-Catcher is able to process the RF around you.
Automatic RF Interferences Detection & Recording
RF-Catcher with EventTrigger is ideal to automatically detect RF interferences and record the spectrum to keep track of the perturbations.
Autonomous Capture & Playback Scheduling
Use RF-Catcher + TaskScheduler to conduct long-term campaigns with regular signal level monitoring.
Eric POULBOT –
Amazing tool which allow us to record all over Europe multiple technologies and playback them in Lab in an easy way.
FM & DAB are our use of this tool.
Ivan Panin –
Very small if compare with competitors. Very comfortable to take it in BT. Easy to use. Simple interface.
Oleg Beslik – LG Electronics –
Very good device. very simple and user friendly interface.
+ Small dimensions,
+ light weight,
+ excellent technical spec,
+ an unprecedented converter in the formats of other devices,
+ perfect technical support.
Anton Korotygin – LG Electronics –
This device is absolutely amazing. It is very easy to take it on board when you go business trip. Stream capture quality is rather better than BIG competitors device.
Excelent tool in such a small box, it really amaze me.
Ahmed Cassim –
Good tool of trade. A must for technical in the broadcasting space.
Luc TOURBEZ –
The RF Catcher is ease to use, and provide many solutions for detections of troubleshooting in RF broadcast signal or Telecom. The team of support is very reactive and stays in our listening. We use the RF Catcher with the program Taskscheduler for the surveillance of FM broadcasts.
Thierry Schott –
Very good device & very simple user interface. Used for UHF band captures. Playback is possible with the device or with other tools as IQ files are simple flat files.
Shu Chen –
Very good product. Though TestTree RF-Catcher was a little bit expensive, but it was totally worth the price because it has many powerful functions and works very stable. Our university bought two RF-Catcher in 2017 and 2020, and both of them work pretty good since three years.
Ahmad –
Please info for distributor in indonesia
Jennifer white –
Can u capture car fob frequency
Peter He –
Dears, I want to use this euipment in Jakarta, could someone have this euipment in Jakarta. Or If anyone can help to buy it in Jajarta? We can buy it immediately.
Sergio Alvarado –
A very useful instrument in telecommunications.