RF measuring devices

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks,

In an attempt to do the (nearly) impossible and have the best of all worlds,

i.e. get a cheap, highly sensitive, and wide frequency range RF measurement

device, I've been running around the internet Here are a few options I came

across. Does anyone have any experience with them?

First is the poor mans spectrum analyzer, a do it yourself kit that reads from 2

to 2,150 MHZ. This would require help from a local electronics engineer to

assemble since I don't have this level of knowledge.

http://www.science-workshop.com/

Then for the lower range of up to 200 KHZ I came across this PC XY USB

oscilliscope.

http://www.hobbylab.us/default.aspx

For the commonly used 2.4 GHZ I looked at the Ubiquiti 2.4 GHZ spectrum

analyzer external on Amazon that is only $66. It uses a USB module paired with

a common laptop. The same company (Ubiquiti) also has a module for a 900MHZ

spectrum analyzer for around $55.

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Spectrum-Analyzer-External-Connector/dp/B002YKU2R\

A/ref=pd_cp_e_1

Then I thought about buying a used spectrum analyzer on ebay and came across

this article.

http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-a-Spectrum-Analyzer-for-your-Laboratory_W0QQugidZ\

10000000002149350

So has anyone else out there gone off the beaten track and looked into various

options for measuring a wide range of frequencies? Someone will ask what my

purpose is and I would say to get the most specific information about the RF

environment around me that I can.

Where I live we have nearby small antennas (150 - 470 MHZ), a cell tower and

smart meters (900 MHZ), Neighborhood WiFi (2.4 GHZ) and cordless phones (5GHZ).

Any thoughts or experience with these different devices?