Hi, I'm looking for a board to build a spectrum analyzer for testing purposes. I'm trying to see what frequencies I can pick up and what distances it will detect.
Welcome to the forum.
I just googled "spectrum analyzer board" and found a large number of offerings. Perhaps one of them will do what you wish.
What part of the RF spectrum?
Im looking to detect between 800 mhz to 7 ghz for a location project.
How do you think a spectrum analyzer can tell you anything about distances?
Paul
I guess the appropriate term would be a receiver that will pick up rf transmissions. I also understand it wont tell me distances directly, but thats for testing purposes of what im trying to build.
Then I will ask the same question. How do you think a receiver will give yo any information about how far away the source of a transmission is from your location?
Paul
Are you able to describe the actual project ?
You will likley get better answers if you do.
I cannot describe it since we are trying to figure out how to make it. I guess it won't Paul. You would have to add something to it to determine that part correct?
No idea.
No-one knows what you are actually trying to do, and my crystal ball is in for service.
One of these might do;
Triangulation.
If the source of the "signal" is man-made, then you may be able to discover the source and find the location from that. If the signal is naturally occurring, then you will have personally discover the source.
But determining the actual distance to the source is impossible because you will not be able to determine the path the signal is taking.
Paul
You're right of course, Paul. I was thinking of a fox-hunt scenario, but that's not always appropriate.
Always listen to the man with the callsign if it's about RF 
the one inexpensive spectrum analyzer worth having: the tinySA:
lo input: 100 khz - 360 mhz
hi input: 240 mhz - 960 mhz
check to see if you got the real deal. I got a counterfeit. it failed 5 of the 11 self tests.
$55, more with adapters.
the bandwidth you want requires a pro grade unit, $45,000 and up, new.
An SDR board can be used as a spectrum analyzer, though don't expect great performance - you'd really want a LNA and programmable attenuator on the front end, and probably a pre-selector.
7GHz is an issue though, typically you pay a lot more as you go up the microwave bands. That TinySA for instance is 960MHz limit.
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