Clear Waves For MacOS -- RF Spectrum Analyzer & Frequency Coordination Software
Being surrounded by wireless devices and RF transmissions means that sources of RF interference and intermodulation distortion (IMD) can come from anywhere. In such a "hostile" RF environment there are diagnostic tools available to help us mitigate the negative affects of RF interference and IMD on our wireless audio gear and applications. RF Explorer plus Clear Waves software is a “game-changer” — the industry’s first product that includes both realtime RF spectrum analysis and intermodulation analysis. Clear Waves is a software / hardware product that provides precise, wideband RF spectrum scanning, visualization and channel coordination that is critical for success when working in a crowded RF environment.
Clear Waves For MacOS is a native MacOS application that runs on OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher. Like the Windows version, Clear Waves For MacOS is the next generation of PC-based, RF spectrum analyzer for the wireless pro audio and video industries that offers automatic charting of open white space, frequency coordination and channel assignment. It turns data collected from RF Explorer spectrum analyzers into highly graphical charts and displays, enabling users to more readily visualize the RF environment, coordinate channel assignments of wireless transmitters, monitor RF signals, troubleshoot RF issues, and detect sources of RF interference.
In a hostile RF environment why leave your wireless planning to chance ?
Take the guess work out of configuring your wireless audio gear -- Clear Waves For MacOS enables you to choose the optimal channel assignments -- free of RF interference and intermodulation distortion (IMD). Clear Waves For MacOS offers detailed RF spectrum scans using easy-to-view, graphical displays, along with interference-free channel assignments. Real-time RF spectrum analysis combined with our intermodulation distortion (IMD) module delivers optimal channel assignments for even the most demanding RF environments.
The Clear Waves For MacOS software works with any model RF Explorer -- regardless whether the device was purchased from us or elsewhere. You can purchase the Clear Waves For MacOS software alone or discounted when packaged with an RF Explorer spectrum analyzer. For evaluation purposes, feel free to download the Clear Waves For MacOS software application. Without an RF Explorer device the software still runs in a fully functional ‘Demo mode’ using simulated data.
Realtime Analysis
Using an RF Explorer spectrum analyzer for data acquisition, Clear Waves For MacOS performs RF spectrum scans and intermodulation analysis in realtime, computing an intermod-compatbile frequency set after each spectrum trace.
Monitored Frequencies
You can specify up to 60 different frequencies to monitor -- either to ensure those channels are not being impacted by RF interferers or you wish to monitor known signals.
Data Interface (USB)
Five diagnostic charts aid you in monitoring the RF environment and choosing the optimal frequencies to assign to your wireless transmitters.
Export Traces & Create Reports
Export spectrum traces in CSV format for use in 3rd-party applications -- e.g. Shure's Wireless Workbench, Professional Wireless' IAS.
System Requirements
| Operating System: | OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher |
| Memory: | 2GB RAM |
| Screen Resolution: | 1280 x 800 |
| Internet Connection: | Required for activating software license key for Touchstone-Pro |
Documentation for Clear Waves (MacOS) can be found here.
Spectrum Trace View
Clear Waves continuously scans and samples the signal strength (dBm) of frequencies in the range the user has specified. In the 'Spectrum Trace' view the signal strength data (in dBm) is displayed as a function of frequency.
Waterfall History
The 'Waterfall History' view is also known as a "heatmap" graph. It provides a color-based visualization of the RF level and activity over time. As signal levels for specific frequencies or frequency ranges increase and decrease, the waterfall map varies its colors. This feature provides a quick glance back into the sweep history to identify aberrations or fluctuation in frequency levels.
Density Map
The 'Density Map' chart shows accumulated RF energy as a function of frequency. The power of the signal strength in dBm is shown across the frequency span. A signal strength with a relatively low occurrence is 'blueish' in color, whereas increasingly brighter colors are used for signal strengths that occur more frequently. Signal strengths that occur most often are 'redish' in color. Over time, this spectral view will approximate the steady-state RF energy signature of a given environment.
Delta Trace
The 'Delta Trace' view can be used to view small (or large) changes in the RF spectrum over time. Here's how it works... When scanning begins the first trace is saved as a 'snapshot'. For all subsequent scans, the snapshot trace is subtracted from the current trace and the difference, i.e. 'delta', is displayed. Plotting the data in this way makes it easy to detect RF changes that occurred since the initial 'snapshot'.
Monitored Frequencies Mode
'Monitored Frequencies' mode allows you to monitor specific frequencies. For example, in the setting of a live performance where it is important to monitor the channels that have been assigned to wireless audio devices, this feature can be used to ensure those channels are not being impacted by other sources of RF transmissions. Alternatively, if there are wireless devices that transmit at specific frequencies and you wish to monitor their transmissions, then this mode can be used to verify they are currently operating.
Intermodulation Analysis & Frequency Coordination
This feature is used for locating open frequency space in crowded RF environments or used to assist in properly spacing transmitters for frequency coordination. Using parameters that were set in the Control Panel a user specifies a signal strength to be used as the 'White Space Threshold', the minimum open space required for each transmitter (bandwidth), and the minimum spacing between adjacent transmitters (band-guard). The open spaces are then graphically displayed. It's designed perfect for locating open frequency space in crowded RF environments, or to help insure proper spacing for frequency coordination. The Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) module can also be applied to obtain optimal channel assignments for your wireless audio gear.
Utilizing the existing hardware platform offered by the RF Explorer spectrum analyzer, Clear Waves For MacOS was designed with sound engineers in mind. The software and documentation included with Clear Waves For MacOS allow even a novice user to get up to speed in no time and start making informed decisions about frequency coordination. Though many of its features are well suited for wireless professional audio production, Clear Waves For MacOS is a sensitive and accurate, broadband RF spectrum analyzer that is an excellent tool for general commercial and industrial RF work where the goal is to monitor for RF interference and coordinate multiple wireless transmitters.