1Overview
The Berkeley Nucleonics ICX-FieldHawk is a handheld real-time spectrum analyzer built for solid RF performance away from the bench. It offers a frequency range from 9 kHz up to 40 GHz and a standard analysis bandwidth of 100 MHz. Based on a fast FFT design, it also achieves a sweep speed up to 1 THz/s.
The instrument is equipped with a 10.1-inch full touch screen and an intuitive user interface that allows smartphone-like touch gestures. It weighs around 1.5 kg for easy carry and operation in the lab or the field.
The ICX-FieldHawk comes standard with a variety of advanced measurement functions, including channel power, OBW, X dB bandwidth, harmonic measurement, SEM, AM/FM demodulation, and automatic phase noise analysis. The SpectraCore software adds spectrum, spectrogram, and historical trace views.
Highly compatible API interfaces support mainstream programming languages including C/C++, C#, Python, MATLAB, Qt, and LabVIEW. That makes secondary development straightforward and integration into larger systems clean. Talk to a Berkeley Nucleonics engineer about matching the right model to your application.
2Key Features
- Ultra portable, flexible performance. A field-ready handheld that does not trade away RF measurement depth.
- 2.5 hours typical battery life with external power expansion support for longer sessions.
- Portable design. About 1.5 kg with a 10.1-inch multi-touch screen.
- Frequency range 9 kHz to 40 GHz on the ICX-400 model.
- 100 MHz analysis bandwidth with gapless, overlap-free real-time FFT.
- 1 GHz DANL below -160 dBm/Hz for low-level signal work.
- 1 GHz phase noise below -100 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset.
- Standard SCPI protocol support for remote control and automation.
3Models & Frequency Range
The ICX-400 runs on the 10.1-inch handheld platform with 100 MHz analysis bandwidth, covers 9 kHz to 40 GHz, and uses a 2.4 mm (M) RF input connector.
| Model | Frequency range | RF input connector | Analysis bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICX-400 | 9 kHz to 40 GHz | 2.4 mm (M), impedance 50 Ω | 100 MHz |
4Operating Modes
The ICX-FieldHawk offers main operating modes including Standard Spectrum Analysis, IQ Streaming, Power Detection, Real-Time Spectrum, Phase Noise Measurement, and Harmonics Analysis. Digital Demodulation is available as an option.
Standard Spectrum Analysis
This mode provides a wide range of measurement functions, including full-span spectrum sweep, channel power, OBW, ACPR, IM3, and SEM. It also supports spectrum recording and playback. Combined with auxiliary tools such as signal tracking, peak table, and amplitude correction, it delivers a one-stop platform for comprehensive spectrum check.
IQ Streaming Analysis
This mode supports up to 100 MHz analysis bandwidth and allows IQ data acquisition through multiple trigger methods. It provides IQ time-domain waveform display, spectrum and spectrogram views, AM/FM demodulation, and digital down-conversion (DDC).
Power Detection Analysis
This mode enables detection and analysis of time-domain signals within the analysis bandwidth. It suits applications focused on in-band power-versus-time relationships, such as pulse signal measurements.
Real-Time Spectrum Analysis
This mode is powered by a high-speed FPGA-based FFT engine. With strictly gapless and overlap-free FFT, it achieves true real-time monitoring across the full bandwidth.
Digital Demodulation (option)
This mode supports 2ASK, 2FSK, 4FSK, GMSK, BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, and 256QAM signals.
Harmonics Analysis
This mode supports detection and measurement of up to 10 harmonic components, including harmonic peaks, harmonic channel power, and total harmonic distortion.
Phase Noise Measurement
This mode supports offset ranges from 1 Hz to 10 MHz for evaluating carrier phase stability. With the built-in automatic carrier search function, the software can quickly locate the target carrier without manual adjustment.
5Main Functions
A standard set of measurement and utility functions runs on every ICX-FieldHawk. Pulse Detection and digital demodulation are software options.
6Frequency & Spectrum Purity
Frequency
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference clock | Internal or external |
| Frequency accuracy, TCXO (std.) | <1 ppm, manual correction is available |
| Frequency accuracy, OCXO (opt01) | <1 ppm, manual correction is available |
| Aging and temperature stability, TCXO (std.) | <1 ppm/year, <1 ppm |
| Aging and temperature stability, OCXO (opt01) | <1 ppm/year, <0.15 ppm |
SSB Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)
| Offset frequency | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GHz | 40 GHz | |
| 1 kHz | -99.0 | -78.4 |
| 10 kHz | -107.5 | -85.7 |
| 100 kHz | -107.7 | -85.1 |
| 1 MHz | -122.7 | -100.8 |
Residual Response (dBm)
Spur reject = bypass, RBW = 1 kHz, PosPeak detector.
| Reference level (R.L.) | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 dBm | -50 dBm | |
| 9 kHz to 1 GHz | -72 | -103 |
| 1 GHz to 3 GHz | -72 | -103 |
| 3 GHz to 10 GHz | -72 | -103 |
| 10 GHz to 20 GHz | -91 | -115 |
| 20 GHz to 40 GHz | -85 | -103 |
IF Rejection (dBc), Typical
| Spur reject function | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| enhanced | bypass | |
| 9 kHz to 40 GHz | 8.2 to 21.75 GHz >68; other bands >90 | - |
Image Rejection (dBc), Typical
| Spur reject function | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| standard | bypass | |
| 90 MHz to 3 GHz | >90 | - |
| 3 GHz to 9.5 GHz | >90 | - |
| 9.5 GHz to 20 GHz | >90 | - |
| 20 GHz to 33 GHz | >90 | - |
| 33 GHz to 40 GHz | >58 | - |
Local Oscillator Related Spurious
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Local oscillator related spurious | <-65 dBc, center frequency ± (N/M) × 125 MHz, N, M = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... |
IIP3 / IIP2 (dBm)
Each cell lists IIP3 / IIP2.
| Carrier frequency | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GHz | 40 GHz | |
| R.L. = 20 dBm | 40.3 / 75.5 | 31.7 / 88.6 |
| R.L. = 0 dBm | 27.4 / 45.3 | 10.3 / 86.1 |
| R.L. = -20 dBm | 8.7 / 25.2 | 4.8 / 66.6 |
7Amplitude & DANL
Amplitude
| Parameter | ICX-400 |
|---|---|
| Display range | DANL to 20 dBm (typ.) |
| Reference level (R.L.) | -50 dBm to +20 dBm (typ.) |
| VSWR | 90 MHz to 16 GHz: <2.0:1; 16 GHz to 40 GHz: <3.0:1 |
| Max. DC voltage | ±10 VDC |
| IF in-band flatness | ±2.0 dB |
| Max. input power (CW) | 23 dBm: 50 MHz to 20/40 GHz and the preamplifier is off; 10 dBm: 9 kHz to 50 MHz or preamplifier is on |
| Amplitude accuracy | 9 kHz to 9.5 GHz: ±2.0 dB; 9.5 GHz to 20/40 GHz: ±3.0 dB |
| RF preamplifiers | Automatically turn on or forcibly turn off |
Display Average Noise Level (DANL, dBm/Hz)
RBW = 1 kHz.
| Reference level (R.L.) | ICX-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| -20 dBm | -50 dBm | |
| 9 kHz to 1 MHz | -136.0 | -145.8 |
| 1 MHz to 90 MHz | -153.7 | -158.0 |
| 90 MHz to 3 GHz | -154.1 | -159.9 |
| 3 GHz to 9.5 GHz | -154.1 | -159.9 |
| 9.5 GHz to 19 GHz | -156.8 | -161.5 |
| 19 GHz to 20 GHz | -145.2 | -149.3 |
| 20 GHz to 40 GHz | -145.2 | -149.3 |
8Sweep, Detection & Real-Time Analysis
Standard Spectrum Analysis
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Detector | PosPeak, NegPeak, Sample, Average, RMS, MaxPower |
| RBW | 1 Hz to 10 MHz |
| VBW | 1 Hz to 10 MHz |
| Data chart | SpectraCore software provides spectrum, spectrogram, and historical trace |
| Measurements | Channel power, OBW, X dB bandwidth, Adjacent channel power ratio, IM3 |
Sweep Speed
| Condition | Sweep speed |
|---|---|
| RBW = 250 kHz FPGA, spur reject = bypass | 1.0 THz/s |
| RBW = 250 kHz FPGA, spur reject = standard | 577.5 GHz/s |
| RBW = 50 kHz FPGA, spur reject = bypass | 212.6 GHz/s |
| RBW = 1 kHz CPU, spur reject = bypass | 2.6 GHz/s |
Detection Analysis
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Lowest time resolution | 8 ns |
| Max. analysis bandwidth | 100 MHz |
| Detector | PosPeak, NegPeak, Sample, Average, RMS, MaxPower |
Real-Time Spectrum Analysis
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| FFT analysis | FFT engine is implemented in FPGA. Frame compression and trace detection are supported. No missing samples between FFT frames. FFT frame update rate = 10^9 ns / (N × D × 8 ns); POI = 2 × N × D × 8 ns, for FFT points (2048, 1024, 512, 256, 128, 64, 32) and D the decimate factor (1, 2, 4, 8...). Typical: N = 2048, D = 1 gives 61,035 times/sec and 32.768 us POI; N = 32, D = 1 gives 3,906,250 times/sec and 0.512 us POI. |
| Max. analysis bandwidth | 100 MHz |
| Window function | B-Nuttall, Flat-top, LowSideLobe |
| RBW | 14.73 MHz to 3.59 kHz (Flat-top); 7.81 MHz to 1.90 kHz (B-Nuttall); 13 grades for each window type |
| Amplitude resolution | 0.75 dB |
9IQ Recording
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Burst recording bandwidth | Maximum 100 MHz. The built-in memory depth is 128 Mbytes. |
| Continuous recording bandwidth | Maximum 25 MHz |
| IQ sample rate | Maximum 125 MSPS; decimate factor 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096 |
| External trigger response | Maximum frequency response 500 times/s |
10General & Physical
Input and Output
| Parameter | ICX-400 |
|---|---|
| RF input | 2.4 mm (M), impedance 50 Ω |
| Power | USB PD (65 W) |
| USB port | USB3.0 Type-C ×1, USB2.0 Type-C ×1, USB2.0 Type-A ×1 |
| Audio interface | Micro HDMI ×1 (support for extended display), 3.5 mm headphone port ×1 |
| External reference clock input | MMCX (F), 10 MHz, amplitude ≥ 1.5 Vpp, impedance is about 330 Ω |
| Reference clock output | Integrated in AUXIO, 10 MHz, 3.3 V CMOS, programmable on/off |
| External trigger input | MMCX (F), 3.3 V CMOS, high impedance |
| Trigger output | MMCX (F), 3.3 V CMOS |
| External antenna input | MMCX (F) |
| Analog IF output | MMCX (F), -25 dBm max output power, impedance 50 Ω, 307.2 MHz ± 50 MHz |
Physical & Environmental
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | IPS LCD 1280 × 800, 10.1-inch multi-touch screen |
| RAM / EMMC storage | 4 GB / 32 GB |
| Power consumption | 25 W (typ.) |
| Size (D × W × H) | 260 × 179 × 46 mm |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| GNSS 1PPS synchronization accuracy | ±100 ns, built-in GNSS (only supports external antenna) |
| Operating temp. (ambient) | 0 to 50 °C |
| Storage temp. (ambient) | -20 to +70 °C |
| Operating relative humidity | Ambient temp. 0 to 40 °C: 5 to 75%; ambient temp. > 40 °C: 5 to 45% |
| Packaging and accessories | Protected main unit ×1, power adapter ×1, power cord ×1, lanyard ×1 |
11Options
| Code | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Built-in OCXO reference clock | Built-in hardware |
| 34 | External omnidirectional antenna, 400 MHz to 8000 MHz, gain < 2 dBi | Accessory |
| 35 | External active directional antenna, frequency range 0.5 to 10 GHz, gain < 5 dBi (amp off); < 25 dBi (amp on) | Accessory |
| 71 | Basic digital demodulation | Software |
| 72 | Pulse detection | Software |
Cited in peer-reviewed research
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