RF Analyzer uses Web Serial technology that enables web browsers to communicate directly with serial devices via USB, bypassing the need for separate PC software. And, more importantly, this allows RF Analyzer to be used on multiple operating systems (e.g. Windows, MacOS, Linux). Web Serial technology is currently supported by Chromium-based browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.
Hardware Requirements
- A high-quality USB cable to ensure stable connections, proper charging, and to minimize Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) interference from PCs, which can corrupt measurement data. Using a low-quality cable often leads to, or is mistaken for, driver issues.
- Ensure the baud rate on the device is set to 500 Kbps (and NOT 2400 bps).
- Make sure the USB cable's plug is securely attached and flush with the device's socket.
Software Requirements
Windows:
RF Explorer devices use the Silicon Labs CP210x USB-to-UART bridge for PC connectivity, requiring specific VCP drivers for Windows, Mac, or Linux to function. Installing these drivers enables the device to act as a Virtual COM Port (VCP), allowing communication via software (like RF Analyzer). If you have not already done so, you will need to download Silicon Labs' CP210x VCP Windows drivers from here. And then, after unzipping the downloaded file, run the 64-bit installation program CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.exe. Thereafter, your Chromium-based browser and the RF Analyzer app should detect an RF Explorer device attached to your PC.
MacOS:
MacOS probably has the simplest requirements — RF Analyzer should work from Google Chrome on MacOS Catalina (10.15) or later, including both M1/M2 (ARM64) and Intel Core (x64) architectures.
Linux:
Surprisingly, Linux gave us the biggest problem. Browsers on Linux often fail to recognize Web Serial devices due to limitations within containerized installations such as 'Snap' and 'Flatpak'. If you installed a Chromium-based browser via Snap or Flatpak, then it is likely "sandboxed", thereby restricting its ability to access hardware like USB serial devices. The simplest solution is to uninstall the Snap / Flatpak version and install the native package. For example, this is how we installed Google Chrome on Ubuntu (after uninstalling the 'containerized' version):
Download the package: wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Install the package: sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Also, since RF Explorer is treated as a serial tty device, then it requires user membership in the dialout group to access. For example, in a terminal window type: sudo gpasswd -a <username> dialout. You must then log out and back in for group changes to take effect since group memberships are only evaluated at login time.