SM200B — 20 GHz Real-time Spectrum Analyzer

The SM200B is a high-performance 20 GHz spectrum analyzer and monitoring receiver with 110 dB of dynamic range and 1THz/sec sweep speeds. The SM200B offers 160 MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) calibrated I/Q capture, available through block transfer of a 2-second I/Q buffer over USB 3.0 to the PC.


The SM200B is a high-performance spectrum analyzer and monitoring receiver. Tuning from 100 kHz to 20GHz, the analyzer has 160 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth (IBW), 110 dB of dynamic range, 1THz/sec sweep speed at 30kHz RBW (using Nuttall windowing), and phase noise performance that is low enough to contribute less than 0.1% error to EVM measurements and rival even the most expensive spectrum analyzers on the market.

The SM200B offers 160 MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) calibrated I/Q capture, available through block transfer of a 2-second I/Q buffer over USB 3.0 to the PC.

Signal processing is distributed between a very powerful Altera FPGA and an external PC having an Intel Core i5 processor. The Signal Hound SM200B can be readily interfaced, using its local API, to an automated monitoring system or to automated test equipment. The SM200B API provides customers the access needed to insert their own DSP algorithms into a calibrated stream of I/Q data.


ModeSM200B
Frequency Range100 kHz to 20GHz
Sweep Speed

Speed                            RBW
• 1 THz/sec                    ≥30 kHz
• 160 GHz/sec               10 kHz
• 18 GHz/sec                 1 kHz

Displayed Average
Noise Level (DANL)
REF LEVEL ≤ -20 dBm
Input Frequency Range              dBm/Hz
• 100 kHz to 700 MHz                -156 dBm
• 700 MHz to 2.7 GHz                -160 dBm
• 2.7 GHz to 4.5 GHz                  -158 dBm
• 4.5 GHz to 8.5 GHz                  -153 dBm
• 8.5 GHz to 15 GHz                   -154 dBm
• 15 GHz to 20 GHz                    -151 dBm
I/Q Acquisition Modes

Calibrated Streaming I/Q:

Up to 40 MHz of selectable I/Q streaming bandwidth
Up to 2 seconds of calibrated I/Q capture at 160 MHz bandwidth

Timebase Accuracy

• ±5 x 10-10 when locked to GPS
• Holdover of ±5 x 10-9 /day for aging (±2 x 10-8 first day typ)
• Holdover of ±1 x 10-8 for temperature over -40°C to 65°C (typ)

System Noise Figure (typ)• 11 dB over 700 MHz to 2.7 GHz
• 14 dB from 2.7 GHz to 4.5 GHz
• 18 dB from 4.5 GHz to 15 GHz
LinearityIP2                                                          IP3
• 100 kHz to 2 GHz      +64 dBm      • 100 kHz to 4 GHz       +28 dBm
• 2 GHz to 11 GHz       +74 dBm      • 4 GHz to 6 GHz           +23 dBm
• 11 GHz to 13.5 GHz  +76 dBm      • 6 GHz to 14 GHz         +18 dBm
• 13.5 GHz to 20 GHz  +60 dBm      • 14 GHz to 20 GHz       +23 dBm
Amplitude Accuracy
100 kHz to 6 GHz           6 GHz to 20 GHz            RBW filter shape
• ± 2.0 dB                        • ± 3.0 dB                        • Flat-Top windowing
Residual Responses
REF LEVEL ≤ -20 dBm
• 100 kHz to 8.0 MHz          -110 dBm
• 8.0 GHz to 15 GHz            -100 dBm
• 15 GHz to 20 GHz             -90 dBm
SSB Phase Noise at 1 GHz
Center Frequency
Offset Frequency          dBc/Hz
• 10 Hz                              -76
• 100 Hz                            -108
• 1 kHz                              -123
• 10 kHz                            -132
• 100 kHz                          -136
• 1 MHz                            -133
Lo Leakage at RF Input

• 100 kHz to 5 GHz                                  -82 dBm
• 5 GHz to 10 GHz                                   -55 dBm
• 10 GHz to 18 GHz                                 -50 dBm
• 18 GHz to 20 GHz                                 -47 dBm

Spurious Mixer Responses• 100 kHz to 6 GHz                                  -58 dBc
• 6 GHz to 10 GHz                                   -55 dBc
• 10 GHz to 20 GHz                                 -44 dBc
Sub-Octave Preselector Filters20 MHz to 20 GHz
SynchronizationExternal trigger, GPIO, Internal GPS (+/-40ns)
Operating Temperature
Standard (passive cooling) 32°F to 122°F (0°C to +50°C)
Size and Weight • 10.2" x 7.2" x 2.15" (259mm x 183mm x 55mm)  • 7.77 lbs. (3.52 kg)
Power Consumption• 9 to 16 VDC • 32 Watt Maximum
InterfaceUSB 3.0
System RequirementsWindows or Linux Operating System, x64_86 architecture