JPL 220Channel 300 MHz bandwidth digital spectrum analyzer

A million (20²⁰) channel, 300 MHz bandwidth, digital spectrum analyzer is being constructed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The design, fabrication, and maintenance philosophy of the modular, pipelined, Fast Fourier Transform hard-ware are described. The spectrum analyzer will be used to examine the region from 1.4 GHz to 26 GHz for Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) which may be harmful to present and future tracking missions of the Deep Space Network. The design will have application to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligent (SETI) signals and radio science phenomena.