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I debated putting this question on the electrical engineering forum vs. here. I settled on here since I figured many of you amateur radio experts have probably wondered about this too.

I am interested in seeing a graphical output of all of the various frequencies that are around me. Think of this as a broad spectrum analyzer that works across as much bandwidth as I am able to access. I am not interested in the content, just what frequencies are being utilized.

For example, I would love to see how the RF environment changes as I drive my car to work every day. Are there hotspots? What is the strength? Does it vary over time? A graphic interface that shows signal strength and the frequency would be interesting as well.

I have done several Google searches on this, and also searched on these forums. I don't have the right lingo as I can't seem to come up with anything worthwhile.

Appreciate your help / advice on this. Thanks.

SDsolar
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You want all the frequencies?

Let's take it from the top down. You probably want to start with a Geiger counter for the highest frequencies. Hopefully you don't detect much with this.

Below that are frequencies usually called "light". Your eyes have some of that covered. The infrared and ultraviolet bits will need specialized cameras.

Around 300 GHz electromagnetic radiation tends to stop being called light and start being called "radio waves". What you are describing sounds exactly like a spectrum analyzer, and specifically one with a very wide bandwidth. Expect to pay a lot of money. I don't know if anyone makes a spectrum analyzer that covers the entire RF spectrum, so expect to buy several.

You can expect (among other things) that your spectrum analyzer will have a waterfall display so you can visualize RF radiation in time and frequency.

You can go a little cheaper with an SDR, which can also have a waterfall display if you don't need the precise calibration and whatnot that comes with a spectrum analyzer. Getting one that goes from 0 Hz to 300 GHz is still going to be expensive. For example the USRP costs approximately $1000 and goes up to 6 GHz. You'll need a variety of antennas and daughterboards to make it all work. That leaves just 6 to 300 GHz for which you'll need to purchase additional radios.

Community
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Phil Frost - W8II
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You probably want something like a 'waterfall' display that many Software Defined Radios (SDR) give. Search for SDR and waterfall display! You can get set up fairly easy with a computer and dongle.

Benjie
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