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Cheap TV spectrum analyzers: The 6 flaws nobody tells you

An inexpensive field strength meter with the same features than a professional device, at a fraction of the price? Such suggestive promises are suspicious: The technology found at PROMAX TV analyzers is often not found in cheap equipment. The installer will decide whether it is worth to renounce it…

Shielded from RF interferences

RANGER analyzers from PROMAX can be used near of repeaters or telephony base stations because they have an integral protection that immunizes the device from radiofrequency interferences.

It is a light aluminum shielding applied by high vacuum technique that covers and protects the whole analyzer’s electronics so that RF interferences do not have an impact on the accuracy of the measurements.

Dramatically fast creation of measurement reports – Just one click

Using PROMAX analyzers it is possible to create measurement reports really fast thanks to the automatic measurements system (Datalogger) and NetUpdate software (that allow creating reports in a single click).

A cheap analyzer that demands writing down the measurements in a sheet (or using screen captures) to later manually produce a report is a waste of time.

Triple, certified measurement accuracy

During the production line of the field strength meters, at PROMAX we apply an individual frequency and level calibration to each and every unit to compensate the error margins that may produce the electronic parts.

Later on, during its regular use in working environments, the internal software applies an algorithm that compensates the measurements to correct the error that may induce the thermal changes the electronic will deal with.

During its lifespan, the analyzer has to deal with hits and adverse environmental conditions that have an impact on its electronics, thus increasing the measurement error margins. This is why we at PROMAX recommend to annually recalibrate the field strength meters and we provide the calibration certificate so that we guarantee the reliability of the measurements.

PROMAX analyzers are not based on commercial TV receivers

… otherwise they would inherit the hardware limitations of each manufacturer and important measurements for antenna installers such as the echoes would not be present, neither basic functions of a professional field strength meter such as the carrier to noise (C/N) ratio.

Fast-sweep professional spectrum analyzer

The spectrum analyzer of many low-cost TV analyzers does not appear in the official videos of the manufacturer because this is the way to intentionally hide its low refresh rate.

However, the spectrum analyzer is the most used function in a TV analyzer. Therefore it must be an agile function and the refresh rate must be high to make the job of the installer easier.

Mind the specifications!

Last but not least, it is essential to evaluate the specifications of the devices before carrying out an investment in professional equipment.

For example for those installers that may have to deal with CATV in addition to TV and Satellite bands, it is a must for their equipment to include the CATV return path. This is to say, the equipment must be able to work in the terrestrial frequency margin from 5 to 2150 MHz.

PROMAX is a leading manufacturer of test and measurement systems, broadcast and TV signal distribution equipment. Our product lines include measuring instruments for cable TV, satellite TV, broadcast, wireless and fibre optics networks, FTTH and GPON analyzers. DVB-T modulators, IP streamers or IP converters (ASI, DVB-T) are among the company’s latest developments.