How Do Narda's Shaped Probes Simplify Their Measurements?

How Do Narda's Shaped Probes Simplify Their Measurements?
ATEC BLOG

At Narda, some products are getting long-requested new functions while others now even easier to use. The shaped probes from Narda are making it easier than ever to analyze data collected from the Broadband Field Meter. SignalShark products are also making use of new technology, using a mix of softkeys and a touchscreen to avoid rows of keys that only have one use. Meanwhile, the Narda RadMan 2 Personal Monitors now have a variable alarm threshold for more freedom by all users.

Measurement results directly as a percentage of the limit value – what could be simpler?

Shaped probes like the EA 5091 make reading measurements even easier. Have you ever tried to explain to your neighbor, your partner, or anyone without a technical background what a measured value of 10 μW/cm² at 900 MHz means? Not easy, is it?

It would be much easier to say that the limit value corresponds to 100%, and what we have measured here is just 2.3%. That sounds a lot simpler.

And that is exactly what the Shaped Probes from Narda do. Patented, and available for various national and international standards, they indicate the measured value as a percentage of the limit value when used together with the Narda Broadband Meter NBM. You don’t even need to know the frequency, as the Shaped Probes take this into account automatically.

You can read all about how this works here and why it is practically the only convincing measurement method in multifrequency environments (apart from selective measurement with the SRM-3006).

If you still want the challenge of explaining the values, the NBM-550 can convert the measured values back to mW/cm² @ frequency. But, you’ll probably be the first person ever to use this function.  
 
Narda's NM-550 without a shaped probe attached.
 
 

No more graveyards full of keys

The Narda SignalShark 3310 makes use of softkeys and a touchscreen. Receivers have to be fast. The interference signal that you are trying to capture isn’t going to wait for you. On the other hand, you also need more and more documentation and evaluation functions. Maybe, you also need automatic direction finding or digital signal classification.

One key per function would be the fastest option. However, that is impractical with the number of functions used today. The control panel would be a graveyard of row after row of keys. Softkeys are the answer, preferably combined with a touchscreen. Smartphones have led the way in this, banishing all keypad operated cellphones from the market.

It’s the same for receivers: a graveyard full of keys is so yesterday. It can’t be updated or converted and is slow and inflexible, especially if each key has two or three functions. All that is a thing of the past.

With the SignalShark, we say welcome to the new era of interference detection. Interference signals can no longer escape the SignalShark. Find out what the SignalShark touchscreen can do by watching the following video from Narda.

Personal Monitor RadMan 2 – totally flexible

The RadMan 2 also gets an update with variable alarm thresholds. Personal Monitors are, as the name suggests, part of your personal protective equipment. And the limit values that they measure are set in stone.

But, what if the personal monitor is not used exclusively by one person, maybe sometimes by employees and at other times by visitors to the company? Or, you want to give your staff a higher level of protection than that required by law, so that they are warned long before the value exceeds the limit?

For these situations, the RadMan 2 with variable alarm threshold is now available. For safety, the alarm value can only be adjusted to your personal requirements using the PC software and not on the instrument itself.

In this way, you can take a RadMan 2 that is factory set to the occupational limit and set it to the general public limit value which is five times lower. You can also do this with the Nardalert S3 by the way.

Be aware, though that this feature has nothing to do with the technically quite simple personal monitors that use variable thresholds to try and mimic the limit value curve. Narda does not make compromises that affect safety. In Narda monitors, the limit value curve is reproduced directly in the device.

If you want to know what the shaping feature patented by Narda is all about, the company explained it with an Application Note.
 
Using an updated SRM-3006 in the field.
 
Software updates:
There is a new software update for the Area Monitor AMB-8059 available for download from the Narda website here. You will need to register on the Narda website for this update.

Also available for immediate download are the updated datasheets for the Area Monitor AMB-8059 and Area Monitor AMB-8059 (Car Mounting Kit).

There is also a new datasheet for Narda's EHP-200. Read all about it and download the datasheet here.

Instrument demonstrations:
Would you like a demonstration of these instruments or another Narda product? Contact your Narda sales partner and ask for details.

Want to keep up with the latest news? Check regularly for further updates from Narda here.