BB60C

Spectrum Analyzer
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
and Monitoring Receiver

9 kHz to 6 GHz
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 BB60C
Spectrum Analyzer
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer and Monitoring Receiver
9 kHz to 6 GHz

Features and Performance

You Need Now
■ 9 kHz to 6 GHz frequency range
Implementing wireless technologies is becoming part of many ■ +10 dBm to –158 dBm measurement range
of our jobs. Having a spectrum analyzer available to test and
implement RF designs into your projects is key. The Signal Hound ■ 90 dB dynamic range
BB600C spectrum analyzer offers an unrivaled value, providing the
■ 24 GHz/sec sustained sweep speed
performance you need at the best price available on the market.
■ 27 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth
The BB60C is a high-performance spectrum analyzer and
■ –158 dBm displayed average noise level
monitoring receiver. Tuning from 9 kHz to 6 GHz, the analyzer
has 27 MHz of instantaneous bandwith (IBW), 90 dB of dynamic
(Frequency at 1 GHz)
range, and 24 GHz/sec sweep speed at >10 kHz RBW. The price/ ■ System noise figure 12 dB typical
performance value of the BB60C is making many test engineers
(20 MHz to 1.8v GHz)
wonder why they should be paying so much for their next
spectrum analyzer. ■ ± 2.0 dB absolute amplitude accuracy

■ 10 Hz to 10 MHz resolution bandwidth

Managing and maintaining efficient communication networks
requires the best tools you can get. The need for an affordable ■ Calibrated streaming I/Q 250 kHz to 27 MHz
spectrum analyzer with the performance to monitor, manage, of selectable I/Q bandwidth
troubleshoot, and protect RF spectrum in the field has become
a critical factor for success. The BB60C is meeting the need ■ Real-time spectrum analysis capabilities up to
for many of these applications. 27 MHz with a 100 percent probability of
intercepting signals as fast as 1 µsec
Whether you are in the lab or in production, the BB60C is the
spectrum analyzer you need to keep your product supported.
Don't wait for your turn to share scarce equipment — now you
can have what you need in your own desk drawer!

2 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

 Measurements,
Capabilites and
Features
Spectrum Analyzer Measurements

Evaluate your signal performance in detail

The BB60C provides a wide range of measurements that let you

evaluate your signal performance in detail.

In addition to its many specialized measurements, the BB60C

offers all the traditional spectrum analyzer capabilities with
features such as adding markers, traces, channel power, adjacent
channel power, occupied bandwidth, spectrogram, phase noise,
trace export, and sweep recording. The BB60C offers all of the traditional spectrum analyzer
measurement capabilities.

Complex Signal Analysis

Don’t pay extra to analyze your

complex signals!

The BB60C includes a full suite of signal analysis capabilities.

Our digital modulation analysis capability includes constellation
diagrams and symbol tables for modulation formats such as QPSK,
BPSK, 8PSK, π/4DQPSK, DQPSK, and QAM16/32/64/256.

Use constellation plots to visualize RF metrics such as I/Q offset,

skew, EVM, phase noise, sample timing jitter, and compression.
The BB60C includes a full suite of digital modulation analysis capabilities.

SignalHound.com // (360) 313-7997 3

 Measurements, Capabilities and Features

Spectrum Emission Mask

Measurements

Easily trigger on out-of-band

and spurious signals

The BB60C software comes with a spectrum emission mask

capability. This allows you to easily locate out-of-band or
spurious signals. For several wireless standards, such as Wi-Fi,
we offer single button presets for all the WLAN 802.11b/a/n/ac
standards. This allows you to easily test out-of-channel spurious
and adjacent channel power against the standard specified
transmission mask. Define your own spectrum emission mask

Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer

Capabilities
For many real-world signals — from complex modulated
communications signals, to interference events, to pulsed tactical
signals — the signal energy can be sporadic, non-recurring, or even
random. With traditional spectrum analysis, these signals could be
nearly impossible to “catch” in an analyzer window or to trigger
on. Present and future communication modulations are
increasing the challenge further with techniques such as
frequency-hopping, spread spectrum, pulsed, and cognitive
radio low-probability-of-intercept techniques.

The real-time persistence and waterfall analysis show the occupancy of the
2.4 GHz ISM band of a Bluetooth headset and a cell phone searching for a
Wi-Fi network.

4 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

Measurements, Capabilities and Features

SWaP+C: Look No Further BB60C Real-time Spectrum Analyzer

8.63” x 3.19” x 1.19”

Pushing the boundaries of performance Size
(219 mm x 81 mm x 30 mm)

Next-generation defense systems are pushing the boundaries Weight 1.10 lbs. (0.50 kg)
of performance even as they continue to reduce size, weight,
power, and cost (SWaP+C). Even in the commercial world, One USB 3.0 port and one adjacent
Power
providing test engineers with critical test equipment USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port
in their drawer or on-the-go provides a competitive
The BB60C offers excellent SWaP+C parameters.
advantage.

USB Powered
The BB60C is powered by USB and does not contain
an internal power supply. This provides the ultimate in
portability. Simply plug into a USB 3.0 port and start
collecting data.

SCPI Automation The BB60C is powered by your PCs USB 3.0 connection.

Remote operation via a TCP/IP link

The BB60C offers remote interface and control capabilities

using SCPI compatible commands. It can be remotely operated
by sending SCPI commands through a TCP/IP link. You can
connect and interface the BB60C software through any
VISA implementation or any programming language that
allows SOCKET programming.

SignalHound.com // (360) 313-7997 5

 Expand Your Spectrum
Monitoring Capability with
Affordable Performance
Monitor, manage, troubleshoot and The BB60C meets your key
protect your RF spectrum requirements of performance
Wireless technology powers the modern world. From Wi-Fi
and affordability
to Bluetooth, satellites to smart phones, and automobiles
Sweep speed — the BB60C offers an industry leading 24 GHz/sec
to homes, every year it becomes more vital and ubiquitous.
sweep speed at any of its resolution bandwidth settings
When signals interfere with one another, data rates plummet,
≥10 kHz. Covering 1 GHz to 6 GHz in just 208 milliseconds
connections drop, errors multiply, range decreases,
allows for a constant sweep of the airwaves.
pathways become noisy, and information exchange slows.
The consequences can range from annoying to catastrophic.
Dynamic range — over 90 dB of specified dynamic range
ensures that your signals can be distinguished from the
Across this wide range of spectrum monitoring applications,
spectrum analyzer’s noise floor.
high-end spectrum analysis has become a necessity. The
need for affordable spectrum analyzer performance to
Real-time spectrum analysis capabilities — up to 27 MHz
monitor, manage, troubleshoot, and protect RF spectrum
of instantaneous bandwidth with a 100 percent probability of
in the field has become a critical factor for success.
intercepting signals as fast as 1 microsecond.

6 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

Applications, Real World Performance

Affordable EMC Precompliance Testing

Radiated emissions standards exist for commercial, industrial,
military, and aerospace products and systems, and involve
formal testing of RF emissions during device operation. For
those developing electronic hardware, low-cost alternatives
are needed to help guide EMC decisions during the
development phase.

The BB60C offers EMC Precompliance analysis for evaluating

device behavior during prototyping and pre-production phases.
EMC regulations have many frequency ranges and complex level
The BB60C offers easily accessible Frequency Scan Displays for common
requirements; we provide Limit Line Tables and Range Tables
standards, Bar Meter Plots with quasi-peak detector features, and a
which can be used to generate and simplify the use of complex
spur table display, all in one interface.
EMC Plots. The BB60C allows you to add in path loss and add
Antenna Factor Correction Tables, which are used to calibrate
or compensate for test setup frequency response imperfections.

Using the real-time capabilities allows you to capture very short

duration and intermittent signals that traditional spectrum
analyzers or EMC receivers aren’t capable of measuring reliably.
The BB60C provides persistent displays, waterfall displays, max
held trace, and frequency mask triggers. It can perform all of
these measurements that reveal frequency and time-domain
information simultaneously. These measurement methods
are particularly useful for capturing and analyzing bursty,
modulated, or intermittent signals.

A persistent display with EMC probes can reveal spurious and

intermittent spurious activity of a standard USB 2.0 port.

SignalHound.com // (360) 313-7997 7

 Applications, Real World Performance

Get a high-performance, low-cost

Scalar Network Analyzer (SNA) 
If you need to make accurate and efficient cable insertion loss
measurements or antenna return loss measurements, and the
project you’re working on doesn’t warrant the cost of a Site
Master™ or similar device, then take a look at our discounted
scalar network analyzer product combinations.

Signal Hound offers highly-capable and affordable SNA product

combinations that measure insertion loss, return loss, and have
the spectrum analyzer features you need. We also include an
API so that your equipment can do double duty—possibly as
automated test equipment—when the need arises. In today’s
competitive economy you need to leverage your equipment
to get the most out of your investment.

Upgrade your BB60C to a Scalar

Network Analyzer with the TG124A!
The Signal Hound TG124A is a 100 kHz to 12.4 GHz tracking
generator which works with your BB60C to measure filters,
attenuators, amplifiers and more! It is compact, simple to use,
and an effective troubleshooting and analysis tool in the lab
or in the field. Whether you are an amateur radio enthusiast
or a microwave communications professional, the TG124A
provides fast, accurate results.

8 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

Applications, Real World Performance

Modules Accelerate SDR Development

Integrate the BB60C into your SDR

Software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio communication system

where components that have been traditionally implemented
in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/
demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by
means of software on a personal computer or embedded
system. While the concept of SDR is not new, the rapidly evolving
capabilities of digital electronics make practical many processes
which were once only theoretically possible. Signal Hound offers
GNU Radio modules for the BB60C. This allows them to be used The GNU Radio application running the BB60C analyzer
as a flowgraph block.
as I/Q sources from within GNU Radio, as blocks in a flowgraph,
components of a hierarchical block, or called from a script.

802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN
Modulation Analysis

Now you can afford to evaluate transmitted

WLAN signals at your desk

The BB60C enables you to accurately evaluate your signal

performance and quality for the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN
standards. You can demodulate WLAN signals with bandwidths
up to 27 MHz and all QAM formats. Capture signal details
with up to 15 different measurement windows so you can
analyze modulation quality down to the bit level. The BB60C Accurately evaluate your Wi-Fi signal performance and analyze
lets you capture and analyze transient rogue signals, plus modulation quality down to the bit level.
troubleshoot spurious and out-of-band emissions.

SignalHound.com // (360) 313-7997 9

 Applications, Real World Performance

Easy Integration into Test Environments Remote control of monitoring nodes

Signal Hound’s open-systems approach provides a highly With the reduced expense of setting up a spectrum monitoring
extensible platform for creating custom-tailored applications. node, it follows that it must be able to be reset or rebooted with-
Companies with automated test equipment (ATE) applications out the need for field personnel visiting each node. The monitoring
can easily extend the basic analysis software that comes system is connected to the network and backend resources
with the product to address their unique requirements. through the PC’s Ethernet interface. The Ethernet interface
Since the APIs are fully documented and programmable in supports the full range of communications, data uploads, software
C/C++, virtually any set of custom functions can be created, updates, and other system management tasks. By pairing the
deployed, and maintained by programmers who are familiar BB60C with any Intel vPro-enabled PC, from a high-performance
with these industry-standard software methods. desktop to an ultra-compact NUC, the entire system can be
managed remotely, including the ability to cycle the power
and initiate operations.
Expanding capabilities beyond the box

Extensibility is very important in today’s rapidly changing wireless

communications environment where you need to remotely deploy
solutions or updates that can then be adapted to address new
requirements simply by remote updates of the software —
without the need for physical interaction.

Software customization is also a critical factor for creating

specialized spectrum analysis functions. Often, spectrum analysis
applications need to incorporate complex algorithms to detect,
analyze, and “chase” signals of interest.

The BB60C sends digitized data of the received RF spectrum

to the PC where most of the signal processing occurs. This
architecture has distinct advantages over sensors that perform
all of their signal processing in an FPGA.

Increase measurement speed with direct

device API programming

The BB60C architecture allows for an additional technique

to further increase speed performance. In many cases,
the instrument software can consume computer processor
overhead. The added use of the program may have a small
impact on overall test times. In cases where fractions of a
second are critical, Signal Hound allows its users to bypass
the BB60C software application. This allows for direct device
API programming for even faster measurements. The BB60C
can be programmed in C++, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, C#,
or any language that has C bindings.

10 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications
Frequency Range 9 kHz to 6 GHz

RF Input Impedance
50 Ω Nominal
(SMA connector)

Streaming Digitized I/Q 250 kHz to 27 MHz of selectable IF bandwidth that is amplitude corrected

Resolution Bandwidths (RBW) 10 Hz to 10 MHz

Internal Timebase Accuracy ±1 ppm per year

System Noise Figure

12 dB from 20 MHz to 1.8 GHz
(Typical)
Offset Frequency dBc/Hz
100 Hz -70
SSB Phase Noise 1 kHz -76
at 1 GHz Center Frequency 10 kHz -83
100 kHz -93
1 MHz -117
Speed RBW
24 GHz/sec 1 MHz
Sweep Speed 24 GHz/sec 100 kHz
24 GHz/sec 30 kHz
24 GHz/sec 10 kHz
Amplitude Accuracy 9 kHz to 6 GHz RBW filter shape
(+10 dBm to Display Average Noise ± 2.0 dB Flat-Top windowing
Level (DANL)) +2.0 dB/–2.6 dB Nuttall windowing
Input Frequency Range DANL
Display Average Noise Level 9 kHz to 500 kHz –140 dBm/Hz
(DANL) 500 kHz to 10 MHz –154 dBm/Hz
10 MHz to 6 GHz –158 dBm/Hz + 1.1dB/GHz

SignalHound.com // (360) 313-7997 11

 Technical Specifications

Residual Responses
Input Frequency Range Range Residual Level
REF Level ≤ –50 dBm, 0 dB
500 kHz to 6 GHz –103 dBm
Attenuation

LO Leakage @ RF Input: ≤ –80 dBm

Spurious Mixer Responses

(any ref level (RL) from +10 dBm to Input Frequency Range Spurious Level±
–50 dBm, in 5 dB increments, input 9 kHz to 6 GHz –50 dBc
10 dB less than RL, RBW ≤30 kHz)
Windows® 7, 8, or 10 operating system or Ubuntu Linux 18.04, 8 GB of RAM, Intel i7, 3rd genera-
tion (Ivy Bridge) or later with a quad core processor, one USB 3.0 port, and one adjacent USB 2.0
or USB 3.0 port.
System Requirements
Note: RF recording using streaming I/Q bandwidths > 8 MHz requires the computer’s mass
storage drive to have at least 250MB/sec of sustained write speed such as an SSD, RAID-0,
or RAID-5.
USB 3.0 serial bus

Connectivity The Cypress FX3 peripheral controller streams the packetized data over a USB 3.0 link to the PC,
where 80 million, 14 bit ADC samples per second are processed into a spectrum sweep or I/Q
data stream.

GPIO Port Used for antenna switching and in/out triggering.

Synchronization 1 PPS GPS input port enables ± 50ns time-stamping

Operating Temperature • Standard: 32°F to 149°F (0°C to +65°C)

(Ambient) • Option-1: –40°F to 149°F (–40°C to +65°C)
Net, 1.10 lbs. (0.50 kg)
Size and Weight
8.63" x 3.19" x 1.19" (219mm x 81mm x 30mm)

Power Consumption (1) USB 3.0 port and (1) adjacent USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port

12 (360) 313-7997 // SignalHound.com

Ordering Information

BB60C
Spectrum Analyzer
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
and Monitoring Receiver Price $3,160 USD (Retail)
9 kHz to 6 GHz Standard: Passive cooling,
32˚F to 149˚F (0˚C to +65˚C)

Price $3,435 USD (Retail)

Option 1: Active cooling & extended temperature,
-40˚F to 149˚F (-40˚C to +65˚C)

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■ 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee

Price includes all software and options – no add-ons needed!

 Additional Signal Hound Products

VSG25A
2.5 GHz Vector Signal Generator.................... $545
■ -40 dBm to +10 dBm output power
■ Easily generate analog, digital, and arbitrary waveforms
■ 1000+ simultaneous tones, 6 nanosecond pulses
■ Built-in support for a number of modulation types

signalhound.com/products/vsg25a-vector-signal-generator/

VSG60A
6 GHz Vector Signal Generator.....................$2,580
■ Arbitrary I/Q sample rates: 12.5 kSPS to 51.2 MSPS
■ Stream waveforms of virtually any size
■ +10 dBm to -55 dBm output power
■ Agile, low phase noise LO with 200 µs frequency hops

signalhound.com/products/vsg60a-6-ghz-vector-signal-generator

SA44B
4.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer........................... $1,060
■ RF Frequency Range: 1 Hz to 4.4 GHz
■ Wide dynamic range: -151 dBm to +10 dBm
■ Resolution bandwidths (RBW) pf 0.1 Hz to 250 KHz

signalhound.com/products/usb-sa44b/

SM200B
20 GHz Real-time Spectrum Analyzer........$13,510
■ 100 kHz to 20 GHz frequency range
■ +20 dBm to -160 dBm measurement range
■ 1 THz sustained sweep speed
■ 160 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth
■ Phase noise of 132 dBc/Hz, 10 kHz offset, and 1 GHz carrier

https://signalhound.com/products/sm200b-20-ghz-real-time-spectrum-analyzer/

For additional models, frequencies, options, etc.

Visit: signalhound.com
Online Ordering • All prices retail USD
 About Signal Hound
Signal Hound designs and builds powerful, affordable spectrum analyzers and signal generators for engineers and RF
professionals around the globe. Whether you’re needing EMC precompliance capabilities in a small two-person shop or
spectrum monitoring on a national scale, our test equipment is designed with you in mind. Accurate and powerful enough
for mission-critical RF analysis, priced at a point accessible to most, and supported by a talented group of engineers
committed to what they do – we truly believe that our devices offer unrivaled value in the test equipment industry.

In business since 1996 and selling our own line of Signal Hound test equipment since 2010, we’ve built the foundation
of our company on years of test equipment repair, service, hardware and software development, and manufacturing
experience. Signal Hound is a small company with big goals – and an even bigger commitment to providing our
customers with an outstanding experience when purchasing and using our products.

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