The RF spectrum has become an increasingly crowded and dynamic resource.  From cellular networks and satellite communications to radar systems and IoT deployments, modern wireless technologies rely on efficient spectrum usage.  Spectrum analysers provide visibility into the frequency domain, and enable engineers to identify active transmissions, detect interference, monitor compliance and understand spectral behaviour in real-time.  As wireless systems grow ever more complex and adaptive, high-performance and low-latency spectral analysis has become essential.

To support this need, and to demonstrate the PYNQ adaptive computing framework in action, StrathSDR developed the RFSoC Spectrum Analyser Module (SAM), a flexible, high-speed spectrum analysis platform built on AMD RFSoC technology. The SAM design leverages the high-speed data converters and programmable logic of the RFSoC platform to deliver real-time frequency-domain analysis across instantaneous bandwidths of up to 2.048 GHz, with support for signal acquisition up to 4.096 GHz using higher order Nyquist Zone techniques.  The FPGA accelerated signal processing enables responsive, deterministic performance.

The SAM also features the StrathSDR Spectrum Map tool, which overlays measured RF activity with band allocation information derived from Ofcom’s open JSON dataset, allowing users to quickly identify and interpret local spectrum use.  As commercially available analysers offering multi-gigahertz capability are often prohibitively expensive, the StrathSDR SAM provides an accessible, open-source alternative for researchers, educators and developers working at high frequency.