Clear Waves

Clear Waves combines spectrum analysis with intermodulation-compatible frequency planning for wireless microphones, in-ear monitors, and other wireless-audio equipment. Editions are available for RF Explorer and RTL-SDR.

What Clear Waves does

Clear Waves sweeps the selected band, identifies signals above a threshold, excludes occupied spectrum, and generates a set of frequencies whose evaluated intermodulation products do not conflict with one another.

Receiver editions

  • RF Explorer provides calibrated spectrum measurements.
  • RTL-SDR provides economical, approximate relative-level measurements using a nominal dBm reference. It is suitable for distinguishing occupied from clear spectrum but not for traceable power measurement.

Spectrum Analysis

The live spectrum includes:

  • Last Completed — the settled result from the preceding sweep.
  • Current Scan — the trace currently being assembled, accompanied by a moving scan bar.
  • Maxima — the highest level observed at each frequency.
  • Threshold — the level above which signals are considered occupied.

Bottom tabs provide Waterfall, Density, and Threshold views of the same measurements.

Intermod Analysis

The generated frequency list shows each compatible assignment, its current amplitude, and a rolling measurement history. Frequencies are grouped by compatibility criteria:

  • Strictest — clears the most demanding evaluated combination of third- and fifth-order products.
  • Moderate — balances compatibility criteria with a larger candidate set.
  • Lenient — expands the available set using less restrictive criteria.

Controls

  • Start / Stop (MHz) — define the scanned range.
  • Threshold (dBm) — determine which measured signals are treated as occupied and excluded.
  • Reset — return to the original frequency set and clear imported bands.
  • Shuffle — calculate an alternate arrangement.
  • Lock Frequency Set — freeze the current assignments.
  • Show Frequency Set — list clear bands and numbered generated frequencies.

Stop scanning before changing locked frequency-range controls.

  1. Define the venue’s operating range.
  2. Scan long enough to observe existing and intermittent activity.
  3. Set the threshold so occupied spectrum is excluded appropriately.
  4. Review or import required channel and lockout bands.
  5. Generate and inspect a compatible frequency set.
  6. Lock the selected set and monitor its amplitudes and history.

Save as PDF

Open the ⋮ menu and choose Save as PDF. Multi-view reports include each relevant tab as a separate page.